Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $6,932 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
38% less violent crime than Sacramento
Homes cost $68k less ($382,100 vs $450,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Sacramento by $6,932/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Median Income
$6,932
$78,954 vs $72,022/yr
Tempe
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
38% lower
470.3 vs 754.9 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$68k less
$382,100 vs $450,500
Tempe
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 94.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories. Sacramento wins 7 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 Sacramento to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $382,100 median home), income ($78,954 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.