Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 16 of 23 categories
New York
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New York, NY
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 106°F
Households earn $4,585 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($382,100 vs $732,100)
30% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,714)
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails New York by $4,585/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Median Income
$4,585
$76,607 vs $72,022/yr
Tempe
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
30% lower
470.3 vs 671.0 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$350k less
$382,100 vs $732,100
Tempe
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 16 of 23 categories. New York wins 7 and Tempe wins 16. 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 New York to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $382,100 median home), income ($76,607 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Tempe, AZ are about 2,138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.