Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,342 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
65% less violent crime than Cambridge
Homes cost $346k less ($651,800 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $860/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,628)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $17,342/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$17,342
$121,539 vs $104,197/yr
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
65% lower
152.5 vs 436.7 per 100k
Scottsdale
Median Home Value
$346k less
$651,800 vs $997,600
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $651,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 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+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories. Cambridge 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 Cambridge to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $651,800 median home), income ($121,539 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 2,274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.