Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 15 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Tucson
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $64,019 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $662k less ($218,200 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $954/mo less ($991 vs $1,945)
24% less violent crime than Seattle
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $64,019/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$64,019
$116,068 vs $52,049/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
24% lower
588.8 vs 775.1 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$662k less
$218,200 vs $879,900
Tucson
Summer Heat
23.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 541,033 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 15 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 8 and Tucson 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 Seattle to Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $218,200 median home), income ($116,068 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Tucson, AZ are about 1,227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.