Scottsdale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, located northeast of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert. The city had a population of 241,361 at the 2020 census and sits along the McDowell Mountain Range to its east and northeast.
Jackie has sold 5 homes in Scottsdale since 2026. See the sales →
Schools
Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) serves most, but not all, of the city, along with almost all of Paradise Valley and sections of Phoenix and Tempe; it includes 15 elementary schools, 3 K-8 schools, 6 middle schools, and 5 high schools, including an online high school. Parts of Scottsdale, especially some northeastern and western areas, are served instead by Paradise Valley Unified School District, and far north Scottsdale can overlap with Cave Creek Unified School District, which operates Cactus Shadows High School. Because school attendance boundaries do not follow ZIP codes, SUSD provides an official district map and school locator online to confirm which schools serve a specific address.
Getting around
Loop 101 (the Pima Freeway) runs through Scottsdale and provides access to areas such as the Scottsdale Airpark, which was established in 1966 and lies south and west of the freeway. Driving distance to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport varies by part of the city, ranging from about 9 to 14 miles with a typical 15- to 24-minute drive, reachable via AZ 202 East with an exit at Scottsdale Road. Scottsdale Municipal Airport (IATA: SCF) is also located within the city.
Homes and housing
South Scottsdale, between the Salt River and Thomas Road, includes a mix of mid-century ranch homes on larger lots alongside newer builds in master-planned communities. The Central Scottsdale/Shea Corridor area, covering the 85257-85260 ZIP codes, was largely built between the 1970s and 1990s and includes master-planned communities such as McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch, often shaped around golf courses. Villa Monterey, near Old Town, is a mid-century community built in the 1960s, while Scottsdale Shadows consists of 13 mid-rise and high-rise buildings built between 1961 and 1969.
Things to do
Scottsdale includes Old Town Scottsdale and areas such as Taliesin West. The city's terrain supports desert ecosystems with plants like saguaro cacti and wildlife including javelinas and coyotes, found in natural areas such as those accessed from trailheads like the Gateway Trailhead. Scottsdale is known for golf courses, resorts, and dining and arts offerings in its downtown core.
- Scottsdale was incorporated on June 25, 1951, with a population of approximately 2,000. Scottsdale, Arizona
- The city's land area is 183.94 square miles. Scottsdale, AZ Profile: Facts & Data
- Scottsdale borders Phoenix and Paradise Valley to the west, Tempe to the south, and Fountain Hills to the east. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Scottsdale Airpark was established in 1966. CHAPTER 9 - AIRPARK CIRCULATION STUDY PAGE 311 AIRPARK CIRCULATION STUDY
- Scottsdale Unified School District was founded in 1896. Scottsdale Unified School District
- Scottsdale Municipal Airport has the IATA code SCF. Transportation in Arizona
