Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,546
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216
Scottsdale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($416,500 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 99°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $25,651/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
50% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Households earn $25,651 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Ann Arbor
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Ann Arbor
Median Home Value
$235k less
$416,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$25,651
$104,197 vs $78,546/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
50% lower
152.5 vs 302.5 per 100k
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 97.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Ann Arbor is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 9 and Scottsdale wins 14. 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 Ann Arbor to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($78,546 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.