Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($327,300 vs $651,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,555 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $8,817/yr
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,817 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Violent Crime
10% lower
137.1 vs 152.5 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$325k less
$327,300 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$8,817
$104,197 vs $95,380/yr
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 94.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories. Carrollton 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 Carrollton to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $651,800 median home), income ($95,380 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.