Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Monica, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories
Santa Monica
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,775 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1273k less ($382,100 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $755/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,227)
40% less violent crime than Santa Monica
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $34,775/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
Santa Monica
Median Income
$34,775
$106,797 vs $72,022/yr
Tempe
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
40% lower
470.3 vs 778.0 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$1273k less
$382,100 vs $1,654,800
Tempe
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
36.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Monica, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,654,800⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,797 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 214⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 228⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 67.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 69.4°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,168 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.9% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 18.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Monica's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories. Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,654,800 vs $382,100 median home), income ($106,797 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Monica, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.