Scottsdale AZ market report
Scottsdale Arizona Real Estate Market Report: October 2026
Market data area: Scottsdale area.
Scottsdale Arizona real estate key facts
- The median single-family sale price in the Scottsdale area is $1,200,000, 4.3% higher than $1,150,000 a year earlier.
- 327 single-family homes sold in the latest month of closings, and they spent 80 days on market.
- Inventory equals 3.7 months of supply, which makes the area a balanced market.
- 680 Scottsdale listings across the Scottsdale area cut their price in the latest month, up 3.3% from a year earlier.
- Condos and townhomes closed at a $485,000 median.
- This Scottsdale AZ market report covers Scottsdale homes for sale, Scottsdale condos for sale and Scottsdale new construction, updated monthly.
Talk to a full-time agent in Scottsdale
Two quick steps. Prefer to read first? The full report is below, with another form at the end.
Scottsdale Arizona real estate snapshot: October 2026
This Scottsdale Arizona real estate report covers every number that moves a price in Scottsdale: closings, pending sales, inventory and time on market, for houses and for condos. Whether you are browsing Scottsdale homes for sale, comparing Scottsdale condos for sale or pricing a new build, or getting ready to sell, start here. The condo and Scottsdale new construction sections below go deeper.
| Latest month, single‑family | Year earlier | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $1,150,000 | $1,200,000 | +4.3% |
| Average sale price | $1,537,932 | $1,646,506 | +7.1% |
| Closed sales | 320 | 327 | +2.2% |
| Pending sales | 321 | 192 | -40.2% |
| New listings | 528 | 543 | +2.8% |
| Homes for sale | 1,346 | 1,334 | -0.9% |
| Listings with price cuts (all homes) | 658 | 680 | +3.3% |
| Days on market | 90 | 80 | -11.1% |
| Share of list price received | 96.6% | 97.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Months of supply | 4.1 | 3.7 | -9.8% |
The price-cut row includes condos and townhomes.
The worry: Sellers often ask how much it costs to sell a house in Arizona, and the list price alone does not answer it. The fix: Your net depends on price, concessions and closing costs, so get a written price opinion and a net sheet from a full-time listing agent.
Year to date in Scottsdale Arizona real estate: 3,382 homes closed at a $1,250,000 median, versus 3,058 at $1,185,000 a year earlier, so more homes have sold at a higher median than last year.
What it means for buyers
You have leverage, but it is narrow. Sellers still received 97.2% of asking, so build your offer from closed sales on your street, not from list prices. Your full-time Scottsdale buyer’s agent pulls those comps before every offer. In the latest month, 680 Scottsdale listings cut their price, up 3.3% from a year earlier, so start your search of Scottsdale homes for sale with those.
What it means for sellers
With pending sales down 40.2%, fewer buyers are writing offers, and pricing on day one decides your net. Start with a real price opinion for your Scottsdale home, then compare plans from a full-time listing agent in your zip. 680 Scottsdale listings cut their price in the latest month, up 3.3% from a year earlier; pricing right on day one keeps you off that list.
Scottsdale Arizona real estate is several markets inside one city: Old Town condos and 1950s to 1970s ranch homes in the south, the lake and greenbelt HOAs of McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch in the middle, and gated golf and desert communities in the north. Read the numbers below with that split in mind.
October 2026 Buyer & Seller Takeaways
- Buyers: Base every offer on recent closed comps rather than asking prices: sellers took 97.2% of list in the latest month. Compare a home against recent closings inside the same community, because a Gainey Ranch patio home and a Troon North estate share a city but not a price curve, and have a dedicated buyer’s agent check the comps before you offer.
- Sellers: Across the Scottsdale area, homes are taking 80 days to sell and pending sales are down 40.2% from a year earlier, so use this Scottsdale AZ market report to set your list price from closed sales, then interview a full-time Scottsdale listing agent.
- New construction buyers: Builders selling in Scottsdale publish offers for select homes only; our incentives table shows which ones to ask about. Compare every Scottsdale new construction community on our Arizona new construction map and register with your own agent first.
- Condo buyers: Scottsdale condos for sale carry 5.7 months of supply at a $485,000 median, versus 3.7 months for houses. Review the HOA budget and reserves before you offer.
- Out-of-state buyers: Ask your agent to film the drive from the home to Loop 101, the Scottsdale Airpark or Old Town at the hour you would make it, and to show you what backs onto the lot: a golf fairway, a wash or McDowell Sonoran Preserve land. Save your flight for the last two or three homes.
The worry: Buyers and sellers both search who pays closing costs in Arizona. The fix: The purchase contract decides it, and seller concessions can shift costs, so ask for an estimated settlement statement before you sign; a full-time listing agent or buyer’s agent negotiates those terms.
How to read this Scottsdale AZ market report
Months of supply is how long current listings would last at today’s sales pace; under 3 favors sellers, 3 to 6 is balanced. Pending sales are homes under contract, the earliest sign of where closings go next. Share of list price shows how much room buyers are negotiating. Read the three together before you set a price or write an offer.
What else moved this month
Across Scottsdale Arizona real estate, closed sales rose 2.2% to 327 while new listings rose 2.8% to 543, and homes for sale were down 0.9% from a year earlier. The average sale price of $1,646,506 sits above the $1,200,000 median because higher-priced homes pull the average up, so the typical home costs closer to the median than the headline average suggests.
12-month Scottsdale Arizona real estate trend: single-family median sale price
The chart above tracks the Scottsdale Arizona real estate single-family median month by month.
Over the past 12 months, single-family medians in Scottsdale Arizona real estate ranged from $1,149,000 to $1,350,000, a $201,000 band. The latest month closed at $1,200,000, up from $1,149,000 the month before and 4.3% above the same month a year earlier. Month-to-month medians move with the mix of homes that close, so read the line, not one point. Each month this Scottsdale AZ market report adds the newest closings to the line.
What a pricing mistake costs in Scottsdale
Scottsdale sellers received 97.2% of asking in the latest month, about $33,600 under list on a $1,200,000 home, before any concessions. Sellers who priced right closed in about 80 days; sellers who guessed are still sitting, cutting and handing leverage to the buyer. Buyers face the mirror image: overpay by 5% on a $1,200,000 home and you start $60,000 behind before your first payment. That is why we put a dedicated full-time local agent on every Scottsdale Arizona real estate move.
DON’T make a $100,000 mistake and hire a part-time or out-of-area agent.
Here is how that mistake happens with Scottsdale Arizona real estate:
- Pricing against the wrong comps. A blended-ZIP median or a different subdivision is not your home’s market. Sellers in the Scottsdale area received 97.2% of asking in the latest month; misread the comps by 5% on a $1,200,000 home and that is $60,000.
- Missing an HOA, floodplain or airport issue. HOA rules, a mapped floodplain or an airport noise or flight-path area can change a home’s value. Check any address on the Flood Control District of Maricopa County floodplain page before you are under contract, and have your agent pull the official airport disclosure maps.
- Losing negotiation leverage. 680 Scottsdale listings cut their price in the latest month. Seller concessions and builder incentives are negotiated, and a weak first offer or counter can leave thousands on the table.
- Registering with a builder alone. Giving a builder your name on the first model visit, before you have your own new construction agent, can forfeit your own representation.
Work with a dedicated full-time local agent: a full-time buyer’s agent if you are buying, or a full-time seller’s agent if you are selling.
Scottsdale homes for sale by ZIP code: Scottsdale Arizona real estate, October 2026
Scottsdale Arizona real estate runs about 30 miles from south to north, and it behaves like several markets in one city: the older, walkable south around Old Town, the master-planned ranches in the middle, and the golf and desert communities of north Scottsdale.
Prices across Scottsdale Arizona real estate vary from one zip code to the next, so compare closed sales on your street.
Last Updated: October 2026
| ZIP | Area | Median sale price | Change vs year earlier | Homes sold | Median days on market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85250 | Central Scottsdale | $619,818 | +24.6% | 89 | 75 |
| 85251 | South Scottsdale | $599,824 | +3.8% | 198 | 82 |
| 85254 | North Scottsdale | $945,972 | +1.4% | 225 | 79 |
| 85255 | North Scottsdale | $1,499,559 | +25.0% | 234 | 76 |
| 85257 | South Scottsdale | $574,831 | +5.5% | 121 | 86 |
| 85258 | Central Scottsdale | $877,242 | +7.0% | 143 | 73 |
| 85259 | Shea corridor and east | $1,249,633 | +27.0% | 82 | 85 |
| 85260 | Central Scottsdale | $807,263 | +18.3% | 157 | 69 |
| 85262 | North Scottsdale | $1,522,553 | -1.8% | 134 | 134 |
| 85266 | North Scottsdale | $1,409,586 | +9.3% | 64 | 116 |
ZIP figures cover all home types (houses, condos and townhomes), so they can run lower than the single-family median above. The median sale price covers the latest three months, and the change compares the same three months a year earlier. Homes sold counts closings in the latest month.
Scottsdale homes for sale: what each part of the city offers
South Scottsdale: 85251, 85257
Old Town, the Scottsdale Waterfront and the Arts District sit in 85251, with condos, townhomes and 1950s to 1970s ranch homes nearby. 85257 borders Tempe and Papago Park and holds many of the city’s lower-priced single-family homes.
Central Scottsdale: 85250, 85258, 85260
McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch and Scottsdale Ranch fill this part of the city with lakes, paths and established HOAs. 85260 also takes in the Scottsdale Airpark business district.
Shea corridor and east: 85259
85259 runs east along Shea Boulevard toward the McDowell Mountains, with larger lots and homes near the Mayo Clinic campus.
North Scottsdale: 85254, 85255, 85262, 85266
North Scottsdale is where most luxury listings sit: DC Ranch, Grayhawk, Silverleaf and Troon in 85255, Desert Mountain and the far-north desert in 85262, and 85266 near Cave Creek and Carefree. 85254 is the west edge along the Phoenix line.
Ask us for single-family comps on your exact street before you write an offer on Scottsdale homes for sale or set a list price.
Scottsdale Arizona real estate neighborhoods to know
Zip codes tell you price. Neighborhoods tell you how it feels to live there. These are the Scottsdale Arizona real estate names our agents hear most from buyers.
- Old Town Scottsdale (85251). Walkable streets, galleries, restaurants and the Scottsdale Waterfront, with condos and smaller homes for buyers who want to be in the middle of it.
- McCormick Ranch (85258). One of the city’s original master-planned communities, with lakes, greenbelts and paths, close to Loop 101.
- Gainey Ranch (85258). A guard-gated golf community with patio homes, townhomes and single-family homes near Scottsdale Road.
- DC Ranch and Silverleaf (85255). Master-planned north Scottsdale communities at the foot of the McDowell Mountains, from townhomes to custom estates.
- Grayhawk (85255). A north Scottsdale golf community with a wide range of home sizes, close to the Loop 101 employers.
- Troon and Troon North (85255, 85262). Desert golf communities with large lots and mountain views in the far north of the city.
- Desert Mountain (85262). A private, gated club community in the high desert, with custom homes and golf.
Every Scottsdale Arizona real estate neighborhood above behaves differently when prices soften. Ask us how the last three months of sales played out in the exact community you are considering.
Scottsdale Arizona real estate: condos, townhomes and new construction
Scottsdale Arizona real estate splits into two very different buys: resale condos and townhomes, and new construction, where the builder’s rules decide who represents you. Here is the latest on each.
Scottsdale condos for sale: resale condos and townhomes, October 2026
The worry: Condo buyers search for average HOA fees in Arizona, but an average says little about one building. The fix: Ask for the HOA budget, reserve study and any special assessments before you offer; your condo agent requests them for you.
Scottsdale condos and townhomes closed at a $485,000 median in the latest month, a -3.5% change from a year earlier, with 5.7 months of supply versus 3.7 for houses. Before you offer, have a condo specialist review the HOA budget and reserves.
Condo and townhome median sale price: 12-month trend
Our market data: Scottsdale condo and townhome closings, latest 12 months.
Shoppers comparing Scottsdale condos for sale should read the HOA as closely as the unit. Financing is the catch, because condo loan rules can sink a deal late, so read our guide to Arizona condo financing before you make an offer. A low price with a weak HOA is not a bargain; we review the budget, reserve fund, rental rules and any special assessments. Selling a condo? Presentation and price matter more than ever, and we position yours against the exact competing units in the same community.
Where Scottsdale condos and townhomes trade
| Area | Communities | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town and south Scottsdale (85251, 85257) | Ask us for the current communities in this area | Garden-style condos from the 1970s and 1980s next to newer mid-rise buildings near Old Town and the Waterfront. |
| Central Scottsdale (85250, 85258, 85260) | Ask us for the current communities in this area | Condos and townhomes inside the McCormick, Gainey and Scottsdale Ranch areas, many with community pools and lake access. |
| North Scottsdale (85254, 85255) | Ask us for the current communities in this area | Resort-style condo and townhome communities near the Loop 101 job centers. |
Scottsdale condos for sale change week to week, so we share the current condo and townhome communities in each area on request.
Scottsdale new construction communities checked October 2026
One Scottsdale new construction community, Preserve Ranch by David Weekley Homes, was listed with a published base price on its builder’s own site when we checked on October 11, 2026. Most Scottsdale new construction is custom, infill or small-lot work by local builders that publish no prices, so ask us about current builds in the area you want. Compare them on the statewide new construction subdivisions map, and have a new construction buyer’s agent register you before your first model visit.
| Community | Builder | Address or area | Type | From (base price) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preserve Ranch | David Weekley Homes | Scottsdale; ask us for the site and lot list | Single-family | From $2,289,990 |
The worry: New-build buyers search Arizona closing costs for buyers, and builder incentives are often tied to those costs. The fix: Compare each incentive in writing against the base price and lot premium with your own new construction agent, registered before your first visit.
Remember: never give a builder your name or register at the sales office before you have your own agent, or in most cases you lose the chance to have independent representation. Contact Arizona Homes and Condos Realty to be represented by a dedicated full-time new construction agent who represents only YOU, not the builder.
“From” prices are the lowest base price each builder published on its own site on October 11, 2026. They exclude lot premiums, options, upgrades and incentives, and they change often. Where a builder publishes only a range such as “from the $600s,” we show its wording.
Builder incentives checked October 2026
These are the Scottsdale new construction offers builders published on their own websites when we checked, including metro-wide offers from builders selling here. Most apply only to select quick move-in homes and only when you finance with the builder’s in-house loan program, so read each offer in full. Compare them with every community on our Arizona new construction subdivisions map, and get your own new construction agent before your first model visit, as the reminder above explains.
| Builder | Community | Offer | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Weekley Homes | Preserve Ranch | Ask us to confirm | Ask us |
| Camelot Homes | All communities | No current offer published, ask us | No offer listed |
| Cachet Homes | All communities | No current offer published, ask us | No offer listed |
Offers come from each builder’s own website. They change often, many have limited funds, and all are subject to the builder’s terms and loan approval. “Ask us to confirm” means the builder publishes an offer for select homes but does not say whether this community qualifies. We remove an offer once its end date passes. Compare the APR, not the headline rate.
How to read builder incentives
- Rate buydown. The builder pays to lower your interest rate. A permanent buydown lowers the rate for the life of the loan. A temporary buydown (such as a 2/1) lowers it for only a year or two, then your payment rises. An adjustable-rate offer is fixed only for its first few years.
- Points baked into the rate. A low advertised rate is often bought with discount points. When the builder pays them, they come out of money that could have cut the price; when you pay them, they show up in your closing costs. The APR captures the points, which is why it is the better number to compare.
- Closing-cost credit. A dollar amount the builder puts toward your loan and title costs at closing. It cannot be taken as cash, and loan programs cap how much a seller can contribute.
- Price cut. A lower sale price lowers your loan, your down payment and your property taxes for as long as you own the home.
- The in-house loan catch. Almost every rate and credit above requires the builder’s in-house loan program. Builders state that their loan program is optional, but if you use your own loan officer you usually lose the incentive. Get a quote on the same home from an independent loan officer so you can see whether the “free” incentive is being paid for in the price or the loan terms.
Your own agent compares these Scottsdale new-build offers community by community and pushes back on lot premiums and upgrade pricing.
Never walk into a Scottsdale model home without your own agent
The sales agent in a Scottsdale new-build model is paid by the builder and represents the builder, not you. That friendly guest register can quietly decide who represents you, and many builders will not let you add your own agent after your first visit or first sign-in.
The other version: your own full-time agent registers you before you set foot in the model, compares that builder’s incentives with every Scottsdale new-build community above, pushes back on lot premiums and upgrade markups, and arranges independent inspections before the drywall goes up. Our fee on new construction is typically paid by the builder. In the latest month the citywide single-family median was $1,200,000; compare any base price with nearby resales once lot premiums and options are added. For more, read our Arizona new construction buyer guide.
Which cities near Scottsdale should buyers compare against?
Scottsdale sits in Maricopa County; compare Scottsdale Arizona real estate with every city in our Maricopa County guide. Times are approx. drive time from Scottsdale Road at Indian School Road (Old Town), no traffic, by our routing to each city’s mapped center.
How Scottsdale compares with its neighbors
Many Scottsdale buyers also tour Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek and north Phoenix before they decide, so we track each of those markets every month alongside Scottsdale Arizona real estate. South Scottsdale shares a border with Tempe and is minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor, while north Scottsdale runs up to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and the desert foothills. Many buyers pick a part of the city for the commute and lifestyle first and the house second, which is why prices vary so much from one ZIP to the next.
Selling in one Valley city and buying in another? Timing both sides is where movers lose money. One full-time agent can line up your sale and purchase so you are not carrying two mortgages or rushing into the wrong home. Scottsdale Arizona real estate spans Old Town condos to desert estates inside one city, so you can trade up, downsize or relocate without leaving Scottsdale.
Buying Scottsdale Arizona real estate this fall: a 5-step plan
Use these steps with the Scottsdale Arizona real estate data above; each one reflects how buying works in a city that runs about 30 miles from Papago Park to the far-north desert.
- Set your number from closed sales, not list prices. Scottsdale sellers received 97.2% of asking in the latest month. On a $1,200,000 home that is about $33,600 of room, so build your offer around recent closings on your street.
- Pick the zip before the house. Scottsdale Arizona real estate prices vary widely from south Scottsdale to the far north. Buyers who want to walk to restaurants usually start in 85251, lake and path communities sit in 85258, and larger desert lots cluster in 85255 and 85262, so choose the setting before you shortlist houses.
- Target homes that have sat. With 80 days on market and pending sales down 40.2%, Scottsdale homes for sale that have sat for several weeks are where sellers listen. In gated north Scottsdale communities, a long listing often means the price is set against a better lot or view nearby, so we pull the community’s recent closings before you offer.
- Check city limits, HOA rules and school boundaries. Rio Verde and other unincorporated areas use Scottsdale mailing addresses but are not in the city, and parts of Scottsdale are served by Paradise Valley Unified or Cave Creek Unified rather than Scottsdale Unified. Ask which police, fire and school services serve the exact parcel, because they decide the tax bill and the school assignment for any Scottsdale Arizona real estate purchase.
- Put a full-time agent on your side. Tell us the part of Scottsdale you are weighing, from Old Town to Desert Mountain, and a dedicated full-time Scottsdale buyer’s agent who tours that area every week replies personally.
Selling Scottsdale Arizona real estate this fall: 4 pricing moves that work
Pricing Scottsdale Arizona real estate starts with the community, not the citywide median, because a condo near the Waterfront and a home in DC Ranch draw different buyers.
- Price for today, not last spring. Over 12 months, the single-family median for Scottsdale Arizona real estate moved between $1,149,000 and $1,350,000. Price against closings inside your own community or HOA first, then the surrounding ZIP; buyers here compare a home with the last few sales behind the same gate.
- Win the first two weeks. With 1,334 Scottsdale Arizona real estate listings and 192 pending, buyers compare everything. For north Scottsdale homes, photos of the views, the lot and the outdoor living areas carry the listing, so finish repairs and landscaping before the first photo shoot.
- Know your real competition. In south Scottsdale, resale houses compete with Old Town condos and townhomes. In the north, golf and gated communities compete with each other and with custom builds, so price against the same community first.
- Negotiate the net, not the price. Golf and club memberships, HOA transfer fees and repair credits can move your net as much as the price, and a full-time Scottsdale listing agent negotiates each one before you sign.
Scottsdale Arizona real estate: seasonal ownership and 55+ communities
Seasonal ownership and 55+ communities
Scottsdale has few large age-restricted communities; single-level homes, condos and golf communities are spread across the city, a distinct slice of Scottsdale Arizona real estate. Ask us which HOAs suit seasonal owners, and compare age-restricted options in nearby Valley communities. If you’re relocating, see our Arizona relocation guide.
Buying to rent or hold
Scottsdale condos for sale carry the lowest entry prices in the city, and short-term rental rules matter here, so check them first. Before you buy a rental, confirm the HOA rental rules and city licensing for the exact address. Already own one? We offer $99-a-month flat-fee property management, and we help investors plan an Arizona 1031 exchange inside the 45-day and 180-day windows.
Why Scottsdale movers choose our team
- 99 city reports, 15 county guides. Beyond this Scottsdale AZ market report, we publish market reports for 99 Arizona cities and communities and all 15 Arizona counties, so your agent sees how Scottsdale Arizona real estate compares with every nearby market.
- Full-time agents only. Never a part-timer, never a call center. Here is why full-time matters.
- Real numbers, not robot estimates. Pricing in this Scottsdale AZ market report comes from actual Scottsdale closings, not an automated value. See why online estimates get Arizona homes wrong.
- Local knowledge. Which addresses sit outside city limits, which HOAs restrict rentals and which streets back to a busy road: our agents know the difference between Old Town and Troon North, McCormick Ranch and DC Ranch, and price Scottsdale Arizona real estate accordingly.
Living in Scottsdale: schools, city services and jobs
Schools, services and jobs shape Scottsdale Arizona real estate values as much as the sales data does.
Scottsdale is home to 243,006 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimate (linked in Scottsdale market drivers).
Nearby schools
Source: Arizona State Board of Education FY2025 A-F letter grades, Arizona Department of Education final FY2025 file; school detail on Arizona School Report Cards. Grades served and school ZIPs from the National Center for Education Statistics school search. Verify attendance boundaries with the district.
The worry: Buyers search Arizona school grades, then learn that the closest school is not always the one assigned to an address. The fix: Use the FY2025 grades below as a starting point and confirm the attendance boundary with the district; your buyer’s agent checks it for the exact address.
| District serving Scottsdale addresses | FY2025 district grade | Schools graded | Where it serves Scottsdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale Unified District | A | 30 | 23 graded schools with a Scottsdale address (85250, 85251, 85253, 85254, 85255, 85257, 85258, 85259, 85260) |
| Paradise Valley Unified District | B | 42 | 11 graded schools with a Scottsdale address (85254, 85255, 85260) |
| Cave Creek Unified District | A | 8 | 3 graded schools with a Scottsdale address (85266) |
Top elementary schools. Among district schools with Scottsdale addresses, the highest FY2025 K-8 scores belong to Desert Canyon Elementary (Scottsdale Unified, A, 98.63), Cochise Elementary School (Scottsdale Unified, A, 96.91), Sonoran Sky Elementary School (Paradise Valley Unified, A, 94.79).
Top high schools. District high schools with Scottsdale addresses are led by Desert Mountain High School (Scottsdale Unified, A, 99.14), Cactus Shadows High School (Cave Creek Unified, A, 95.49), Chaparral High School (Scottsdale Unified, A, 92.78), Horizon High School (Paradise Valley Unified, A, 91.44).
Desert Mountain High School
99.14 total points and a graduation-rate score of 10.00 of 10. School address in 85259.
ADE A99.14 pointsGrad-rate score 10.00Cactus Shadows High School
95.49 total points and a graduation-rate score of 10.00 of 10. School address in 85266.
ADE A95.49 pointsGrad-rate score 10.00Chaparral High School
92.78 total points and a graduation-rate score of 10.00 of 10. School address in 85253.
ADE A92.78 pointsGrad-rate score 10.00Desert Canyon Elementary
98.63 total points. School address in 85255.
ADE A98.63 pointsCochise Elementary School
96.91 total points. School address in 85258.
ADE A96.91 pointsSonoran Sky Elementary School
94.79 total points. School address in 85260.
ADE A94.79 pointsBASIS Scottsdale Primary – West Campus
96.06 total points. School address in 85260. Charter schools are open enrollment, with no attendance zone.
ADE A96.06 pointsOpen enrollmentBASIS Scottsdale
90.96 hybrid total points and a graduation-rate score of 10.00 of 10. School address in 85259. Charter schools are open enrollment, with no attendance zone.
ADE A90.96 pointsGrad-rate score 10.00Open enrollmentNotable charters with Scottsdale campuses. BASIS Scottsdale Primary – West Campus (BASIS Charter Schools, Inc., A, 96.06), BASIS Scottsdale (BASIS Charter Schools, Inc., A, 90.96), Mission Montessori Academy (Little Lamb Community School, A, 90.00), BASIS Scottsdale Primary – East Campus (BASIS Charter Schools, Inc., A, 88.37).
Grades are neutral public information and one of many factors a household may weigh. We do not recommend or discourage any area based on school data.
Scottsdale crime data and police coverage: October 2026
The worry: A common search is which Arizona city has the lowest crime rate, but city rankings mix different sources and methods. The fix: Read the sourced figures below side by side and look up the exact address; a local buyer’s agent can tour the street with you at different hours.
3 public sources cover crime in Scottsdale, each with its own method: AreaVibes, SpotCrime and FBI Crime Data Explorer. The FBI Crime Data Explorer counts offenses the Scottsdale Police Department reported; the others grade or track the city in their own ways. A grade or a rate is not a promise about any street.
Scottsdale crime by source, side by side
Each source measures crime differently, so read each column on its own terms rather than against the others.
| Source | AreaVibes | SpotCrime | FBI Crime Data Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Crime grade and reported crimes per 100,000 residents, from FBI data | Incidents from police reports, last 30 days versus the previous 30 | Offenses reported by the Scottsdale Police Department |
| Scottsdale figure | Grade B+. 4,973 total crimes, 2,028 per 100,000 (Arizona 2,214; US 2,119); violent crime 153 per 100,000 | Overall down 47%; property crime down 44%, violent crime down 46% | 2025: 433 violent (175.1 per 100,000) and 4,330 property (1,751.2 per 100,000). 2024: 379 violent and 4,606 property |
| Period | 2024 data | Rolling 30 days | Calendar years 2025 and 2024 |
| Checked | October 11, 2026 | October 11, 2026 | October 11, 2026 |
Crime data is one data point; tour the area at different times of day. Your buyer’s agent can walk the street with you at night and on a weekend before you write an offer.
Crime figures checked October 11, 2026. Per-resident rates read higher around retail and commercial blocks, where few people live. Look up any specific address yourself before you decide.
Law enforcement jurisdiction in Scottsdale
Incorporated Scottsdale is policed by the Scottsdale Police Department, organized into three patrol districts: McKellips (south of McDonald Road, with a Downtown Section for Old Town), Via Linda (central) and Foothills (north of Cactus Road) (see the official patrol area page). Rio Verde, northeast of the city, uses Scottsdale mailing addresses but is unincorporated and is served by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Arizona DPS Highway Patrol patrols the state freeways through Scottsdale: Loop 101 (the Pima Freeway), which loops through south, central and north Scottsdale. Fire and emergency medical service inside city limits comes from the Scottsdale Fire Department; the city covers about 184 square miles of land, per the Census Bureau gazetteer. Ask your agent whether an address is inside city limits, because it changes police, fire and tax bills.
Cost of emergency services: the City of Scottsdale adopted FY 2026/27 budget (Ordinance 4712), Schedule F sets $156,301,175 for Police and $103,831,158 for Fire (department totals, all funds). Divided by Scottsdale’s 243,006 residents (Census estimate, linked in Scottsdale market drivers), that is $643.20 per resident for police, $427.28 for fire and medical, and $1,070.48 combined. This per-resident figure is our calculation from those two sources, checked October 2026.
Major employers and commute times
Scottsdale’s job base runs from healthcare and tourism to technology and defense around the Scottsdale Airpark and the Loop 101 corridor, with ASU and the Tempe tech campuses a short drive south. Times below are approx. drive time, no traffic, from Scottsdale Road at Indian School Road (Old Town), computed with the public OSRM road router to each employer’s main site in the area. Your rush-hour drive will be longer.
- City of Scottsdale 2 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
- HonorHealth 2 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
- Scottsdale Unified School District 8 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
- Scottsdale Community College 8 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
- General Dynamics Mission Systems 9 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
- Arizona State University, Tempe campus 13 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
- GoDaddy 20 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
- Axon 22 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
- Mayo Clinic Arizona 25 min, approx. drive time, no traffic
Before you write an offer on Scottsdale Arizona real estate, your agent pulls the tax history and checks the commute at the hours you actually drive.
Buying Scottsdale Arizona real estate from out of state
Scottsdale Arizona real estate draws buyers from across the country, and many buy before they know how different Old Town, the central ranches and the far north feel day to day. The costly mistake is choosing a house before choosing the setting, the HOA rules and the drive. Relocating to Scottsdale? A local buyer’s agent can tour homes for you on live video and tell you what the listing photos leave out, before you fly in.
Start with the part of the city that fits your life: walkable Old Town, the lakes and paths of the central ranches, or the golf and desert communities of north Scottsdale. Then compare Scottsdale Arizona real estate listings with recent closings in the same community, and check short-term rental rules with the HOA and the City of Scottsdale if you plan to rent the home when you are away. Read our moving to Arizona guide for climate, costs and timing.
More Scottsdale Arizona real estate help from our team
Some Scottsdale Arizona real estate moves are not a single home purchase: a seasonal condo near Old Town, a home near the Scottsdale Airpark for a business owner, or a sale and purchase in the same month. Each request gets a dedicated full-time specialist, and sellers get a value check built on recent Scottsdale closings by a full-time agent. Seasonal buyers can compare Scottsdale condos for sale with single-family homes, HOA rules and rental limits here and in nearby Fountain Hills and Paradise Valley.
Buying or selling a Scottsdale business, with or without the real estate? We work with full-time business brokers who value, market and close with complete confidentiality. Retail, office, industrial, flex and multifamily belong with a full-time commercial agent, not a residential agent who handles one occasionally. For land and acreage, we check zoning, water, utilities and access before you commit, so a great price doesn’t become an unbuildable parcel.
Scottsdale and Valley events: October 2026 to spring 2027
A weekend visit is a good way to see Scottsdale Arizona real estate in person before you write an offer.
Touring Scottsdale Arizona real estate listings from out of town? Plan a trip around one of these. Scottsdale events are highlighted in green.
Local fall events (October 2026)
We checked these on each event’s official site on Oct 21, 2026. Hours and prices can change, so confirm before you go.
- MacDonald’s Ranch Pumpkin Patch (North Scottsdale): open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Tuesdays through Oct 31, 2026, closing at 3 p.m. on Halloween. $15 per person, tickets at the door; children 23 months and younger free. Official site
- Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (Scottsdale): nightly through Oct 31, 2026, 6 to 9:30 p.m., timed entry. $15 per person with unlimited train and carousel rides and the haunted walkthrough; children 2 and under free. Tickets online only. Official site
- Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale): Oct 23 to 25, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m. See the official site for tickets; tethered balloon rides are extra and sold on-site. Official site
- Candy Crawl at Scottsdale Quarter (The Quad): Saturday, Oct 24, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m. Free, no registration needed. Official site
| When | Event | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6 to 15, 2026 | Canal Convergence Scottsdale Waterfront. Light-based public art along the Arizona Canal. | Official site |
| Jan 23 to 31, 2027 | Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale WestWorld of Scottsdale. Collector car auction. | Official site |
| Feb 8 to 14, 2027 | WM Phoenix Open TPC Scottsdale. PGA TOUR tournament week. | Official site |
| Feb 11 to 21, 2027 | Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show WestWorld of Scottsdale. | Official site |
| Feb 19 to Mar 20, 2027 | San Francisco Giants Spring Training Scottsdale Stadium. The 2027 schedule is posted on the team site. | Official site |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Phoenix Suns home opener The Suns’ downtown Phoenix arena, vs. Warriors. Home games run through April 9, 2027. | Official site |
| Oct 25 to Jan 3 | Arizona Cardinals home games The Cardinals’ stadium in Glendale: Oct 25, Nov 15, Nov 29, Dec 6, Dec 20 and Jan 3. Week 18 home game vs. 49ers: the weekend of Jan 9 to 10, 2027, with the exact day set by the league after Week 17. | Official site |
| Fri Apr 2, 2027 | Arizona Diamondbacks Home opener Friday, April 2, 2027 vs. the Marlins, at the Diamondbacks’ downtown Phoenix ballpark. | Official site |
Dates checked October 11, 2026 on each event’s or team’s official site. Every date above is the one published on that official site.
Why Scottsdale Arizona real estate matters in 2026
Scottsdale market drivers
These are the forces behind Scottsdale Arizona real estate prices this year.
- Major employers close in. HonorHealth, the City of Scottsdale, General Dynamics Mission Systems and Scottsdale Community College all sit within about 10 minutes of Old Town, and Axon and the Mayo Clinic campus about 25 minutes north and east (approx. drive time, no traffic, by our routing; see employers and commute times).
- Scottsdale Airpark. The business district around Scottsdale Airport anchors north-central Scottsdale’s office and employer base.
- Year-round events. Barrett-Jackson, the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale and the Arabian Horse Show bring visitors every winter, and Giants spring training follows; see Scottsdale events.
- The McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The city’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve protects desert and trail land along north Scottsdale, which shapes where new homes can go.
- Limited new building. Only 1 Scottsdale new-build community had a published builder price when we checked on October 11, 2026, so most buyers here are choosing among resales.
- Population. Scottsdale had 243,006 residents in the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimate.
Moving to Scottsdale from California, Washington or Texas?
The Census Bureau’s latest State-to-State Migration Flows: 2024, Table 1 (American Community Survey 1-year estimates) counts 52,383 people (±6,890) living in Arizona who lived in California a year earlier, the most from any state, followed by Washington (17,601, ±3,256) and Texas (10,306, ±2,404). These are survey estimates for 2024 with margins of error.
Scottsdale versus California. In this Scottsdale AZ market report, the single-family median sale price is $1,200,000. For California, the Census Bureau’s QuickFacts lists a median value of owner-occupied housing units of $734,700 (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimate); that is an owner-reported value, a different measure from a sale price. Scottsdale has 243,006 residents, against 39,355,309 for California in the same Census Vintage 2025 estimates.
Retirement income. Arizona does not tax Social Security retirement benefits; the Arizona Department of Revenue lists them among income Arizona law does not tax.
Buying from out of state. A dedicated full-time Scottsdale buyer’s agent tours Scottsdale Arizona real estate listings for you on live video and checks what listing photos leave out: whether a street sits in an airport noise or flight-path area, whether a lot backs onto a wash or sits in a mapped floodplain (look up any address on the Flood Control District of Maricopa County floodplain page), what the HOA rules allow, and which school district serves the address, since district lines and city lines differ in Scottsdale.
The worry: One of the most searched questions about Scottsdale is whether it is a good place to live, and no ranking answers that for one property. The fix: Weigh the price, school, crime and drive-time data on this page, then read our moving to Arizona guide.
Census, Department of Revenue and Flood Control District pages checked October 2026.
How we build this Scottsdale Arizona real estate report
Every citywide number in this Scottsdale Arizona real estate report is our market data for Scottsdale, reported for single-family homes and for condos and townhomes separately. Zip-level figures return once the current month’s zip data is complete; we do not show older zip numbers next to newer citywide data. We never publish a number we cannot verify; when a figure is not available, such as a monthly new construction series or price per square foot, we leave it out instead of guessing. Builder prices come from each builder’s own site and change often, and event dates were checked on official sites. We refresh this report every month.
Scottsdale Arizona real estate FAQ
What is the median home price in Scottsdale, AZ right now?
The median single-family sale price in Scottsdale was $1,200,000 in the latest month of closings, 4.3% higher than $1,150,000 a year earlier. Condos and townhomes closed at a $485,000 median.
Is Scottsdale a buyer’s or seller’s market in October 2026?
Scottsdale is balanced. Inventory equals 3.7 months of supply, pending sales fell 40.2% year over year, and sellers received 97.2% of list price.
How long does it take to sell a house in Scottsdale?
Single-family homes that closed in the latest month spent 80 days on market, 10 days faster than a year earlier. Pricing right on day one is the biggest factor you control.
How many homes are for sale in Scottsdale?
In the latest month, 1,334 single-family homes and 1,000 condos and townhomes were for sale in Scottsdale, with 543 new single-family listings added during the month.
What zip codes are in Scottsdale, AZ?
The ZIP codes in our Scottsdale market data are 85250, 85251, 85254, 85255, 85257, 85258, 85259, 85260, 85262 and 85266. Some of these ZIPs also cover parts of Phoenix, Paradise Valley or unincorporated areas, so check the city for any address.
Which school districts serve Scottsdale addresses?
The districts with the most graded schools at Scottsdale addresses are Scottsdale Unified District (A), Paradise Valley Unified District (B), Cave Creek Unified District (A) in the FY2025 Arizona A-F letter grades. Always confirm the district for the exact address before you write an offer.
How many people live in Scottsdale?
Scottsdale had 243,006 residents in the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimate.
Is Scottsdale building many new homes?
Not many with published prices. When we checked on October 11, 2026, one Scottsdale new construction community, Preserve Ranch by David Weekley Homes, listed a base price on its builder’s site, from $2,289,990. Ask us about custom and infill builds.
Is Scottsdale, AZ a good place to live?
That depends on the property and the setting you want, not on a ranking. Scottsdale ranges from walkable Old Town and the Arts District to master-planned ranches with lakes and paths and desert golf communities near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This page lists the facts to weigh: prices, months of supply, FY2025 school grades, sourced crime data and drive times to major employers.
Who pays closing costs in Arizona?
In Arizona the purchase contract sets which closing costs each side pays, and seller concessions can shift some buyer costs to the seller. In Scottsdale, also ask about HOA transfer fees and any club or golf membership costs, which vary by community. Ask for an estimated settlement statement before you sign.
How much does it cost to sell a house in Arizona?
It depends on your sale price, the commission you negotiate, any concessions, your share of closing costs, HOA transfer fees and your loan payoff. Ask a full-time listing agent for a written net sheet built on recent closings in your Scottsdale community.
Which parts of Scottsdale have the most condos and townhomes?
South Scottsdale, especially 85251 around Old Town, the Scottsdale Waterfront and the Arts District, has the largest mix of condos and townhomes. Gainey Ranch in 85258 adds patio homes and townhomes, and DC Ranch in 85255 has townhomes alongside custom estates.
Where are the golf and gated communities in Scottsdale?
Most sit in central and north Scottsdale: Gainey Ranch, a guard-gated golf community in 85258; Grayhawk and Silverleaf in 85255; Troon and Troon North in 85255 and 85262; and Desert Mountain, a private gated club community in 85262. Each has its own HOA rules and, in some cases, separate club membership costs, so ask for them before you offer.
Your next Scottsdale move starts with one message
From a condo near the Scottsdale Waterfront to a desert lot near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, tell us which part of Scottsdale Arizona real estate you are considering and what you want to change. One message reaches a full-time agent on our Scottsdale team who answers personally.
Get started with a dedicated full-time agent
Two quick steps. A full-time local agent who works your part of Scottsdale replies personally.
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Call Arizona Homes and Condos Realty at (480) 490-4865 or visit ArizonaHomesandCondos.com.
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