Los Angeles or Phoenix: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Phoenix wins on more indicators: 5 of 11 against 4.
- Money: Phoenix 1:3
- Climate and risks: Los Angeles 3:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Los Angeles
Indicator
Phoenix
Money
Better: Phoenix (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$86,376
202423% higher
✗$70,055
202419% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$2,929
2026-09-3070% higher
✓$1,720
2026-09-3041% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$950,020
2026-09-30115% higher
✓$441,097
2026-09-3054% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗113.6 100 = US average
202410% higher
✓103.3 100 = US average
20249% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Los Angeles (3 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓80 AQI
20247% lower
✗86 AQI
20248% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗134 days per year
202418% higher
✓114 days per year
202415% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓56 days per year
2016-202573% lower
✗206 days per year
2016-2025267% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
450 °C·days per year
2016-2025
384 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
863 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,923 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
26 days per year
2016-2025
23 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
394 mm per year
2016-2025
156 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
10.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
72 %
2021-2025
30 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓1 days per year
2021-202586% lower
✗7 days per year
2021-2025620% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
23 km
2006-2025
261 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✗0.45 per year
2006-2025
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
5.4 magnitude
2006-2025
no data
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
12,927,614 people
2024
5,186,958 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Los Angeles, Phoenix.