Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Tan Valley, AZ
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 22 categories
San Tan Valley
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
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 Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
50% less violent crime than Tempe
Homes cost $78k less ($304,000 vs $382,100)
Households earn $16,444 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $257/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,729)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 66°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $16,444/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$16,444
$88,466 vs $72,022/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
50% lower
235.7 vs 470.3 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$78k less
$304,000 vs $382,100
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.0 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Tan Valley, AZ | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,000 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,729⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,466 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.2 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.3% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,207 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.4% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Tan Valley's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 22 categories. San Tan Valley wins 10 and Tempe wins 12. 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 Tan Valley to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,000 vs $382,100 median home), income ($88,466 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Tan Valley, AZ and Tempe, AZ are about 26 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.