Example household · Phoenix, AZ · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Stockton skyline

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Phoenix vs Stockton

Phoenix and Stockton

Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Stockton are above the US rate in this release, 9.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Phoenix to Stockton

In 2022-2023, 110 households filed a move from Phoenix to Stockton (about 188 people, average adjusted gross income $58,727). 271 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,674 in Stockton. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Stockton has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Stockton is 94% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.

Stockton averages 251 sunny days, with July highs around 95°F and January nights around 43°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 35 minutes in Stockton and 26 in Phoenix.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 110 households moved Phoenix → Stockton (about 188 people, average AGI $58,727). 271 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Phoenix and Stockton changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 735 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$2,350–$4,400
Container or pod
$1,650–$3,100
Rent a truck
$850–$1,550

Movers in Stockton and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Stockton cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?

No. Stockton leaves about $763 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,674 in Stockton.

Does Stockton have state income tax?

Stockton is in California, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Phoenix to Stockton?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.