Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
79% less violent crime than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,085 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($515,500 vs $651,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 99°F
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Scottsdale by $18,085/yr
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$18,085
$104,197 vs $86,112/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
79% lower
152.5 vs 739.8 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$136k less
$515,500 vs $651,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 17.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories. Scottsdale wins 20 and Vallejo wins 2. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $515,500 median home), income ($104,197 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and Vallejo, CA are about 657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.