Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
105,335
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($288,100 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $509/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $20,717/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $20,717 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 53°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 Concord
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Home Value
$364k less
$288,100 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$20,717
$104,197 vs $83,480/yr
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Concord is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord 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 Concord to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $651,800 median home), income ($83,480 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,774 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.