Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories
San Francisco
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197
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.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,492 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 99°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $697k less ($651,800 vs $1,348,700)
74% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $548/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,316)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $32,492/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$32,492
$136,689 vs $104,197/yr
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
74% lower
152.5 vs 596.5 per 100k
Scottsdale
Median Home Value
$697k less
$651,800 vs $1,348,700
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
37.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $651,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 39.3 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 14.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories. San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $651,800 median home), income ($136,689 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 686 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.