Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tucson, AZ
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Tucson leads 12 of 22 categories
Tucson
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($218,200 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $534/mo less ($991 vs $1,525)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $21,577/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $21,577 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Tucson
Key Differences at a Glance
Tucson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$185k less
$218,200 vs $403,400
Tucson
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$21,577
$73,626 vs $52,049/yr
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tucson, AZ | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $218,200 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $991 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,049 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tucson Unified District (4403) | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.1" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,033 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tucson's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tucson leads 12 of 22 categories. Tucson wins 12 and Vancouver wins 10. 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 Tucson to Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($218,200 vs $403,400 median home), income ($52,049 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tucson, AZ and Vancouver, WA are about 1,122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.