Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $392k less ($259,500 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $345/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,768)
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $27,511/yr
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
45% less violent crime than Irving
Households earn $27,511 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Home Value
$392k less
$259,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$27,511
$104,197 vs $76,686/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
45% lower
152.5 vs 275.4 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.1% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 95.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Irving is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Irving wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Irving to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($76,686 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 861 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.