Prescott, AZ vs Scottsdale, AZ
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | PrescottPrescott, AZ | ScottsdaleScottsdale, AZ | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Safe | Safe | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
82 mi separates Prescott, AZ from Scottsdale, AZ, which sits within a large city's limits, while Prescott lies 82 mi away. In 2023 Census figures, Scottsdale's median household income of $107,372 runs 55% higher than Prescott's $69,151, placing Prescott in the 44th percentile and Scottsdale in the 82nd. Median rent in Scottsdale reaches $1,910 versus $1,304 in Prescott, a 46% gap, with Scottsdale in the 89th percentile for rent and Prescott in the 57th.
Work-from-home rates differ sharply: 29.0% of Scottsdale workers telecommute, 17.0 points above Prescott's 12.0%, and Scottsdale sits in the 95th percentile for this measure. Average commutes run 21.7 minutes in Scottsdale versus 16.3 minutes in Prescott, placing Scottsdale in the 38th percentile and Prescott in the 6th. Violent crime per 100,000 people stands at 426 in Prescott, 2.5× higher than Scottsdale's 172, with Prescott in the 81st percentile and Scottsdale in the 35th. Property crime reverses the pattern: Scottsdale's 1,735 per 100,000 is 42% higher than Prescott's 1,224.
Air quality index values put Scottsdale at 77, 64% higher than Prescott's 47, with Scottsdale in the 98th percentile and Prescott in the 72nd. Prescott's median age of 60.3 years runs 11.1 years older than Scottsdale's 49.2, and Scottsdale's population of 242,169 is 5.2× larger than Prescott's 46,744. Bachelor's degree attainment reaches 61.5% in Scottsdale versus 41.1% in Prescott, a 20.4-point spread.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Prescott, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 14274th pctl | 19991st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Prescott, AZ 142; Scottsdale, AZ 199; Scottsdale is 40% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $528,50084th pctl | $709,90091st pctl | Median home value: Prescott, AZ $528,500; Scottsdale, AZ $709,900; Scottsdale is 34% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,30457th pctl | $1,91089th pctl | Median rent: Prescott, AZ $1,304; Scottsdale, AZ $1,910; Scottsdale is 46% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $69,15144th pctl | $107,37282nd pctl | Median household income: Prescott, AZ $69,151; Scottsdale, AZ $107,372; Scottsdale is 55% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,23685th pctl | $137,92194th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Prescott, AZ $99,236; Scottsdale, AZ $137,921; Scottsdale is 39% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $145,87785th pctl | $202,74494th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Prescott, AZ $145,877; Scottsdale, AZ $202,744; Scottsdale is 39% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Scottsdale needs about
$105,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 142 vs 199). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Prescott, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 3.2%29th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.4%62nd pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Prescott, AZ +1.4%; Scottsdale, AZ +2.1%; Scottsdale is 0.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $49,15976th pctl | $82,69795th pctl | Per-capita income: Prescott, AZ $49,159; Scottsdale, AZ $82,697; Scottsdale is 68% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.6%50th pctl | 7.1%25th pctl | Poverty rate: Prescott, AZ 11.6%; Scottsdale, AZ 7.1%; Prescott is 4.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 16.3 min6th pctl | 21.7 min38th pctl | Average commute: Prescott, AZ 16.3 min; Scottsdale, AZ 21.7 min; Scottsdale is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 12.0%58th pctl | 29.0%95th pctl | Work from home: Prescott, AZ 12.0%; Scottsdale, AZ 29.0%; Scottsdale is 17.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | Job market: Prescott, AZ B+; Scottsdale, AZ A+; Scottsdale is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Prescott, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 42681st pctl | 17235th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Prescott, AZ 426; Scottsdale, AZ 172; Prescott is 2.5 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,22441st pctl | 1,73567th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Prescott, AZ 1,224; Scottsdale, AZ 1,735; Scottsdale is 42% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Prescott, AZ C-; Scottsdale, AZ B+; Scottsdale is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Prescott, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Air quality: Prescott, AZ A-; Scottsdale, AZ B-; Prescott is graded higher. |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Poor | Fair | Tap water: Prescott, AZ F; Scottsdale, AZ C+; Scottsdale is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Arizona, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Arizona →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Prescott, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 82 mi45th pctl | 0 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Prescott, AZ 82 mi; Scottsdale, AZ 0 mi; Prescott is 81 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Great | Poor | Target proximity: Prescott, AZ A; Scottsdale, AZ F; Prescott is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 168 mi18th pctl | 113 mi12th pctl | Distance to international border: Prescott, AZ 168 mi; Scottsdale, AZ 113 mi; Prescott is 50% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 220 mi45th pctl | 161 mi38th pctl | Distance to coastline: Prescott, AZ 220 mi; Scottsdale, AZ 161 mi; Prescott is 36% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Vulnerable | Strategic location: Prescott, AZ C; Scottsdale, AZ D-; Prescott is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Prescott, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,74472nd pctl | 242,16996th pctl | Population: Prescott, AZ 46,744; Scottsdale, AZ 242,169; Scottsdale is 5.2 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 94726th pctl | 1,31639th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Prescott, AZ 947; Scottsdale, AZ 1,316; Scottsdale is 39% higher. |
| Median age | 60.398th pctl | 49.292nd pctl | Median age: Prescott, AZ 60.3; Scottsdale, AZ 49.2; Prescott is 11.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.1%68th pctl | 61.5%89th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Prescott, AZ 41.1%; Scottsdale, AZ 61.5%; Scottsdale is 20.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 1.93rd pctl | 27th pctl | About the same |
More about Prescott's residents · Scottsdale's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | PrescottPrescott, AZ | ScottsdaleScottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+7 | R+1 |
| 2024 presidential | R +15.0 pts | R +3.1 pts |
Full politics data: Prescott · Scottsdale
Moving between Prescott and Scottsdale
- Median rent: $1,304 in Prescott, $1,910 in Scottsdale
- Median home value: $528,500 in Prescott, $709,900 in Scottsdale
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 142 in Prescott, 199 in Scottsdale
- Median household income: $69,151 in Prescott, $107,372 in Scottsdale
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $145,877 in Prescott, $202,744 in Scottsdale
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Prescott, 3.2% in Scottsdale
- Average commute: 16.3 min in Prescott, 21.7 min in Scottsdale
- Violent crime per 100k: 426 in Prescott, 172 in Scottsdale
Weigh these by what matters to you
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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