Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
68% less violent crime than South Fulton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $26,709 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than South Fulton
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $410k less ($242,200 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $307/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 99°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $26,709/yr
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Median Income
$26,709
$104,197 vs $77,488/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
68% lower
152.5 vs 470.5 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 90.1°F
South Fulton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$410k less
$242,200 vs $651,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 23 categories. Scottsdale wins 18 and South Fulton wins 5. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $242,200 median home), income ($104,197 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and South Fulton, GA are about 1,564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.