Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Round Rock, TX
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Round Rock leads 14 of 23 categories
Round Rock
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Tucson
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,839 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Tucson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $595/mo less ($991 vs $1,586)
Homes cost $119k less ($218,200 vs $337,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Round Rock
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $39,839/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Round Rock
Median Income
$39,839
$91,888 vs $52,049/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
78% lower
130.7 vs 588.8 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$119k less
$218,200 vs $337,500
Tucson
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 95.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Round Rock, TX | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $337,500⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,586⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,888 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.3% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROUND ROCK ISD | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,465 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Round Rock's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 14 of 23 categories. Round Rock wins 14 and Tucson wins 9. 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 Round Rock to Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,500 vs $218,200 median home), income ($91,888 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Round Rock, TX and Tucson, AZ are about 787 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.