Scottsdale vs Arlington: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Scottsdale, AZ and Arlington, VA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Arlington, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 240,537 | 235,845 |
| Median household income | $104,197 | $137,387 |
| Median home value | $651,800 | $833,300 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,768 | $2,227 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Scottsdale, AZ and Arlington, VA comes down to what you value most. Scottsdale has the lower median home value, and Scottsdale has the lower median rent.
Arlington has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Scottsdale or Arlington?
- By median home value, Scottsdale is the cheaper of the two ($651,800 vs $833,300). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Scottsdale or Arlington?
- Median household income is $104,197 in Scottsdale versus $137,387 in Arlington, per the US Census Bureau.