Population 294,949 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Scottsdale
Household size in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.91 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.91 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.16 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Scottsdale are small: just 2.16 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.30, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.3 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.1 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.0 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.1 | 39.1 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +3.5 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.1, Scottsdale is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 44.3, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 14.0% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.3% of households in Scottsdale, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Scottsdale
Renters in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 37.7% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.8% | 36.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.0% | 33.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Scottsdale is about as common as it is nationally: 32.0% of households rent, against 34.8%. Nearly four in ten owners (38.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.7% | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 14.1% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 8.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −5.6 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Scottsdale: 13.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 3.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1988 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1989 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1990 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Scottsdale has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. Locally, though, homes here are older than in the Phoenix area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1993. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,343 | $1,123 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,440 | $1,158 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,737 | $1,342 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,351 | $1,927 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,009 | +$804 | +$694 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Scottsdale costs $2,351 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,009 a month since 2006–10, up 75%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Scottsdale
Bachelor's degrees in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.7% | 27.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 52.5% | 28.5% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.6% | 31.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.0% | 35.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Scottsdale: 61.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 10.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 110 Arizona cities with 5,000+ people, only two have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.1% | 85.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.8% | 86.0% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.3% | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.2% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Scottsdale: 97.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.1 points, as it has nationally. Only nine of the 110 Arizona cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Scottsdale
| Period | Scottsdale | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 5.3% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Scottsdale than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Scottsdale compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale | 2.16 | 48.1 | 6.3% | 32.0% | 13.7% | 1989 | $2,351 | 61.0% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
| Paradise Valley | 2.38 | 51.6 | 8.1% | 15.3% | 15.8% | 1986 | $2,244 | 71.8% | 98.8% | 2.2% |
| Fountain Hills | 2.15 | 60.3 | 4.9% | 15.5% | 16.0% | 1994 | $2,035 | 50.5% | 97.4% | 5.6% |
| Phoenix area | 2.80 | 39.1 | 12.9% | 33.4% | 8.4% | 1993 | $1,927 | 35.0% | 89.5% | 4.8% |
| Fort McDowell | 3.91 | 28.0 | 31.3% | 14.3% | 8.5% | 1997 | $595 | 13.3% | 79.5% | 11.3% |
| Alchesay Flat | 3.79 | 28.5 | 19.3% | 15.7% | 14.4% | 2001 | $595 | 14.2% | 84.8% | 6.2% |
| Mesa | 2.69 | 40.2 | 11.9% | 33.7% | 9.7% | 1990 | $1,815 | 32.3% | 90.7% | 4.2% |
| Glendale | 2.90 | 36.3 | 15.7% | 39.5% | 6.3% | 1986 | $1,744 | 24.7% | 85.1% | 5.5% |
| Peoria | 2.80 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 24.7% | 6.7% | 1999 | $2,031 | 37.1% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Sun City | 1.92 | 66.6 | 3.8% | 14.6% | 13.5% | 1980 | $1,807 | 27.2% | 94.2% | 5.5% |
| Youngtown | 2.64 | 42.3 | 8.6% | 35.3% | 6.3% | 1981 | $1,398 | 13.8% | 83.2% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Trenton, NJ · Temecula, CA · Temple, TX · Tamarac, FL · Titusville, FL · Tomball, TX · Tallahassee, FL · Traverse City, MI · Toledo, OH · Terre Haute, IN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Scottsdale. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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