Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
14% less violent crime than Yakima
Households earn $16,288 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($243,300 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $458/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 106°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $16,288/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tempe
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Income
$16,288
$72,022 vs $55,734/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
14% lower
470.3 vs 544.3 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Median Home Value
$139k less
$243,300 vs $382,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 125⚠ 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 | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 8.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 14 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $243,300 median home), income ($72,022 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Yakima, WA are about 1,018 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.