Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ 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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($383,000 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $304/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 99°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $25,171/yr
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
79% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Households earn $25,171 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 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 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$269k less
$383,000 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$25,171
$104,197 vs $79,026/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
79% lower
152.5 vs 715.6 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $651,800 median home), income ($79,026 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Scottsdale, AZ are about 533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.