Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Phoenix leads 15 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($340,200 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $495/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,817)
14% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $29,630/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $29,630 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Violent Crime
14% lower
799.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$365k less
$340,200 vs $705,000
Phoenix
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$29,630
$101,722 vs $72,092/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 670,587 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 15 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 15 and Washington wins 8. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $705,000 median home), income ($72,092 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Washington, DC are about 1,976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.