Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roseville, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 22 categories
Roseville
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
148,879
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197
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.
Roseville, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $55k less ($596,700 vs $651,800)
Households earn $8,068 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.5%)
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
30% less violent crime than Roseville
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
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $172/mo less ($1,768 vs $1,940)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Median income trails Roseville by $8,068/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Roseville
Median Income
$8,068
$112,265 vs $104,197/yr
Roseville
Median Home Value
$55k less
$596,700 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
30% lower
152.5 vs 219.2 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.5% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 93.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roseville, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $596,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,940⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,265 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.1% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roseville City Elementary | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,879 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.1% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roseville's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 22 categories. Roseville wins 5 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Roseville to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($596,700 vs $651,800 median home), income ($112,265 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roseville, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.