Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
48% less violent crime than Vacaville
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $373/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,141)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Median income trails Vacaville by $2,567/yr
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($560,400 vs $651,800)
Households earn $2,567 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Scottsdale
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
48% lower
152.5 vs 293.2 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 95.0°F
Vacaville
Median Income
$2,567
$106,764 vs $104,197/yr
Vacaville
Median Home Value
$91k less
$560,400 vs $651,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High | $560,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories. Scottsdale wins 18 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $560,400 median home), income ($104,197 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and Vacaville, CA are about 650 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.