Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories
Sacramento
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ 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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($450,500 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $25,243/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Sacramento
Households earn $25,243 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 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
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$201k less
$450,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$25,243
$104,197 vs $78,954/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
80% lower
152.5 vs 754.9 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 94.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, 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 | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento'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 18 of 22 categories. Sacramento wins 4 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 Sacramento to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($78,954 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.