Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Savannah, GA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 13 of 20 categories
Savannah
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Scottsdale
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Savannah, GA
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($203,300 vs $651,800)
87% less violent crime than Scottsdale
Rent averages $552/mo less ($1,216 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $49,449/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $49,449 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Savannah
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Savannah
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
87% lower
20.3 vs 152.5 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$449k less
$203,300 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$49,449
$104,197 vs $54,748/yr
Scottsdale
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 92.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Savannah, GA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $203,300 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,216 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,748 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 5 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Savannah-Chatham County | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.4°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.3°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 147,583 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Savannah's cost of living index is 95.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 13 of 20 categories. Savannah wins 7 and Scottsdale wins 13. 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 Savannah to Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,300 vs $651,800 median home), income ($54,748 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Savannah, GA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,777 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.