Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Warren
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
13% less violent crime than Warren
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
Households earn $10,389 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($169,300 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $333/mo less ($1,139 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $10,389/yr
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Median Income
$10,389
$72,022 vs $61,633/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
13% lower
470.3 vs 541.8 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 83.5°F
Warren
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Warren
Median Home Value
$213k less
$169,300 vs $382,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 29.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 138,588 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 14 and Warren wins 9. 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $169,300 median home), income ($72,022 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Warren, MI are about 1,686 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.