Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Scottsdale leads 19 of 23 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537
Seattle
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Seattle
Homes cost $228k less ($651,800 vs $879,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $11,871/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Seattle, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 99°F
Households earn $11,871 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
80% lower
152.5 vs 775.1 per 100k
Scottsdale
Median Home Value
$228k less
$651,800 vs $879,900
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.2% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$11,871
$116,068 vs $104,197/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 19 of 23 categories. Scottsdale wins 19 and Seattle wins 4. 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 Scottsdale to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $879,900 median home), income ($104,197 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and Seattle, WA are about 1,106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.