Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories
San Francisco
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ 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.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,667 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $967k less ($382,100 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $844/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,316)
21% less violent crime than San Francisco
17% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $64,667/yr
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
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$64,667
$136,689 vs $72,022/yr
Tempe
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
21% lower
470.3 vs 596.5 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$967k less
$382,100 vs $1,348,700
Tempe
Summer Heat
44.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 14.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories. San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($136,689 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.