Living in Scottsdale, AZ
Suburb in Arizona
Scottsdale is a suburb in Arizona, home to about 242,000 people, with 3.9 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Scottsdale a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 10 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Easy flying: PHX is 12 mi away
- Low taxes: about $755 state income tax per resident, 0.41% property tax
👎 Cons
- Hot summers: highs around 103°F
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $812k, and rent is $2,450 a month
- Fewer family amenities than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Scottsdale ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Scottsdale: common questions
What is the cost of living in Scottsdale?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $812k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,450 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 103, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Scottsdale?
Arizona collects about $755 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.41% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Scottsdale safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Scottsdale?
Scottsdale is warm all year: winter days average around 67°F and summer days around 103°F.
Does Scottsdale get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and heat waves: 3 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.71 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Scottsdale?
The nearest major airport is PHX, about 12 mi away.
How Scottsdale scores
Each bar compares Scottsdale with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Scottsdale right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.