City comparison
No. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Safety is where Austin and Scottsdale split most clearly. Scottsdale scores 83 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on cost of living and Scottsdale wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Scottsdale has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Scottsdale are 859 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, up $284 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $110,886 in Scottsdale, up $17,228 (18%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 79 in Scottsdale, down 83 points (51%).
The move
Scottsdale and Austin are 859 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $284 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $93,658 in Austin, down $17,228 (16%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 162 in Austin, up 83 points (105%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Scottsdale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Austin rent is 14% cheaper than Scottsdale
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Scottsdale
$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $2,013 in Scottsdale, so Austin is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,408, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Austin still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Scottsdale.
Planning to buy in Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Scottsdale's median income is 18% higher than Austin
Austin
$93,658
Scottsdale
Winner$110,886
Median household income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Scottsdale (about $17,228 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Scottsdale is the stronger labor market on paper. Austin can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
51% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 51% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% lower in Scottsdale. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Scottsdale is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Scottsdale are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Scottsdale
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Scottsdale sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Austin
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Scottsdale is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($110,886). Start with Scottsdale if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Scottsdale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Austin (79 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Austin carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 67/100 in Scottsdale). That 22-point spread matters more than the $284 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Austin rent at $1,729/month is still below Scottsdale's $2,013, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,729 in Austin and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Pick Scottsdale when you want the stronger safety signal (67/100). Otherwise, Austin's case rests on a Austin ZIP you trust at $1,729 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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