Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 14 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615
Scottsdale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($141,900 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $745/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,768)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $53,705/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $53,705 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$510k less
$141,900 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$53,705
$104,197 vs $50,492/yr
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.3% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 14 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 6 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $651,800 median home), income ($50,492 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,710 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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