Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories
Pasadena
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
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.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $480k less ($171,600 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $609/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $39,499/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
73% less violent crime than Pasadena
Households earn $39,499 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.5%)
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 4 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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Pasadena
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$480k less
$171,600 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$39,499
$104,197 vs $64,698/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
73% lower
152.5 vs 566.1 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.9% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 92.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Pasadena to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $651,800 median home), income ($64,698 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,020 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.