Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 20 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($494,100 vs $651,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 99°F
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,768)
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $21,411/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
81% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $21,411 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$158k less
$494,100 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$21,411
$104,197 vs $82,786/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
81% lower
152.5 vs 787.2 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.4% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 20 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 3 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 Lakewood to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $651,800 median home), income ($82,786 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Scottsdale, AZ are about 558 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.