Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Fulton, GA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories
South Fulton
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($242,200 vs $382,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Households earn $5,466 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.7%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 54°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
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
South Fulton
Median Income
$5,466
$77,488 vs $72,022/yr
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$140k less
$242,200 vs $382,100
Tempe
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Fulton, GA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,200 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,488 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,865 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.2% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Fulton's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. South Fulton 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 South Fulton to Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,200 vs $382,100 median home), income ($77,488 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Fulton, GA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.