Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories
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 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
71% less violent crime than South Gate
Households earn $37,009 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $368/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,768)
Homes cost $73k less ($578,900 vs $651,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $37,009/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$37,009
$104,197 vs $67,188/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
71% lower
152.5 vs 525.6 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Home Value
$73k less
$578,900 vs $651,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High | $578,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories. Scottsdale wins 18 and South Gate 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $578,900 median home), income ($104,197 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and South Gate, CA are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.