Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ 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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($523,100 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $238/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 99°F
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $18,321/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
79% less violent crime than Portland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,321 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Commutes run 3 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
Portland
Median Home Value
$129k less
$523,100 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$18,321
$104,197 vs $85,876/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
79% lower
152.5 vs 720.1 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories. Portland 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 Portland to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $651,800 median home), income ($85,876 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and Scottsdale, AZ are about 998 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.