Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
West Covina, 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
West Covina
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
36% less violent crime than West Covina
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 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)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,768 vs $2,054)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
West Covina, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 99°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Scottsdale
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$7,978
$104,197 vs $96,219/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
36% lower
152.5 vs 239.3 per 100k
Scottsdale
Median Home Value
$13k less
$651,800 vs $664,500
Scottsdale
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.7% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | West Covina, 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 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 39.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories. Scottsdale wins 20 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $664,500 median home), income ($104,197 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and West Covina, CA are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.