Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
18% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Households earn $7,978 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $142/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,614)
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($324,800 vs $382,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Tempe
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Median income trails Tempe by $7,978/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Income
$7,978
$72,022 vs $64,044/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
18% lower
470.3 vs 575.8 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$57k less
$324,800 vs $382,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 22 categories. Tempe wins 15 and West Palm Beach wins 7. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $324,800 median home), income ($72,022 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,948 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.