

Phoenix, AZ vs Seattle, WA
Phoenix, AZ and Seattle, WA are even: each comes out ahead on 24 of 48 statistics where one end is better. Phoenix, AZ leads on Crime & Safety. Seattle, WA leads on Economics.
48 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 24
- Avg. percentile
- 49
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 24
- Avg. percentile
- 47
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Phoenix, AZ | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,677,947 5th of 477 | 792,909 18th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $81,332 158th of 434 | $123,860 49th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $420,700 287th of 434 | $938,600 394th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 13.7% 199th of 434 | 9.88% 113th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 103.3 tied 321st of 460 | 111.1 tied 411th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $69,630 tied 156th of 460 | $91,790 tied 34th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,582 277th of 434 | $2,030 tied 369th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 694.5 315th of 395 | 698.7 318th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyPhoenix, AZ · 5 statistics
- EconomicsSeattle, WA · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Phoenix, AZ | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.0 tied 97th of 460 | 104.0 tied 356th of 460 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 33.6% 225th of 434 | 68.4% 37th of 434 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 2,029.7 223rd of 395 | 4,419.6 382nd of 395 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 265.8 240th of 395 | 975.9 392nd of 395 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $51,380 tied 165th of 460 | $72,610 tied 24th of 460 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 91.4% 230th of 434 | 94.5% 93rd of 434 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $69,630 tied 156th of 460 | $91,790 tied 34th of 460 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $81,332 158th of 434 | $123,860 49th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $420,700 287th of 434 | $938,600 394th of 434 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,582 277th of 434 | $2,030 tied 369th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 13.7% 199th of 434 | 9.88% 113th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 103.3 tied 321st of 460 | 111.1 tied 411th of 460 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 350.3 305th of 395 | 733.9 376th of 395 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 121.2 tied 319th of 460 | 151.3 tied 400th of 460 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 7.5 294th of 395 | 4.4 232nd of 395 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 104.0 tied 397th of 460 | 106.8 tied 449th of 460 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 93.3 tied 268th of 460 | 92.8 tied 262nd of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 25.6 301st of 434 | 26.0 311th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 694.5 315th of 395 | 698.7 318th of 395 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Phoenix, AZ or Seattle, WA?
- Phoenix, AZ and Seattle, WA are even: each comes out ahead on 24 of 48 statistics where one end is better. Phoenix, AZ leads on Crime & Safety. Seattle, WA leads on Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Phoenix, AZ or Seattle, WA?
- Phoenix, AZ has a population of 1,677,947 (5th of 477 US cities) and Seattle, WA has 792,909 (18th of 477).
- How do Phoenix, AZ and Seattle, WA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434), Seattle, WA $123,860 (49th of 434) among US cities. Seattle, WA ranks better.
- How do Phoenix, AZ and Seattle, WA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434), Seattle, WA $938,600 (394th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.
- Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Seattle, WA most clearly?
- Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 104.0; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,029.7 vs 4,419.6; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 265.8 vs 975.9.
- Where does Seattle, WA beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?
- Seattle, WA ranks far ahead on Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 68.4% vs 33.6%; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $72,610 vs $51,380; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 94.5% vs 91.4%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Phoenix, AZ or Seattle, WA.
- Atlanta, GA vs Phoenix, AZ
- Aurora, CO vs Phoenix, AZ
- Austin, TX vs Phoenix, AZ
- Charlotte, NC vs Phoenix, AZ
- Chicago, IL vs Phoenix, AZ
- Columbus, OH vs Phoenix, AZ
- Dallas, TX vs Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO vs Phoenix, AZ
- Austin, TX vs Seattle, WA
- Charlotte, NC vs Seattle, WA
- Chicago, IL vs Seattle, WA
- Columbus, OH vs Seattle, WA
- Dallas, TX vs Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO vs Seattle, WA
- Detroit, MI vs Seattle, WA
- El Paso, TX vs Seattle, WA