Scottsdale is a desert oasis just 14 miles north of Phoenix with a tremendous amount of adventure, cultural, athletic, career, and relaxation opportunities. There is an active nightlife, but there are also plenty of tranquil spas and serene outdoor spaces to calm the mind. The economy is bumping, house market is steady, median household income is higher than the national average, and thanks to its tax-friendliness, it is also one of the best places in the country to start a business. The school system is excellent, and there are plenty of neighborhoods with a strong focus on community. This is truly a city that appeals to everyone.
Explore the Job Market
If you will be more comfortable getting a job first, you can use an online service, such as Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed, or even jobsinscotsdale.com. You can even go to the city’s website to apply for government jobs.
Interestingly, tourism is the primary employer in Scottsdale, so it is a very desirable place for anyone in hospitality. Of course, you can always work in this market until you find the exact career you are looking for. There are also more spas here than any other city in the country.
The aviation industry has grown considerably and Mayo Clinic offers three branches. There are also many major companies headquartered here, including Go Daddy, P.F. Chang’s, Discount Tire, and Rural Metro.
Plan Your Move
If you are hiring movers you can move all year-round. If you are handling a self-move, avoid June through September as the temperatures average above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. You will get used to the heat, as everyone does, but you will not want to carry heavy furniture on a hot summer day, especially if you are used to milder temperatures. If you use a moving container, then you can have it delivered and use unpakt.com to find local movers in Scottsdale to unload it.
When you look for a place to live, you will find that there are a ton of fantastic neighborhoods with a wide variety of housing. If you are looking for the “bad” neighborhoods to avoid, look elsewhere. Even a “sketchy” neighborhood here would be considered safe compared to other cities in the country. The Pairut area has low-income housing, but it is not considered a dangerous area. There is not a lot of distinction between neighborhoods here. The 31-mile long city simply seems to flow gracefully from one district to the next.
- North Scottsdale – This area is spread out with gorgeous houses, nice golf courses, and luxury resorts.
- Central Scottsdale – The 16,000-acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve is in the heart of this district. There is a very walkable community to the south of the preserve with the feel of a bustling urban environment.
- Downtown -This is an extremely pedestrian-friendly city. There is a beautiful waterfront, plenty of western shops, and lots of museums and galleries.
- South Scottsdale – This area tends to attract the younger crowd. Housing is cheap and there are a lot of apartments because it borders the fun college town of Tempe.
Surrounding Areas
Since Scottsdale is not all that large, you can live in one of the surrounding areas and have an easy commute to the city. Paradise Valley is dubbed the “Beverly Hills of the Southwest,” and as mentioned, Tempe is a fun college town with plenty of affordable housing and friendly neighborhood bars. Glendale is between Scottsdale and Phoenix, and is considered “Arizona’s Antique Capitol.” Peoria is a major suburb of Phoenix and was listed as one of the top 100 places to live by “Money” magazine in 2008. Lastly, you could always consider Mesa as it is packed full of cultural attractions and ranks as one of the 50 most walkable large cities in the country.
Getting Around
One of the most fantastic things about living in the downtown area is that not only is it walkable, the Scottsdale Trolley is free to riders. One of the routes even goes to neighborhoods around the downtown area and individuals going to school or living in Tempe will appreciate that riders can transfer from the trolley to Tempe Orbit to get to downtown Tempe and Arizona State University.
Happy Hour
Of course, you cannot move to a new city without knowing where to go for happy hour. You will have a hard time finding a bar or restaurant you don’t have a good time at here. A few favorite hotspots with the locals include ZuZu, The Skeptical Chymist, 5th and Wine, Mabel’s on Main, RnR, and Roaring Fork.
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