Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 18 of 22 categories
Palmdale
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 104°F
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,729)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Cost of living runs 16% higher than San Tan Valley
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
57% less violent crime than Palmdale
Homes cost $94k less ($304,000 vs $397,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Households earn $10,052 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$10,052
$88,466 vs $78,414/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
57% lower
235.7 vs 551.0 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$94k less
$304,000 vs $397,500
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 97.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 36.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 8.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 18 of 22 categories. Palmdale wins 4 and San Tan Valley wins 18. 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 Palmdale to San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $304,000 median home), income ($78,414 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.