Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Angelo, TX
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 San Angelo leads 12 of 23 categories
San Angelo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
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.
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($171,700 vs $382,100)
54% less violent crime than Tempe
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,472)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Tempe by $6,982/yr
Tempe, AZ
Pros
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,982 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
San Angelo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Violent Crime
54% lower
218.2 vs 470.3 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$210k less
$171,700 vs $382,100
San Angelo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Median Income
$6,982
$72,022 vs $65,040/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 97.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Angelo, TX | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $171,700 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,037 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,040 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SAN ANGELO ISD | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.1°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,422 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Angelo's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 12 of 23 categories. San Angelo wins 12 and Tempe wins 11. 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 San Angelo to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($65,040 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Angelo, TX and Tempe, AZ are about 683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.