City comparison
No. Chandler's crime index is 61 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 38 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $1,902 in Chandler.
Safety is where Austin and Chandler split most clearly. Chandler scores 101 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,902 in Chandler.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on cost of living and Chandler wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Chandler has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Chandler are 853 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,902 a month in Chandler, up $173 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $108,095 in Chandler, up $14,437 (15%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 61 in Chandler, down 101 points (62%).
The move
Chandler and Austin are 853 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,902 a month in Chandler to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $173 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $108,095 in Chandler to $93,658 in Austin, down $14,437 (13%).
The crime index goes from 61 in Chandler to 162 in Austin, up 101 points (166%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Chandler, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Chandler? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Austin rent is 9% cheaper than Chandler
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Chandler
$1,902/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $1,902 in Chandler, so Austin is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $173, or $2,076 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Chandler? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Chandler's median income is 15% higher than Austin
Austin
$93,658
Chandler
Winner$108,095
Median household income is $108,095 in Chandler versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Chandler (about $14,437 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chandler is the stronger labor market on paper. Austin can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Chandler's crime index is 62% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Chandler
Winner61 (100 = avg)
Chandler's crime index is 61 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Chandler. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Chandler is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Chandler are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chandler
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Chandler averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Chandler sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Austin
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chandler is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($108,095). Start with Chandler if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chandler is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than Austin (61 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Chandler leads on safety (75/100 vs 45/100 in Austin). Typical rent is $1,902 in Chandler and $1,729 in Austin; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Chandler vs 45/100 in Austin), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $108,095 in Chandler versus $93,658 in Austin.
Between Austin and Chandler, Chandler is ahead on safety — 75/100 safety versus 45/100. Lean Austin instead when you already know the Austin block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Chandler when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Chandler, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
