Tallahassee FL 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)
Tallahassee, FL
Florida · Population: 199,696
- Median HH Income$55,931
- Median Home Price$293,664
- Unemployment6.5%
- Bachelor's+51.0%
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
Tallahassee
199,696
Tallahassee +
Tempe
186,419
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Tallahassee
N/A
Tempe
N/A
Median Age
Tallahassee
28.0
Tallahassee +
Tempe
29.9
Foreign Born
Tallahassee
8.0%
Tempe
13.9%
Tempe +
White
Tallahassee
50.7%
Tempe
60.1%
Tempe +
Black
Tallahassee
35.7%
Tallahassee +
Tempe
7.8%
Asian
Tallahassee
4.0%
Tempe
9.5%
Tempe +
Hispanic
Tallahassee
8.6%
Tempe
23.1%
Tempe +
Spanish at Home
Tallahassee
N/A
Tempe
N/A
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 199,696 | 186,419 | Tallahassee + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 28.0 | 29.9 | Tallahassee + |
| Foreign Born | 8.0% | 13.9% | Tempe + |
| White | 50.7% | 60.1% | Tempe + |
| Black | 35.7% | 7.8% | Tallahassee + |
| Asian | 4.0% | 9.5% | Tempe + |
| Hispanic | 8.6% | 23.1% | Tempe + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Tallahassee
$55,931
Tempe
$77,643
Tempe +
Per Capita Income
Tallahassee
$35,704
Tempe
$42,371
Tempe +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Tallahassee
$65,328
Tallahassee +
Tempe
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Tallahassee
6.5%
Tempe
5.7%
Tempe +
Poverty Rate
Tallahassee
23.2%
Tempe
16.2%
Tempe +
Bachelor's Degree+
Tallahassee
51.0%
Tallahassee +
Tempe
49.5%
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $55,931 | $77,643 | Tempe + |
| Per Capita Income | $35,704 | $42,371 | Tempe + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $59,120 | Tallahassee + |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 5.7% | Tempe + |
| Poverty Rate | 23.2% | 16.2% | Tempe + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 51.0% | 49.5% | Tallahassee + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Tallahassee
$293,664
Tallahassee +
Tempe
$468,328
Homeownership Rate
Tallahassee
39.5%
Tempe
41.6%
Tempe +
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $293,664 | $468,328 | Tallahassee + |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.5% | 41.6% | Tempe + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Tallahassee
324
Tallahassee +
Tempe
450
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Tallahassee
1453
Tallahassee +
Tempe
2150
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 450 | Tallahassee + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 2150 | Tallahassee + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Tallahassee
34.1%
Tempe
27.2%
Tempe +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Tallahassee
9.6%
Tempe
7.2%
Tempe +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Tallahassee
20.3%
Tempe
16.6%
Tempe +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Tallahassee
13.2%
Tempe
10.7%
Tempe +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Tallahassee
16.7%
Tallahassee +
Tempe
18.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Tallahassee
12.2%
Tempe
9.1%
Tempe +
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 34.1% | 27.2% | Tempe + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 9.6% | 7.2% | Tempe + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 20.3% | 16.6% | Tempe + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 13.2% | 10.7% | Tempe + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.7% | 18.3% | Tallahassee + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 9.1% | Tempe + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Tallahassee
67.6°F
Tallahassee +
Tempe
71.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Tallahassee
58.1 in
Tempe
9.3 in
Tempe +
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 67.6°F | 71.3°F | Tallahassee + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 58.1 in | 9.3 in | Tempe + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Tallahassee
7.2 µg/m³
Tempe
7.1 µg/m³
Tempe +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Tallahassee
75.0%
Tempe
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | Tempe + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Tallahassee
20.3 min
Tallahassee +
Tempe
23.2 min
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tempe, AZ | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 20.3 min | 23.2 min | Tallahassee + |
Which City is Right for You?
Tempe leads in median household income at $77,643, while tallahassee offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $293,664. On public safety, Tallahassee is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 450 in Tempe. Tempe has a lower unemployment rate at 5.7%, and Tempe has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Tempe scores better with a lower obesity rate of 27.2%.
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