Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Toledo
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $26,617 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
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
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($98,800 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $618/mo less ($854 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 106°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $26,617/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Median Income
$26,617
$72,022 vs $45,405/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
55% lower
470.3 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
21.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$283k less
$98,800 vs $382,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 13 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 13 and Toledo wins 10. 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 Tempe to Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $98,800 median home), income ($72,022 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Toledo, OH are about 1,646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.