Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $20,270 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tempe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($382,100 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,864)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Renton by $20,270/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$20,270
$92,292 vs $72,022/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
28% lower
339.2 vs 470.3 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$195k less
$382,100 vs $576,800
Tempe
Summer Heat
28.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories. Renton wins 8 and Tempe 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 Renton to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $382,100 median home), income ($92,292 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.