Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Phoenix leads 16 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.2%)
Homes cost $78k less ($340,200 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,553)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rialto by $8,658/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Rialto, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $8,658 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$78k less
$340,200 vs $418,300
Phoenix
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 94.1°F
Rialto
Median Income
$8,658
$80,750 vs $72,092/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
20% lower
641.7 vs 799.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 16 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 16 and Rialto wins 7. 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 Phoenix to Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $418,300 median home), income ($72,092 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Rialto, CA are about 306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.