Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($540,400 vs $651,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 99°F
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,768)
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $18,344/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
85% less violent crime than Denver
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,344 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Home Value
$111k less
$540,400 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$18,344
$104,197 vs $85,853/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
85% lower
152.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories. Denver wins 5 and Scottsdale wins 18. 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 Denver to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $651,800 median home), income ($85,853 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Scottsdale, AZ are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.