Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories
Downey
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Scottsdale
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 99°F
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $19,961/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
67% less violent crime than Downey
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,961 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)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$19,961
$104,197 vs $84,236/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
67% lower
152.5 vs 460.5 per 100k
Scottsdale
Median Home Value
$27k less
$651,800 vs $679,000
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $651,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories. Downey wins 2 and Scottsdale wins 20. 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 Downey to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $651,800 median home), income ($84,236 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 360 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.