Which is better, Detroit, MI or Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Detroit, MI on 35 of 51 statistics where one end is better, to 16. Phoenix, AZ leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Detroit, MI or Phoenix, AZ?

Detroit, MI has a population of 650,499 (25th of 477 US cities) and Phoenix, AZ has 1,677,947 (5th of 477).

How do Detroit, MI and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Detroit, MI $39,938 (426th of 434), Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.

How do Detroit, MI and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Detroit, MI $83,900 (3rd of 434), Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434) among US cities. Detroit, MI ranks better.

Where does Detroit, MI beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?

Detroit, MI ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $83,900 vs $420,700; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,074 vs $1,582; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 94.7 vs 121.2.

Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Detroit, MI most clearly?

Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $81,332 vs $39,938; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 13.7% vs 32.7%; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 33.6% vs 18.1%.

Detroit, MI vs Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Detroit, MI on 35 of 51 statistics where one end is better, to 16. Phoenix, AZ leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

51 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Detroit, MI

Wins: 16
Avg. percentile: 32
Categories led: 0

Phoenix, AZ

Wins: 35
Avg. percentile: 51
Categories led: 2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Detroit, MI	Phoenix, AZ
Population	650,499 25th of 477	1,677,947 5th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$39,938 426th of 434	$81,332 158th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$83,900 3rd of 434	$420,700 287th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	32.7% 428th of 434	13.7% 199th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.3 tied 256th of 460	103.3 tied 321st of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$69,210 tied 175th of 460	$69,630 tied 156th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,074 109th of 434	$1,582 277th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	1,649.1 393rd of 395	694.5 315th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetyPhoenix, AZ · 5 statistics
EconomicsPhoenix, AZ · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	Detroit, MI	Phoenix, AZ
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$83,900 3rd of 434	$420,700 287th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$39,938 426th of 434	$81,332 158th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	32.7% 428th of 434	13.7% 199th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	18.1% 400th of 434	33.6% 225th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,074 109th of 434	$1,582 277th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	85.7% 397th of 434	91.4% 230th of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	98.8 tied 277th of 460	95.0 tied 97th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	3,882.2 362nd of 395	2,029.7 223rd of 395
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	630.2 375th of 395	265.8 240th of 395
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	94.7 tied 196th of 460	121.2 tied 319th of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	25.7 384th of 395	7.5 294th of 395
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	971.1 389th of 395	350.3 305th of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	1,649.1 393rd of 395	694.5 315th of 395
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.3 tied 256th of 460	103.3 tied 321st of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.0 tied 343rd of 460	93.3 tied 268th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$52,080 tied 138th of 460	$51,380 tied 165th of 460
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	102.6 tied 381st of 460	104.0 tied 397th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	24.8 283rd of 434	25.6 301st of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$69,210 tied 175th of 460	$69,630 tied 156th of 460

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Detroit, MI or Phoenix, AZ?: Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Detroit, MI on 35 of 51 statistics where one end is better, to 16. Phoenix, AZ leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Detroit, MI or Phoenix, AZ?: Detroit, MI has a population of 650,499 (25th of 477 US cities) and Phoenix, AZ has 1,677,947 (5th of 477).
How do Detroit, MI and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Detroit, MI $39,938 (426th of 434), Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.
How do Detroit, MI and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Detroit, MI $83,900 (3rd of 434), Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434) among US cities. Detroit, MI ranks better.
Where does Detroit, MI beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?: Detroit, MI ranks far ahead on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $83,900 vs $420,700; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,074 vs $1,582; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 94.7 vs 121.2.
Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Detroit, MI most clearly?: Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $81,332 vs $39,938; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 13.7% vs 32.7%; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 33.6% vs 18.1%.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Detroit, MI or Phoenix, AZ.

All US cities matchups