Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $19,773 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($186,500 vs $415,300)
60% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,489)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $19,773/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Tacoma
Median Income
$19,773
$79,085 vs $59,312/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
60% lower
423.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$229k less
$186,500 vs $415,300
Yuma
Summer Heat
29.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Tacoma wins 9 and Yuma 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 Tacoma to Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $186,500 median home), income ($79,085 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Yuma, AZ are about 1,100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.