Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 12 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Median income trails Visalia by $3,566/yr
Visalia, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Phoenix
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Homes cost $24k less ($316,600 vs $340,200)
Households earn $3,566 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Phoenix
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 93.8°F
Visalia
Median Income
$3,566
$75,658 vs $72,092/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
46% lower
435.3 vs 799.6 per 100k
Visalia
Median Home Value
$24k less
$316,600 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 10.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 12 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 11 and Visalia wins 12. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $316,600 median home), income ($72,092 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Visalia, CA are about 452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.