Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($340,200 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $297/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $50,832/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $50,832 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Phoenix
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Phoenix
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$139k less
$340,200 vs $479,400
Phoenix
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 89.4°F
Roswell
Median Income
$50,832
$122,924 vs $72,092/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
80% lower
160.1 vs 799.6 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 10 and Roswell wins 13. 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $479,400 median home), income ($72,092 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Roswell, GA are about 1,588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.