Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 25%
vs52 · Bottom 44%
Growth
63 · Top 30%
vs68 · Top 21%
Climate
59 · Bottom 22%
vs74 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
44 · Bottom 34%
vs40 · Bottom 29%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 9%
vs64 · Bottom 8%
Access
95 · Top 15%
vs87 · Top 31%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs94 · Top 2%
Measured values
| Metric | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,028,754 | 4,061,920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $88,301 | $115,177 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,239 | $63,994 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 345/sq mi | 692/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $440,900 | $717,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,702 | $2,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 60.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.9% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.3% | 47.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 8.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 34,635 | 20,957 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.9 | 5.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -17.2% | 37.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 107°F | 77°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 7.2" | 34.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 17 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 31.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
64
Your Score
57
Area Score
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
68
Your Score
61
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology