City Comparison
Tempe vs Maricopa
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Maricopa scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Tempe
Maricopa
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Maricopa is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
7% lower than in Tempe.
| Metric | Tempe | Maricopa | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,939 | $1,799 | +8% |
| Groceries | $440 | $400 | +10% |
| Utilities | $195 | $180 | +8% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $230 | +4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,929 | $2,729 | +7% |
| Cost Index | 105 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Tempe offers 17% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Tempe delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Tempe is estimated at
$62,000 vs $55,000 in Maricopa.
| Metric | Tempe | Maricopa |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $76,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 72,381 idx | 68,421 idx |
| Household Income | $79,663 | $96,391 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.2°F of each other.
| Metric | Tempe | Maricopa |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 76.30°F | 74.10°F |
| Summer High | 106.60°F | 106.50°F |
| Winter Low | 47.50°F | 43.00°F |
| Rainfall | 15.40 in | 9.80 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 327 | 329 |
| Humidity | 31.00% | 25.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Tempe has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
8,000 minutes (133 hours) per year compared to Maricopa.
Tempe scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Tempe leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Tempe | Maricopa |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 37 min |
| Transit Score | 48.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 54.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 58.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Tempe is the larger city
— approximately 2.3x the population of Maricopa.
From a growth perspective, Maricopa is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Tempe has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Tempe | Maricopa |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 190,571 | 82,372 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.53% | 5.12% |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 36.8 |
| Unemployment | 4.60% | 5.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Tempe
Advantages
Median property value in Tempe stands at $455,400 with steady regional appreciation per U.S. Census data.
Exceptional multi-modal transit featuring the Valley Metro Light Rail and free Orbit circulators connecting directly to Sky Harbor Airport.
Abundant outdoor recreation centered around Tempe Town Lake, Hayden Butte, and over 320 sunny days per year.
Thriving high-tech and educational economy driven by Arizona State University and major corporate employers.
Vibrant dining, arts, and cultural scene anchored by Downtown Tempe and Mill Avenue establishments.
Drawbacks
Intense summer heat with average daily highs exceeding 106°F requires high seasonal cooling expenditures.
Average monthly rent of $1,939 creates affordability challenges for lower-income renters and entry-level workers.
Property crime rates, particularly bicycle and vehicle thefts, are elevated around high-density student and entertainment zones.
Housing inventory for single-family homes is competitive, leading to fast-paced bidding and limited starter inventory.
Traffic congestion during peak university semesters and major stadium events impacts primary arterial corridors.
Maricopa
Advantages
Median home property values (~$377,200) remain substantially more affordable than nearby Phoenix and East Valley housing markets.
Consistently ranks among the top 10 safest cities in Arizona according to recent safety reports and municipal data.
Features a young, highly diverse population with top-rated diverse school districts in the greater region.
Strong homeownership rate exceeding 80%, providing stable, master-planned suburban neighborhoods.
Rapidly expanding local retail, dining, and commercial developments reducing the need to travel for daily necessities.
Drawbacks
Heavy reliance on State Route 347 creates long commute times and traffic bottleneck concerns during peak hours.
Extreme summer high temperatures exceeding 106°F restrict outdoor daytime activities for several months.
Limited public transit infrastructure makes car ownership mandatory for all daily tasks and employment commuting.
Scarcity of major local high-tech or corporate employment hubs requires long-distance commuting or remote work.
High summer electricity utility costs required to maintain home cooling during prolonged heatwaves.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Tempe
#412Arizona, USA
57.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,939
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
105
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
48.0/100
Walkability
54.0/100
Sunny Days
327/yr
Avg Temp
76.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.53%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
79
Business
80
Maricopa
#42Arizona, USA
71.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,799
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
37 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
329/yr
Avg Temp
74.10°F
Pop. Growth
5.12%
Unemployment
5.30%
Livability
75
Business
67
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Tempe and Maricopa.
Open Cost Calculator