Which is better, Phoenix, AZ or Washington, DC?

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 34 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 14. 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, Phoenix, AZ or Washington, DC?

Phoenix, AZ has a population of 1,677,947 (5th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).

How do Phoenix, AZ and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.

Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Washington, DC most clearly?

Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 104.8; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,029.7 vs 3,070.2; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $420,700 vs $737,100.

Where does Washington, DC beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?

Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 64.2% vs 33.6%; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $71,060 vs $51,380; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $91,930 vs $69,630.

Phoenix, AZ vs Washington, DC

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 34 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 14. Phoenix, AZ leads on Crime & Safety and 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.

Phoenix, AZ

Wins: 34
Avg. percentile: 49
Categories led: 2

Washington, DC

Wins: 14
Avg. percentile: 37
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Phoenix, AZ	Washington, DC
Population	1,677,947 5th of 477	698,733 22nd of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$81,332 158th of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$420,700 287th of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	13.7% 199th of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.3 tied 321st of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$69,630 tied 156th of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,582 277th of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	694.5 315th of 395	746.8 329th 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	Phoenix, AZ	Washington, DC
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	95.0 tied 97th of 460	104.8 tied 362nd of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.6% 225th of 434	64.2% 48th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$51,380 tied 165th of 460	$71,060 tied 30th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$69,630 tied 156th of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,029.7 223rd of 395	3,070.2 329th of 395
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$81,332 158th of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$420,700 287th of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	25.6 301st of 434	30.0 384th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	7.5 294th of 395	16.6 368th of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,582 277th of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	265.8 240th of 395	193.3 172nd of 395
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	350.3 305th of 395	650.5 371st of 395
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	121.2 tied 319th of 460	151.1 tied 390th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.3 tied 321st of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	93.3 tied 268th of 460	106.7 tied 329th of 460
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	13.7% 199th of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	104.0 tied 397th of 460	102.3 tied 371st of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	694.5 315th of 395	746.8 329th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	91.4% 230th of 434	91.2% 241st of 434

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 Washington, DC?: Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 34 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 14. 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, Phoenix, AZ or Washington, DC?: Phoenix, AZ has a population of 1,677,947 (5th of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
How do Phoenix, AZ and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
How do Phoenix, AZ and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.
Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Washington, DC most clearly?: Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 104.8; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,029.7 vs 3,070.2; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $420,700 vs $737,100.
Where does Washington, DC beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?: Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 64.2% vs 33.6%; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $71,060 vs $51,380; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $91,930 vs $69,630.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Phoenix, AZ or Washington, DC.

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