Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($312,300 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $495/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $57,737/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $57,737 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.2 pts lower (3.5%)
74% less violent crime than Newark
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 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
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Home Value
$340k less
$312,300 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$57,737
$104,197 vs $46,460/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
74% lower
152.5 vs 581.2 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories. Newark wins 5 and Scottsdale wins 18. 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 Newark to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $651,800 median home), income ($46,460 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Scottsdale, AZ are about 2,113 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.