Which is better, Los Angeles, CA or Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 28 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 15. Phoenix, AZ leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Los Angeles, CA or Phoenix, AZ?

Los Angeles, CA has a population of 3,863,148 (2nd of 477 US cities) and Phoenix, AZ has 1,677,947 (5th of 477).

How do Los Angeles, CA and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Los Angeles, CA $81,939 (151st of 434), Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434) among US cities. Los Angeles, CA ranks better.

How do Los Angeles, CA and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Los Angeles, CA $921,200 (392nd of 434), Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.

Where does Los Angeles, CA beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?

Los Angeles, CA ranks far ahead on Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $77,270 vs $69,630; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $55,850 vs $51,380; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 38.5% vs 33.6%.

Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Los Angeles, CA most clearly?

Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 106.6; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.3 vs 158.6; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $420,700 vs $921,200.

Los Angeles, CA vs Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 28 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 15. Phoenix, AZ leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

43 statistics with a better end, compared

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

Los Angeles, CA

Wins: 15
Avg. percentile: 32
Categories led: 0

Phoenix, AZ

Wins: 28
Avg. percentile: 50
Categories led: 2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Los Angeles, CA	Phoenix, AZ
Population	3,863,148 2nd of 477	1,677,947 5th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$81,939 151st of 434	$81,332 158th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$921,200 392nd of 434	$420,700 287th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.5% 271st of 434	13.7% 199th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	113.6 tied 423rd of 460	103.3 tied 321st of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$77,270 tied 61st of 460	$69,630 tied 156th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,933 352nd of 434	$1,582 277th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	667.7 309th of 395	694.5 315th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

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

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Los Angeles, CA	Phoenix, AZ
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	106.6 tied 411th of 460	95.0 tied 97th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	158.6 tied 419th of 460	93.3 tied 268th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$921,200 392nd of 434	$420,700 287th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	113.6 tied 423rd of 460	103.3 tied 321st of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	30.7 396th of 434	25.6 301st of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	170.4 tied 414th of 460	121.2 tied 319th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$77,270 tied 61st of 460	$69,630 tied 156th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,933 352nd of 434	$1,582 277th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$55,850 tied 87th of 460	$51,380 tied 165th of 460
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.5% 271st of 434	13.7% 199th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	38.5% 167th of 434	33.6% 225th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	92.6% 172nd of 434	91.4% 230th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	518.8 348th of 395	350.3 305th of 395
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	308.4 275th of 395	265.8 240th of 395
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	5.8 263rd of 395	7.5 294th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,235.5 246th of 395	2,029.7 223rd of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	104.4 tied 413th of 460	104.0 tied 397th of 460
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$81,939 151st of 434	$81,332 158th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	667.7 309th of 395	694.5 315th of 395

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, Los Angeles, CA or Phoenix, AZ?: Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Los Angeles, CA on 28 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 15. Phoenix, AZ leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Los Angeles, CA or Phoenix, AZ?: Los Angeles, CA has a population of 3,863,148 (2nd of 477 US cities) and Phoenix, AZ has 1,677,947 (5th of 477).
How do Los Angeles, CA and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Los Angeles, CA $81,939 (151st of 434), Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434) among US cities. Los Angeles, CA ranks better.
How do Los Angeles, CA and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Los Angeles, CA $921,200 (392nd of 434), Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.
Where does Los Angeles, CA beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?: Los Angeles, CA ranks far ahead on Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $77,270 vs $69,630; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $55,850 vs $51,380; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 38.5% vs 33.6%.
Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Los Angeles, CA most clearly?: Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 106.6; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.3 vs 158.6; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $420,700 vs $921,200.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Los Angeles, CA or Phoenix, AZ.

All US cities matchups