Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Scottsdale, AZ

    Is Scottsdale a good place to live?

    Watch Scottsdale

    Scottsdale ranks #15 of 38 Arizona cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (53/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.7% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $709,900
    +8.9% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,910
    per month
    Household income
    $107,372
    median
    Unemployment
    3.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Scottsdale

    The median home value in Scottsdale is $709,900 and median rent is $1,910 a month, against a median household income of $107,372. Homes cost about 6.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Scottsdale crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Arizona the 2025 rate was 383 violent and 1,541 property crimes per 100,000 people — #20 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Scottsdale, AZ

    Scottsdale has about 242,169 residents, 3.4% unemployment and 37% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Scottsdale with

    Scottsdale vs PhoenixScottsdale vs TucsonScottsdale vs MesaScottsdale vs ChandlerScottsdale vs GilbertScottsdale vs GlendaleScottsdale vs PeoriaScottsdale vs Tempe

    More: Where to move in Arizona · Best counties in Arizona

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report