The following comparison between Tucson and Chandler will focus on several key areas such as crime and safety, weather, cost of living, and more. While Tucson is a thriving city known for its vibrant cultural scene and outdoor recreation, Chandler presents itself as a thriving tech city with a young, knowledgeable workforce. Both cities hold unique prospects for relocators and tourists alike.
Distance between
Tucson, AZ and
Chandler, AZ : 92.8 miles
Tucson's population is larger by 94%. Its population has grown by 56,543 people (11.6%) since 2000. The population of Chandler has grown by 102,877 people (58.3%) during that time.
When it comes to crime and safety, Chandler has a better record than Tucson. Chandler's overall crime rate is considerably lower than the national average, while Tucson's is slightly higher. Both violent and property crime rates are lower in Chandler than in Tucson. Nevertheless, Tucson has been working on improving safety measures, and various neighborhoods and areas are known for their tranquility and safeness.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 1,383 registered sex offenders living in Tucson and 99 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Tucson is 384 to 1; the ratio in Chandler is 2,500 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is much larger in Tucson than that in Chandler.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Tucson is considerably lower than in Chandler. This is evident in nearly all aspects including housing, utilities, and transportation. Relocators, especially those on a budget, may find Tucson more affordable. For tourists, accommodation and dining costs are generally lower in Tucson, which might result in a less expensive visit.
Income Tax
In terms of income tax, no distinction exists between Tucson and Chandler as the same state income tax laws and rates apply to both cities. Arizona has a progressive state income tax system based on income levels with marginal rates ranging from 2.59% to 4.54%.
Property Tax
When it comes to property taxes, residents of both cities pay significantly less than the national average. However, property taxes in Chandler are slightly higher than in Tucson due to the city's high median home values.
Sales Tax
Both Tucson and Chandler have a relatively high sales tax compared to the national average, but the difference between the two cities is minimal. Chandler applies a slightly higher city sales tax on top of the state tax than Tucson.
Income
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Estimated median household income
$50,306
$94,613
Estimated per capita income
$27,821
$46,965
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
90.1
101.2
If you make $50,000 in Tucson, you will have to make $56,160 in Chandler to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Tucson is surrounded by several significant mountain ranges offering ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Chandler is located in the Southeast Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area with a terrain that is mainly flat.
Chandler boasts of high-quality education and ranks above the national average. Schools in Chandler receive higher ratings than those in Tucson. The availability of several esteemed universities like the University of Arizona in Tucson, however, offers excellent higher education opportunities.
Chandler's economy thrives due to its focus on tech industries attracting a young, skilled workforce while Tucson's economy is more diverse providing jobs in healthcare, education, and government. As of the most recent figures, Chandler has a slightly higher median household income compared to Tucson.
Biggest Employers
In Chandler, Intel is the biggest employer providing thousands of high-tech jobs. Tucson's biggest employers include the University of Arizona and the local government, alongside several large healthcare providers such as Banner University Medical Center.
There were 1,134 building permits issued in Tucson in 2012 (832 more than in 2011) compared to 670 building permits issued in Chandler in 2012 (5 more than in 2011).
In Tucson (Pima County), 52.7% voted for Democrats and 45.7% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Chandler (Maricopa County), 43.6% voted for Democrats and 54.3% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
2020
58.4%
50.2%
39.8%
48.0%
1.7%
1.8%
2016
53.3%
44.9%
39.7%
47.7%
7.0%
7.5%
2012
52.7%
43.6%
45.7%
54.3%
1.6%
2.1%
2008
52.4%
44.0%
46.3%
54.5%
1.4%
1.5%
2004
52.7%
42.4%
46.7%
57.0%
0.6%
0.6%
2000
51.4%
43.0%
43.3%
53.4%
5.3%
3.6%
1996
52.2%
44.5%
39.4%
47.2%
8.5%
8.2%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
CATHOLIC CHURCH
20.8%
13.6%
7.9%
4.3%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
2.3%
1.9%
10.4%
6.5%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.9%
0.8%
2.5%
2.0%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.8%
0.3%
1.4%
1.3%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.4%
0.5%
1.4%
1.5%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.3%
0.4%
1.9%
2.0%
VINEYARD USA
0.0%
0.3%
0.5%
0.6%
Weather
Both Tucson and Chandler offer a predominantly hot desert climate, common in Arizona. Tucson, however, does tend to be slightly cooler than Chandler due to its higher elevation. Both cities enjoy a generous amount of sunlight throughout the year, but Tucson experiences a wider range of temperatures, with cooler winters and less extreme summers compared to Chandler.
Weather and climate
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Temperature - Average
70°F
71.8°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
38.6%
37.5%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
46%
48%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
58%
60%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
12%
12%
Precipitation - Yearly average
12 in
9.1 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
2 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
32.3%
35.3%
Sunshine amount - Average
92.8%
92.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
15%
16%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
94%
95%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
79%
79%
Wind speed - Average
8.3 mph
6.6 mph
Average climate in Tucson, Arizona
Average climate in Chandler, Arizona
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
Tucson
Chandler
2018
87
206
0.19
0.29
8.3
15.2
32.0
30.6
29.9
35.5
5.5
7.7
0.1
0.6
2017
73
132
0.18
0.36
8.4
15.9
31.7
31.2
32.2
34.0
7.1
7.8
0.1
1.4
2016
68
125
0.21
0.34
7.9
15.8
29.7
30.2
25.3
30.2
4.5
7.1
0.1
0.4
2015
62
173
0.21
0.39
8.7
17.8
29.7
29.2
25.4
24.2
5.1
7.3
0.2
0.9
2014
74
231
0.19
0.44
10.0
19.9
28.8
27.8
28.0
29.8
5.6
8.6
0.2
1.1
2013
94
148
0.17
0.32
10.4
20.1
30.4
29.8
30.9
28.9
6.8
7.5
0.2
0.9
2012
73
165
0.20
0.36
11.8
21.5
30.0
29.3
31.2
36.8
5.6
8.8
0.2
1.3
2011
81
205
0.22
0.32
11.9
19.1
31.0
30.1
29.7
40.4
5.8
9.5
0.3
0.9
2010
68
100
0.29
0.42
10.8
17.4
30.5
29.8
25.5
23.8
N/A
8.3
0.5
1.2
2009
82
109
0.25
0.40
11.2
17.6
29.2
29.8
31.9
36.1
N/A
N/A
0.5
1.1
2008
81
107
0.29
0.36
12.2
18.6
29.2
29.6
32.0
40.2
N/A
N/A
0.9
1.3
2007
75
135
0.37
0.38
13.4
20.6
28.7
28.5
27.3
50.2
N/A
N/A
0.9
1.9
2006
74
138
0.41
0.46
15.3
23.1
27.7
29.5
17.3
56.3
N/A
N/A
0.6
1.9
2005
76
109
0.43
0.56
15.1
23.6
26.0
26.6
17.8
48.7
N/A
N/A
0.7
1.8
2004
77
97
0.49
0.56
15.6
23.3
25.6
25.9
14.0
33.7
N/A
N/A
1.2
1.4
2003
81
100
0.57
0.58
17.2
24.6
27.1
27.3
19.2
42.6
N/A
N/A
1.2
1.4
2002
76
111
0.56
0.66
16.9
25.5
26.8
27.1
19.9
41.8
N/A
N/A
1.0
1.6
2001
70
105
0.55
0.68
16.4
24.3
26.1
26.3
23.2
37.8
N/A
N/A
0.8
1.5
2000
78
117
0.50
0.69
16.7
29.6
26.4
26.8
N/A
45.6
N/A
N/A
2.3
1.7
Natural disasters
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
8.9%
18.5%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
1,584.9%
2,391%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
13%
16%
Transportation
Tucson offers more in terms of public transportation with city buses and the Sun Link streetcar. Chandler primarily relies on road networks and personal vehicles, with limited public transit options. Commuting times in Chandler tend to be shorter due to its smaller geographical size.
Transport
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
1
2
FAA registered aircraft
983
438
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
14
5
Means of transportation to work
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Bicycle
1%
0.4%
Bus
1.9%
0.3%
Carpooled
11.5%
10.6%
Car alone
81.9%
84.8%
Motorcycle
0.5%
0.5%
Walked
2.3%
2.2%
Average travel time to work
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Average
26 min
25.7 min
Other means
21.6 min
26.3 min
Public transportation
42.5 min
50.1 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
86.3%
89.3%
In 2 person carpool
10.1%
8%
In 3 person carpool
2.5%
1%
In 4 person carpool
1%
0.7%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.1%
0.9%
In 7+ person carpool
0.1%
0.1%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate is more affordable in Tucson than in Chandler. This makes Tucson more attractive for those looking to buy property or invest in real estate. Meanwhile, Chandler's real estate market is highly desirable due to its growth and strong economic prospects.
Neighborhoods
Chandler, being a suburb, offers family-friendly residential neighborhoods often built around high-quality schools. Tucson has a mix of historic and modern neighborhoods ranging from the cultural Fourth Avenue District to the affluent Catalina Foothills.
Houses and residents
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Houses
242,816
112,136
Average household size (people)
2.4
2.7
Median year apartment built
1979
1997
Median year house/condo built
1978
1997
Length of stay in the house since moving in
13.2 years
10.6 years
Houses occupied
223,068 (91.9%)
107,668 (96%)
Houses occupied by owners
114,708 (51.4%)
71,036 (66%)
Houses occupied by renters
108,360 (48.6%)
36,632 (34%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$801.80
$2,338
Median monthly housing costs
$951
$1,573
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$557,132
$461,127
Estimated median house or condo value
$224,800
$435,100
Median numbers of rooms
4.9
5.5
Median number of rooms in apartments
4
4.2
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
5.8
6.3
Median house price - detached houses
$262,219
$493,497
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$147,793
$583,625
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$125,313
$260,715
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$135,055
$287,805
Median house price - mobile homes
$48,136
$81,606
Median house price - occupied boats, rvs, vans etc.
$53,411
$36,427
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$210,375
$316,438
Median house price - All housing units
$234,849
$471,395
Median house age
43
24
Renting percentage
48.1%
33.7%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,247.3
1,937.2
House value disparities
32.8%
22.8%
Household income disparities
44.9%
38.9%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$76,356
$122,158
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$54,612
$78,975
Housing units without a mortgage
1,087 (1.5%)
907 (1.6%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
2,785 (3.9%)
3,763 (6.8%)
Housing units with a mortgage
70,054 (98.5%)
54,712 (98.4%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
211 (0.3%)
0 (0%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
4,051 (5.7%)
4,390 (7.9%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
11
8
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
1
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.2%
1.1%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.8%
0.4%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Tucson
Chandler
One, detached
53.5%
68.7%
One, attached
8.3%
5.5%
Two
2.5%
1.2%
3 or 4
4.3%
4.5%
5 to 9
5.0%
4.7%
10 to 19
5.6%
4.8%
20 to 49
5.8%
1.8%
50 or more
8.6%
7.5%
Mobile homes
6.2%
1.3%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.2%
0.0%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
14,487
8,781
State government workers
17,981
4,501
Unpaid family workers
709
180
Industries and Occupations
Chandler is a hub for the tech industry, with Intel being one of the largest employers. Tucson, on the other hand, has a more varied economy, with sectors like healthcare, education, and government leading job opportunities.
Both cities have quality healthcare systems. Tucson is home to numerous hospitals including the Banner University Medical Center. Chandler also hosts top healthcare facilities, including the Chandler Regional Medical Center. However, Tucson's larger size allows for a wider variety of specialized healthcare services.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Tucson
Chandler
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Tucson provides an older, more historical infrastructure, with many buildings having significant cultural and historical significance. Meanwhile, Chandler, as a newer city, showcases more modern infrastructure with sprawling suburbs.
Infrastructure
Type
Tucson
Chandler
Hospitals
24
2
TV stations
20
20
Bank branches located here
159
59
Bank institutions located here
17
20
Main business address for public companies
6
1
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
0
1
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Tucson
Chandler
1999
3,131
879
2000
1,601
790
2001
912
513
2002
778
487
2003
1,409
854
2004
2,041
1,296
2005
2,872
1,916
2006
2,833
1,705
2007
1,601
949
2008
714
374
2009
386
249
Culture and Food
Tucson is recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, boasting diverse food cultures strongly influenced by its Native American and Mexican heritage. Chandler, though not as diverse, has a growing food scene. In terms of cultural offerings, Tucson is richer due to its historic sites, museums, and art galleries.
Sports Teams
Tucson does not have major professional sports teams, but it does host spring training for Major League Baseball. Chandler, being closer to Phoenix, provides easy access to major sports games with the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), and Phoenix Suns (NBA) playing nearby.
Tucson, AZ
Chandler, AZ
Tucson, AZ and 
Chandler, AZ : 92.8 miles
