Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 12 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,966 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($205,200 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,472)
17% less violent crime than Tempe
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $8,966/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Median Income
$8,966
$72,022 vs $63,056/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 93.1°F
Tyler
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Violent Crime
17% lower
391.2 vs 470.3 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$177k less
$205,200 vs $382,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 12 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 11 and Tyler 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 Tempe to Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $205,200 median home), income ($72,022 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Tyler, TX are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.