Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roswell, GA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 12 of 23 categories
Roswell
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
92,770
Scottsdale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
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.
Roswell, GA
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($479,400 vs $651,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,727 more per year on average
Rent averages $149/mo less ($1,619 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Median income trails Roswell by $18,727/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$18,727
$122,924 vs $104,197/yr
Roswell
Median Home Value
$172k less
$479,400 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.3% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roswell, GA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $479,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,924 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.2% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 45 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,770 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.8% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roswell's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 12 of 23 categories. Roswell wins 11 and Scottsdale wins 12. 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 Roswell to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($479,400 vs $651,800 median home), income ($122,924 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roswell, GA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,574 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.