Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 12 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,614)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Households earn $8,048 more per year on average
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
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
28% less violent crime than Phoenix
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 65°F
Homes cost $15k less ($324,800 vs $340,200)
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Phoenix
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$8,048
$72,092 vs $64,044/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
28% lower
575.8 vs 799.6 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$15k less
$324,800 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 11 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $324,800 median home), income ($72,092 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,958 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.