Phoenix vs Tucson
Phoenix, Arizona versus Tucson, Arizona: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Tucson edges out Phoenix on overall objective livability (66 vs 52 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Phoenix | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $52k |
| Cost of Living | $57k | $43k |
| Home Value | $340k | $218k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $991 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.51% | 0.78% |
| Income Tax | 2.50% | 2.50% |
| Sales Tax | 8.38% | 8.38% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 7.66% | 8.55% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 6.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 55°F | 53°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 93°F | 87°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6 in | 12.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 274 days | 289 days |
| Summer Humidity | 54°F | 55°F |
| Comfortable Days | 113 days | 80 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 73.8 | 45.4 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 28 AQI |
| School Quality | 47.6 | 40.6 |
| Violent Crime | 2274/100k | 0/100k |
| Property Crime | 2902/100k | 0/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 | 541,033 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 33.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.60 | 0.59 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+36 |
| White (%) | 41.2% | 42.4% |
| Black (%) | 7.0% | 4.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 42.9% | 44.8% |
| Asian (%) | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 26 min | 22 min |
| Walkability | 14.4/20 | 12.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 13 mi | 4 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.5% | 88.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 2.47 | 4.07 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Phoenix or Tucson more affordable?
- Tucson has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Phoenix's $57k and Tucson's $43k. Median rent is $1k in Phoenix versus $991 in Tucson.
- Is Phoenix or Tucson safer?
- Tucson has the lower violent crime rate. Phoenix reports 2274/100k and Tucson reports 0/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Phoenix or Tucson?
- The median home value is $340k in Phoenix and $218k in Tucson, so homes are more affordable in Tucson.