Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ 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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($304,500 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $32,524/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
72% less violent crime than Chicago
Households earn $32,524 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 32°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
Chicago
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$347k less
$304,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$32,524
$104,197 vs $71,673/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
72% lower
152.5 vs 539.8 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Chicago 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 Chicago to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($71,673 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.