Living out West means many things. Wide, open spaces. Mountain biking, endless hiking, whitewater recreation. Warm weather and sunshine. And cities that rank among the top places to live, retire, work, and play. Scottsdale is one such western city that appears again and again on these lists. If you’re making a move to Scottsdale, AZ, get ready for a high quality of life. You’ll gain all the perks listed above, plus beautiful homes and access to all our modern conveniences.

Our moving guide outlines what to know about Scottsdale, AZ, to see if calling “The West’s Most Western Town” home makes sense for you. Learn what it’s like living in Scottsdale, from how people get around town to what signature events add to the city’s culture. 

About Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale is in Maricopa County and next door to the state capital, Phoenix. The city covers 184 square miles with an elevation of 2,156 feet above sea level. It shares suburban borders with Tempe to the south, Paradise Valley to the West, Carefree to the north, and McDowell Mountain Regional Park to the east. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is also to the south.

While founded in 1894, it didn’t incorporate as a city until the 1950s. Back then, only 2,000 people lived here. 

Originally, Scottsdale was a farming town primarily producing cotton during the First World War and commodities like olives. The warm climate also inspired entrepreneurs to found resorts, like the Jokake Inn. This historic mud brick structure remains at today’s Phoenician Resort. Artists and architects came during the 1930s, including Frank Lloyd Wright, who built his wintertime home, Taliesin West, in the McDowell Mountains. 

Post-World War II, economic and population growth accelerated in Scottsdale with technology firms like Motorola building plants. Ranches developed into master-planned communities and tourist resorts. For several decades, Scottsdale was the fastest-growing city in the state.

Now the 2022 estimated population hit 243,000 people, a two-year growth rate of 0.7%. It’s highly urbanized, so there’s not much more room to expand.

Cost of living in Scottsdale

Thanks to the demand for living here, Scottsdale residents typically pay 42% more than the national average and 36% higher than Arizona’s average for essential expenses, according to Best Places.

Driving the increased cost of living are the median home prices. July 2023 had a median home list price of $975,000. Scottsdale is one of the most expensive suburbs in the Phoenix metro.

MIT’s Living Wage Calculation estimates a family of four with two children and one working adult would need to make $40.78 to have a living wage–one where all expenses are met. That would be an after-tax annual income of $72,864.

Job market in Scottsdale

The economic opportunity here is impressive, with 25% of all Arizona-based corporate headquarters located in this city. And with 15,000 businesses of every size, there is ample opportunity here in Scottsdale to try your hand at a startup or work for a large corporation. Bonus: city residents have one of the highest median incomes in the state, at over $100,000.

The primary industries in Scottsdale are:

• Financial Services & Technology, with employment leaders including Vanguard, The Hartford, and Nationwide Speciality Insurance
• Healthcare and research, spearheaded by providers like Virginia Piper Cancer Center, CVS Health, and Mayo Clinic
• Hospitality, as tourism brings 11 million visitors each year, generating $3.3 billion in revenue
• Technology, as part of the “Silicon Desert,” top employers by size include Blue Yonder, Yelp, and General Dynamics C4 Systems.

Scottsdale’s unemployment rate is slightly lower than the national average at 4.2%, compared to the US’s 6.0%, based on July 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Scottsdale education options

Education has always been important for the citizens of Scottsdale, as evidenced by the high density of public and private schools. There are 29 public schools in the Scottsdale United School District and over 40 private schools with low student-to-teacher ratios and special focuses. 

These schools are top performers not just in Scottsdale and Phoenix but in Arizona and the nation. Five schools carried A+ ratings in 2022. One year, it had the nation’s best high school, according to US News and World Report; as of 2022-2023, it had 14 elementary, middle, and high schools listed in the nation’s top 100 schools.

For higher education, find campuses for Arizona State University, Grand Central University, and Maricopa Community College.

Healthcare in Scottsdale

Those with special health care needs will find peace of mind knowing that some of the nation’s top health care centers have research arms and branches in Scottsdale. 

Mayo Clinic, Honor Health’s Virginia Piper Cancer Center, and Banner Behavioral Health Hospital are leading the way. 

The Mayo Clinic is a non-profit organization with locations in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota; it’s one of the nation’s top medical centers for research and treatment. 

The Honor Health System has six hospitals and more than 300 physicians throughout the valley. Three are based in Scottsdale: 

• Osborn Medical Center with specialties in trauma, neurosurgery, and cardiology
• Shea Center with specialist services in cardiology, women’s care, and pediatric emergency
• Thompson Peak Medical Center with specialists in cardiac care, ICU, and orthopedics

Scottsdale Real Estate

Every city has its unique architecture character, and Scottsdale is no different. One stand out is Frank Lloyd Wright, who founded an office and built a home here in the McDowell Mountains. His architectural influence is present in the established neighborhoods and businesses.

The home styles here run the gamut, from more modern ones with clear Mediterranean influences to those that work with the natural materials of the Sonoran Desert. Expect to see touches of copper, concrete, and pueblo-style in the homes and buildings around town. Find pitched and gabled tile roofs, rock gardens, and lots of features that play off natural light. Earth tones and stone work are popular in exterior and interior decor, as is stucco or plaster finishing.

Large sections of Scottsdale are master-planned developments formed from prior ranches. The names are giveaways: McDowelll Ranch and Gainey Ranch. These communities come with perks like golf courses, swimming pools, walking trails, and playgrounds.

Pricing-wise, as of July 2023, the median list price for a home in Scottsdale was $975,000. That’s higher than the Arizona median of $375,000 and the US median of $406,000.

Living in Scottsdale, AZ

Moving to Scottsdale means being part of a vibrant and diverse urban center surrounded by the beautiful Sonoran Desert. But what exactly does that look like for a resident?

Key Neighborhoods/Districts

The city is divided into a few distinct districts.

North Scottsdale is where most of the current housing and commercial development is happening and has some of the more opulent homes and stunning views. The Scottsdale Airpark supports the local economy with big-name regional headquarters for GE Capital, AXA, and Fidelity Investments.

South Scottsdale is the more established part of town and was considered the “working class” part of town. It’s where the ASU campus is located and its SkySong research and office hub. The area has a reputation for excellent local restaurants.

Old Town Scottsdale is the walkable city center, where the old-fashioned stores and 80+ art galleries add to the city’s culture. People come to visit the Fashion Square shopping district, browse over 320 retailers, let loose at nightclubs and bars off Shoeman Lane and Camelback, and play at the Salt River parks.

Central Scottsdale, also known as the Shea Corridor, includes its ranch communities of Gainey Ranch and McCormick Ranch. Another term for this part of town is “Resort Corridor” because of the concentration of golf courses and resort properties. The Indian Bend Wash includes 17 miles of green spaces for recreation.

Getting around Scottsdale

See Scottsdale on a map, and you can’t miss its long rectangle shape. But, if you look at the big picture in Phoenix metro, it is easy to navigate, especially if you have a car. Major highways like the Loop 101 and the Metro Phoenix freeways make it simple to get around town.

The Valley Metro public transit system includes buses and light rail trains that connect Scottsdale to the greater metro. No rail lines run inside Scottsdale, but the buses can connect you to a station. The bus and rail go through downtown and into the surrounding suburbs.

Scottsdale has a network of local neighborhood trolleys that are free for riders. 

Scottsdale climate

The climate here is desert-like and mostly sunny, so plan and dress accordingly. Summer highs climb to 112F or more during July and August. The average daily highs top at above 100F from June to August. 

Winter temperatures average around 55F in December and January, with the average low dropping to 32F. Yes, even the desert can be cold!

Scottsdale averages 33 inches of rain throughout the year, with January and July being the wettest months. These are when monsoon rains can sweep in from the Pacific or the Gulf of Mexico. The typical low humidity makes the temperatures more bearable but adds to the wildfire risk. 

Scottsdale dining

Get ready for an eclectic mix of restaurants, from the classic steakhouses to the campus dive bar. The real star is the southwestern cuisine with indigenous and Mexican influences. Find local chefs experimenting with cactus and other local flavors to put new spins on dining out. 

Scottsdale residents have about 800 restaurants to pick from. Those looking for a casual dining experience will be delighted with the number of locally-owned pubs with outdoor patios and happy hour specials. And as a resort town, there are upscale restaurants for special occasions that take a southwestern creative twist on classic American dishes. 

Bucket list attractions

Scottsdale is home to some of the Southwest’s most iconic attractions. The historic Old Town Scottsdale and Arts District, with its boutique stores, art galleries, and restaurants, are popular tourist destinations. Thursday nights draw hundreds for the downtown Art Walk. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art hosts interactive and permanent exhibitions from around the world. 

Visitors to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park can ride real locomotives or take a spin on an old-fashioned carousel. Even if you don’t ride, the 30-acre park has playgrounds to delight the kids, an old-fashioned general store, and a generally relaxing atmosphere for a day outside.

You can’t mention Scottsdale without bringing up its luxurious desert resorts. The main ones are The Hyatt, Four Seasons, Waldorf-Astoria, and Hilton. Celebrities, winter snowbirds, and families visit for a slice of relaxation in a desert paradise. They have private poolside cabanas, world-class spas, and championship-level golf. Scottsdale residents can become members or partake in resort amenities thanks to living so close to these famous vacation destinations.

Scottsdale parks

Locals in Scottsdale love to be outside on those beautiful days, and the city’s parks and preserves deliver with small neighborhood parks, cactus-filled state preserves, golf courses, and walking trails.

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is popular for hiking, camping, and horseback riding. Take a ride on one of the area’s dozens of mountain bike trails, but note that electric bikes are not allowed. Dogs are not permitted when temperatures climb above 90 degrees, and that’s true for most Phoenix metro parks.

The city of Scottsdale itself has over 40 parks, including some municipal golf courses. There are also 50+ miles of shared-use paths that run through the city. 

Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt Park spans 11 miles, connecting golf courses, lakes, and green spaces through Scottsdale. It’s a carefully developed flood control project that has become an example of what urbanized green spaces can do for communities.

Top events and festivals

Scottsdale’s local culture thrives all year long, but it is really showcased during the city’s many events and festivals. 

For example, The Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC-Scottsdale is one of golf’s most popular tournaments. The nicknamed “People’s Open” or the “Greatest Show on Grass” is the highest-attended golf event in the world.

Then there’s the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, one of the biggest equestrian events in the world. Over 2,200 horses come for the ten-day event in February each year.

MLB Spring Training at Scottsdale Stadium and Salt River Fields is the unofficial kickoff to spring in Scottsdale. The stadium, the home of the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks, hosts games every year from February to March. 

The Barrett-Jackson Classic Auto Auction draws thousands of spectators each January to watch classic cars being auctioned off. It’s a top destination for auto enthusiasts of every age and draws up to half a million people in person.

Settling into Scottsdale

Once you’ve made your move to Scottsdale, you will need to get utilities set up, including water, gas, and electricity. The City of Scottsdale provides water, sewer, and trash service in one place and under one bill. Initiating your service can be done online through the city’s e-services page.

Who provides electricity depends on your address. You will either have:

• APS
• Salt River Project, or SRP

A smooth move to Scottsdale

You have a lot of options when it comes to finding the right place to live in Scottsdale. Rent an apartment or house, buy a condo, or find a home in one of the many neighborhood communities. See our resources and learn more about buying a home in Scottsdale.