Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories
Richmond
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Scottsdale
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 99°F
Homes cost $27k less ($624,800 vs $651,800)
Cons
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Scottsdale by $17,579/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
83% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,579 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Home Value
$27k less
$624,800 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$17,579
$104,197 vs $86,618/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
83% lower
152.5 vs 923.1 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
28.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 2 and Scottsdale wins 20. 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 Richmond to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $651,800 median home), income ($86,618 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.