Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sunnyvale, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 12 of 22 categories
Sunnyvale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $115,194 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Yuma
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Yuma
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1494k less ($186,500 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1962/mo less ($1,028 vs $2,990)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $115,194/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$115,194
$174,506 vs $59,312/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
42% lower
244.5 vs 423.6 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$1494k less
$186,500 vs $1,680,700
Yuma
Summer Heat
29.8°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sunnyvale, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,680,700⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,990⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $174,506 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.0% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cupertino Union | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.4" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 154,573 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 12 of 22 categories. Sunnyvale wins 10 and Yuma 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 Sunnyvale to Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,680,700 vs $186,500 median home), income ($174,506 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sunnyvale, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 542 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.