Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($340,200 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $732/mo less ($1,322 vs $2,054)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $24,127/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
West Covina, CA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $24,127 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Phoenix
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$324k less
$340,200 vs $664,500
Phoenix
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$24,127
$96,219 vs $72,092/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
70% lower
239.3 vs 799.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 13 and West Covina wins 10. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $664,500 median home), income ($72,092 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and West Covina, CA are about 336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.