Boca Raton FL vs Scottsdale AZ — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Boca Raton, FL

Florida · Population: 98,833

  • Median HH Income$102,722
  • Median Home Price$562,670
  • Unemployment5.9%
  • Bachelor's+60.4%

Scottsdale, AZ

Arizona · Population: 242,169

  • Median HH Income$107,372
  • Median Home Price$858,307
  • Unemployment3.4%
  • Bachelor's+61.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Boca Raton
98,833
Scottsdale
242,169
Scottsdale +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Boca Raton
N/A
Scottsdale
N/A
Median Age
Boca Raton
45.8
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
49.2
Foreign Born
Boca Raton
20.0%
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
11.2%
White
Boca Raton
77.2%
Scottsdale
81.8%
Scottsdale +
Black
Boca Raton
5.7%
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
2.0%
Asian
Boca Raton
3.0%
Scottsdale
5.1%
Scottsdale +
Hispanic
Boca Raton
15.4%
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
9.4%
Spanish at Home
Boca Raton
N/A
Scottsdale
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Boca Raton
$102,722
Scottsdale
$107,372
Scottsdale +
Per Capita Income
Boca Raton
$72,542
Scottsdale
$82,697
Scottsdale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Boca Raton
$65,328
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Boca Raton
5.9%
Scottsdale
3.4%
Scottsdale +
Poverty Rate
Boca Raton
9.4%
Scottsdale
7.1%
Scottsdale +
Bachelor's Degree+
Boca Raton
60.4%
Scottsdale
61.5%
Scottsdale +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Boca Raton
$562,670
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
$858,307
Homeownership Rate
Boca Raton
65.8%
Scottsdale
67.6%
Scottsdale +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Boca Raton
324
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
450
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Boca Raton
1453
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
2150

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
23.2%
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
26.2%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
10.4%
Scottsdale
9.4%
Scottsdale +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Boca Raton
14.3%
Scottsdale
12.1%
Scottsdale +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
9.7%
Scottsdale
6.3%
Scottsdale +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
14.7%
Boca Raton +
Scottsdale
15.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Boca Raton
8.8%
Scottsdale
7.4%
Scottsdale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Boca Raton
N/A
Scottsdale
72.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Boca Raton
N/A
Scottsdale
10.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Boca Raton
7.2 µg/m³
Scottsdale
7.1 µg/m³
Scottsdale +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Boca Raton
75.0%
Scottsdale
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Boca Raton
23.4 min
Scottsdale
23.2 min
Scottsdale +

Which City is Right for You?

Scottsdale leads in median household income at $107,372, while boca Raton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $562,670. On public safety, Boca Raton is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 450 in Scottsdale. Scottsdale has a lower unemployment rate at 3.4%, and Scottsdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Boca Raton scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Boca Raton & Scottsdale