Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 22 categories
San Jose
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
14
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 Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,988 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $768k less ($382,100 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1054/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,526)
22% less violent crime than San Jose
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $63,988/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
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Jose
Median Income
$63,988
$136,010 vs $72,022/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
22% lower
470.3 vs 606.8 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$768k less
$382,100 vs $1,149,600
Tempe
Summer Heat
23.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 22 categories. San Jose wins 8 and Tempe wins 14. 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 Jose to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $382,100 median home), income ($136,010 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.