Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594
Scottsdale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,982 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 99°F
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
30% less violent crime than Alexandria
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Median income trails Alexandria by $8,982/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$8,982
$113,179 vs $104,197/yr
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
30% lower
152.5 vs 219.1 per 100k
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $651,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 5 and Scottsdale wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $651,800 median home), income ($113,179 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,958 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.