Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 12 of 22 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
97,542
Scottsdale
Arizona
12
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($396,100 vs $651,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Median income trails Scottsdale by $6,890/yr
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
16% less violent crime than Goodyear
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 99°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Goodyear
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$256k less
$396,100 vs $651,800
Goodyear
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 99.4°F
Scottsdale
Median Income
$6,890
$104,197 vs $97,307/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
16% lower
152.5 vs 182.2 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 99.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 11.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 12 of 22 categories. Goodyear wins 10 and Scottsdale wins 12. 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 Goodyear to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $651,800 median home), income ($97,307 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ are about 42 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.