Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $55k less ($597,100 vs $651,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 64°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 99°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.5%)
Median income trails Scottsdale by $8,627/yr
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,170)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,627 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Home Value
$55k less
$597,100 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$8,627
$104,197 vs $95,570/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
11% lower
152.5 vs 171.0 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 25.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 6 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 Boca Raton to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $651,800 median home), income ($95,570 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,957 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.