Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($347,000 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $397/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 99°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $25,566/yr
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Raleigh
Households earn $25,566 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 52°F
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 Raleigh
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$305k less
$347,000 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$25,566
$104,197 vs $78,631/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
69% lower
152.5 vs 488.8 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.5% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 7 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 Raleigh to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $651,800 median home), income ($78,631 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,883 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.