Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 Scottsdale leads 12 of 23 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $34,864 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than St. George
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 54°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
Cost of living runs 8% higher than St. George
St. George, UT
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($415,200 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,768)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $34,864/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Median Income
$34,864
$104,197 vs $69,333/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
27% lower
152.5 vs 210.0 per 100k
St. George
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Median Home Value
$237k less
$415,200 vs $651,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 55 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 22.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 12 of 23 categories. Scottsdale wins 12 and St. George wins 11. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $415,200 median home), income ($104,197 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and St. George, UT are about 254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.