St. George UT vs Tempe AZ — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
St. George, UT
Utah · Population: 99,184
- Median HH Income$72,870
- Median Home Price$456,900
- Unemployment3.5%
- Bachelor's+34.1%
Tempe, AZ
Arizona · Population: 186,419
- Median HH Income$77,643
- Median Home Price$468,328
- Unemployment5.7%
- Bachelor's+49.5%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
St. George
99,184
Tempe
186,419
Tempe +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. George
N/A
Tempe
N/A
Median Age
St. George
37.9
Tempe
29.9
Tempe +
Foreign Born
St. George
7.4%
Tempe
13.9%
Tempe +
White
St. George
85.0%
St. George +
Tempe
60.1%
Black
St. George
0.6%
Tempe
7.8%
Tempe +
Asian
St. George
1.2%
Tempe
9.5%
Tempe +
Hispanic
St. George
12.7%
Tempe
23.1%
Tempe +
Spanish at Home
St. George
N/A
Tempe
N/A
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 99,184 | 186,419 | Tempe + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 29.9 | Tempe + |
| Foreign Born | 7.4% | 13.9% | Tempe + |
| White | 85.0% | 60.1% | St. George + |
| Black | 0.6% | 7.8% | Tempe + |
| Asian | 1.2% | 9.5% | Tempe + |
| Hispanic | 12.7% | 23.1% | Tempe + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. George
$72,870
Tempe
$77,643
Tempe +
Per Capita Income
St. George
$36,254
Tempe
$42,371
Tempe +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. George
$60,713
St. George +
Tempe
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
St. George
3.5%
St. George +
Tempe
5.7%
Poverty Rate
St. George
11.3%
St. George +
Tempe
16.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
St. George
34.1%
Tempe
49.5%
Tempe +
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $72,870 | $77,643 | Tempe + |
| Per Capita Income | $36,254 | $42,371 | Tempe + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $60,713 | $59,120 | St. George + |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 5.7% | St. George + |
| Poverty Rate | 11.3% | 16.2% | St. George + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 34.1% | 49.5% | Tempe + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. George
$456,900
St. George +
Tempe
$468,328
Homeownership Rate
St. George
68.2%
St. George +
Tempe
41.6%
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $456,900 | $468,328 | St. George + |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.2% | 41.6% | St. George + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. George
245
St. George +
Tempe
450
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. George
1931
St. George +
Tempe
2150
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 245 | 450 | St. George + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1931 | 2150 | St. George + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. George
32.9%
Tempe
27.2%
Tempe +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. George
10.6%
Tempe
7.2%
Tempe +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. George
16.0%
St. George +
Tempe
16.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. George
10.9%
Tempe
10.7%
Tempe +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. George
9.7%
St. George +
Tempe
18.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. George
7.9%
St. George +
Tempe
9.1%
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.9% | 27.2% | Tempe + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 7.2% | Tempe + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.0% | 16.6% | St. George + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.9% | 10.7% | Tempe + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 9.7% | 18.3% | St. George + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 7.9% | 9.1% | St. George + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. George
63.9°F
St. George +
Tempe
71.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. George
8.8 in
St. George +
Tempe
9.3 in
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 63.9°F | 71.3°F | St. George + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 8.8 in | 9.3 in | St. George + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
St. George
7.0 µg/m³
St. George +
Tempe
7.1 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. George
75.0%
Tempe
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.0 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | St. George + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. George
17.9 min
St. George +
Tempe
23.2 min
| Metric | St. George, UT | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 17.9 min | 23.2 min | St. George + |
Which City is Right for You?
Tempe leads in median household income at $77,643, while st. George offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $456,900. On public safety, St. George is safer with a violent crime rate of 245 per 100,000 residents, compared to 450 in Tempe. St. George has a lower unemployment rate at 3.5%, and St. George has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.0 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Tempe scores better with a lower obesity rate of 27.2%.
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