Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($461,500 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $219/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,768)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $17,641/yr
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
67% less violent crime than Austin
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,641 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$190k less
$461,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$17,641
$104,197 vs $86,556/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
67% lower
152.5 vs 466.9 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Austin is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Austin wins 7 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Austin to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($86,556 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 858 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.