Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Tucson
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $19,973 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Tucson
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.7%)
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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($218,200 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $481/mo less ($991 vs $1,472)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 100°F vs 106°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $19,973/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 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Median Income
$19,973
$72,022 vs $52,049/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
20% lower
470.3 vs 588.8 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 100.2°F
Tucson
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$164k less
$218,200 vs $382,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 66.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 100.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 12.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 15 and Tucson wins 8. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $218,200 median home), income ($72,022 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Tucson, AZ are about 105 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.