Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Spring Valley
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $34,856 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 99°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($375,200 vs $651,800)
38% less violent crime than Scottsdale
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,523 vs $1,768)
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $34,856/yr
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 3.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Median Income
$34,856
$104,197 vs $69,341/yr
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
38% lower
94.1 vs 152.5 per 100k
Spring Valley
Median Home Value
$277k less
$375,200 vs $651,800
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 99.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High | $375,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,523⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 220,114 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Spring Valley is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 14 of 23 categories. Scottsdale wins 14 and Spring Valley wins 9. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $375,200 median home), income ($104,197 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and Spring Valley, NV are about 255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.