Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Braunfels, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 15 of 22 categories
New Braunfels
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
92,993
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($290,800 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,426 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $18,370/yr
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,370 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than New Braunfels
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$361k less
$290,800 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$18,370
$104,197 vs $85,827/yr
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 93.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Braunfels, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $290,800 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,827 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.5 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 49 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COMAL ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.4°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,993 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Braunfels's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 15 of 22 categories. New Braunfels wins 7 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 New Braunfels to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($290,800 vs $651,800 median home), income ($85,827 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Braunfels, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.