Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $31,136 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.2%)
14% less violent crime than Yuma
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 107°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($186,500 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $372/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $31,136/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$31,136
$90,448 vs $59,312/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
14% lower
364.9 vs 423.6 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$94k less
$186,500 vs $280,700
Yuma
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 95.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland wins 9 and Yuma wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Midland to Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $186,500 median home), income ($90,448 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Yuma, AZ are about 725 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.