Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ 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.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $44,046 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $498k less ($382,100 vs $879,900)
39% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,945)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $44,046/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 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$44,046
$116,068 vs $72,022/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Violent Crime
39% lower
470.3 vs 775.1 per 100k
Tempe
Median Home Value
$498k less
$382,100 vs $879,900
Tempe
Summer Heat
29.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 16.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 14.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 9 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 Seattle to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $382,100 median home), income ($116,068 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.