Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 15 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
15
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $342k less ($310,000 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,768)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $37,822/yr
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Glendale
Households earn $37,822 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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 6% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$342k less
$310,000 vs $651,800
Glendale
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 99.4°F
Scottsdale
Median Income
$37,822
$104,197 vs $66,375/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
69% lower
152.5 vs 488.4 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 99.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 11.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 15 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 8 and Scottsdale wins 15. 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 Glendale to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $651,800 median home), income ($66,375 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ are about 22 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.