Phoenix, AZ vs San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Phoenix, AZ on 25 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 12. Phoenix, AZ leads on Economics. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety.

37 statistics with a better end, compared

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

Phoenix, AZ
Wins
12
Avg. percentile
43
Categories led
1
San Diego, CA
Wins
25
Avg. percentile
53
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticPhoenix, AZSan Diego, CA
Population
1,677,947
5th of 477
1,410,522
8th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$81,332
158th of 434
$108,077
68th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$420,700
287th of 434
$906,700
391st of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
13.7%
199th of 434
11.0%
131st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.3
tied 321st of 460
111.9
tied 417th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$69,630
tied 156th of 460
$79,060
tied 54th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,582
277th of 434
$2,313
395th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
694.5
315th of 395
372.3
191st of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetySan Diego, CA · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsPhoenix, AZ · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticPhoenix, AZSan Diego, CA
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
95.0
tied 97th of 460
108.0
tied 437th of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
7.5
294th of 395
1.7
119th of 395
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
93.3
tied 268th of 460
174.2
tied 453rd of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
91.4%
230th of 434
95.2%
69th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
33.6%
225th of 434
51.0%
87th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
694.5
315th of 395
372.3
191st of 395
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
265.8
240th of 395
145.4
117th of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
104.0
tied 397th of 460
99.6
tied 265th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,582
277th of 434
$2,313
395th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$420,700
287th of 434
$906,700
391st of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
121.2
tied 319th of 460
179.3
tied 434th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$69,630
tied 156th of 460
$79,060
tied 54th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$51,380
tied 165th of 460
$58,690
tied 70th of 460
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$81,332
158th of 434
$108,077
68th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.3
tied 321st of 460
111.9
tied 417th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,029.7
223rd of 395
1,539.0
157th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
13.7%
199th of 434
11.0%
131st of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
25.6
301st of 434
23.5
244th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
350.3
305th of 395
297.6
275th 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, Phoenix, AZ or San Diego, CA?
San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Phoenix, AZ on 25 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 12. Phoenix, AZ leads on Economics. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Phoenix, AZ or San Diego, CA?
Phoenix, AZ has a population of 1,677,947 (5th of 477 US cities) and San Diego, CA has 1,410,522 (8th of 477).
How do Phoenix, AZ and San Diego, CA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434), San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434) among US cities. San Diego, CA ranks better.
How do Phoenix, AZ and San Diego, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434), San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.
Where does Phoenix, AZ beat San Diego, CA most clearly?
Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 108.0; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.3 vs 174.2; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,582 vs $2,313.
Where does San Diego, CA beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?
San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1.7 vs 7.5; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.2% vs 91.4%; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 51.0% vs 33.6%.

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