Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
Rent averages $515/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $27,101/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $27,101 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Median Home Value
$11k less
$293,000 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$27,101
$88,466 vs $61,365/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
15% lower
235.7 vs 276.7 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
20.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Providence wins 8 and San Tan Valley wins 15. 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 Providence to San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $304,000 median home), income ($61,365 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 2,258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.