Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Peoria
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
46% less violent crime than Tempe
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $14,737 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,638)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 65°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Peoria by $14,737/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$14,737
$86,759 vs $72,022/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
46% lower
254.7 vs 470.3 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Peoria wins 11 and Tempe wins 11. 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 Peoria to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $382,100 median home), income ($86,759 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Tempe, AZ are about 35 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.