City comparison
Yes. Phoenix's crime index is 174 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,582 in Phoenix.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Phoenix and Toledo. Phoenix averages 81°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,582 versus $934.
Phoenix is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Phoenix is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Phoenix and Toledo are 1,653 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $934 a month in Toledo, down $648 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $62,224 in Toledo, down $19,108 (23%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 221 in Toledo, up 47 points (27%).
The move
Toledo and Phoenix are 1,653 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, up $648 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $19,108 (31%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 174 in Phoenix, down 47 points (21%).
Phoenix, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Phoenix and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Toledo rent is 41% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix
$1,582/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,582 in Phoenix, so Toledo is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $648/month back in your pocket ($7,776/year). Over five years that's $38,880 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Phoenix, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Phoenix? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
31% higher
Phoenix's median income is 31% higher than Toledo
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Phoenix (about $19,108 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, Phoenix is the stronger labor market on paper. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Phoenix's crime index is 21% lower than Toledo
Phoenix
Winner174 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Phoenix's crime index is 174 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Phoenix. 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, Phoenix is the easier city. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
59% more comfortable
Phoenix weather is 59% more comfortable than Toledo
Phoenix
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Phoenix scores 59% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 31% higher ($81,332), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 81°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Phoenix is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Toledo (174 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,582/month rent in Phoenix at 81°F versus $934 in Toledo at 51°F. Income runs $81,332 vs $62,224, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Phoenix still pays more locally ($81,332 median income vs $62,224), which can offset the lease if your field pays Phoenix rates.
Median income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $62,224 in Toledo.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Phoenix; Toledo only makes sense when 51°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Phoenix when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Toledo, plus other cities in AZ and OH.
