Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $460k less ($192,000 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $875/mo less ($893 vs $1,768)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 99°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $55,006/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $55,006 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Cincinnati
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$460k less
$192,000 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$55,006
$104,197 vs $49,191/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
82% lower
152.5 vs 845.6 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Cincinnati to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $651,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.