Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
14
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($340,200 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $446/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,768)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $32,105/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
81% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $32,105 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.5%)
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 6% higher than Phoenix
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$312k less
$340,200 vs $651,800
Phoenix
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 99.4°F
Scottsdale
Median Income
$32,105
$104,197 vs $72,092/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
81% lower
152.5 vs 799.6 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 99.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 11.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 9 and Scottsdale wins 14. 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 Phoenix to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $651,800 median home), income ($72,092 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ are about 15 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.