City comparison
No. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 99 in Irving, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 78, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $2,013 in Scottsdale.
The income gap between Irving and Scottsdale is significant: $81,830 median household versus $110,886. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,619 in Irving and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
This is a genuine split. Irving 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Irving at $1,619 average has pockets that run $1,419 and others at $2,019: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Irving and Scottsdale are 865 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, up $394 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $110,886 in Scottsdale, up $29,056 (36%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 79 in Scottsdale, down 20 points (20%).
The move
Scottsdale and Irving are 865 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $394 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $81,830 in Irving, down $29,056 (26%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 99 in Irving, up 20 points (25%).
Irving, 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 Irving and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Irving rent is 20% cheaper than Scottsdale
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Scottsdale
$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $2,013 in Scottsdale, so Irving is 20% 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 $4,728, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Irving 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
36% higher
Scottsdale's median income is 36% higher than Irving
Irving
$81,830
Scottsdale
Winner$110,886
Median household income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $81,830 in Irving, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Scottsdale (about $29,056 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. Irving can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 20% lower than Irving
Irving
99 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 99 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Irving can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Irving and Scottsdale are about even on typical weather.
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Scottsdale
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Irving sits near 70°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 Irving
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,619 a month. Choose Irving 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 36% 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 20% lower than Irving (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
Scottsdale posts $110,886 median household income against $81,830 in Irving. That 26% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,619 in Irving and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale still pays more locally ($110,886 median income vs $81,830), which can offset the lease if your field pays Scottsdale rates.
Safety scores read 60/100 in Irving and 67/100 in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale leads on local pay ($110,886 median income vs $81,830), even though rent runs $2,013 versus $1,619 — skip Scottsdale only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
Ready to move to Scottsdale?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Scottsdale when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Irving and Scottsdale, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
