Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50
Population
176,105
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $91k less ($560,500 vs $651,800)
Households earn $11,667 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 99°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
20% less violent crime than Elk Grove
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $308/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,076)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Median income trails Elk Grove by $11,667/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$11,667
$115,864 vs $104,197/yr
Elk Grove
Median Home Value
$91k less
$560,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
20% lower
152.5 vs 189.9 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.4% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 6 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 Elk Grove to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($115,864 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.