Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
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
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Visalia, CA
Pros
7% less violent crime than Tempe
Homes cost $66k less ($316,600 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $183/mo less ($1,289 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Households earn $3,636 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 93.8°F
Visalia
Median Income
$3,636
$75,658 vs $72,022/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
7% lower
435.3 vs 470.3 per 100k
Visalia
Median Home Value
$66k less
$316,600 vs $382,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 10.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 12 and Visalia wins 11. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $316,600 median home), income ($72,022 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Visalia, CA are about 466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.