Congratulations! If you’re moving to Scottsdale, you’re probably doing alright for yourself. Scottsdale is one of the more exclusive enclaves of the greater Phoenix desert metroplex. A hop and a skip from downtown and right next door to college town Tempe, you’ll never be lacking for food, entertainment, or shopping around here. Pop open a nice bottle of wine and read on.
Summer in Scottsdale feels like summer in a wok
Congratulations! If you’re moving to Scottsdale, you’re probably doing alright for yourself. Scottsdale is one of the more exclusive enclaves of the greater Phoenix desert metroplex. A hop and a skip from downtown and right next door to college town Tempe, you’ll never be lacking for food, entertainment, or shopping around here. Pop open a nice bottle of wine and read on.
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Summer in Scottsdale feels like summer in a wok. It is hot. And then more hot. The average daily temperature from June through September is over 100 degrees. The residents here are very reliant on A/C from May until October. Every unit should have AC in some form, but you’ll want to be doubly sure that it is adequate. You’ll also want to pay extra attention to which utilities are or are not included in your rental agreement. If you are paying your own utilities, and you probably will be, request to see your unit’s power bills for the past couple years so you can calculate your true out of pocket cost per month. Your electric bill could be $80 a month or $300 a month depending on how efficient your apartment is.
In the greater Phoenix area, there are no clearly visible boundaries between cities. Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe, Scottsdale- they can all blend together, especially to new residents. We think a simple rule of thumb for gauging where you are in Scottsdale is thinking in terms of north and south.
South Scottsdale borders Tempe, home to Arizona State University, and the further south you go in Scottsdale, the more the city takes on the character of its college town neighbor. You’ll find more apartment complexes and simple condos with a residency consisting mostly of students and the youngish, working class demographics. If you’re more record shop than wine bar, this is your part of Scottsdale.
If you’re looking to rent in this part of Scottsdale, though, be sure to compare rents with similar apartments just over the border in Tempe. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to tell where Scottsdale ends and Tempe begins for dozens of blocks in any direction, but you may get charged a few bucks extra just for the perceived prestige of a Scottsdale address. Most apartments South of McDowell are considered "North Tempe".
South Scottsdale is also a good place to consider if you are looking for a flexible agreement. Landlords are more accustomed to a transient student rental pool and may accommodate a month-to-month lease or more creative terms of your choice. The same can’t be said about the north, unfortunately.
Locals sometimes say that if Tempe is for students, Scottsdale is for graduates. And apparently, the further north you go in Scottsdale, the further the graduates have advanced in their careers. The north is what gives Scottsdale its reputation for exclusivity. Sometimes coveted, sometimes derided as “Snotsdale,” this is the posh part of town. It's newer, less congested and more spread out. Views are incredible, but it will cost you more. The corridor near Kierland is ultra expensive for apartments, even when they are technically on the "Phoenix" side of Scottsdale Road.
Old With the Old, In With the…Old
Scottsdale’s Old Town area is a major draw. Think of it as somewhere between an Old West reenactment zone and an open-air mall. And while the desert landscape painting galleries, hitching posts, and wagon wheel chandeliers may strike a rather faux feel at times, this is not strictly a tourist trap. Once you learn the lay of the land, you’ll find neighborhood shops and a place to watch the ballgame with locals, too. Most Scottsdale apartments offer some kind of parking, but you’ll want to be extra sure if you rent here. Old Town is abuzz evenings and weekends all year round. As far as the type of apartment to look for, you best bets in “Old Town,” ironically, are newer condos and lofts. The older accommodations have a reputation for being substandard, although in 2023 it seems more and more of these communities are being completely redone - and good deals can be found.
Apartments in Old Town Scottsdale
The Scottsdale Waterfront area, north of Old Town, pitches itself as a glamorous hotspot with high end shops and restaurants; and to a degree, it is exactly that. Reviews from the locals are mixed, however, and sales and rentals of the numerous luxury condos built in this area stalled after an initial burst of interest. In short, it is polarizing, so if you’re considering renting here, hang out, shop and have dinner a few times before taking the plunge.
McCormick and Gainey Ranch
Want to live on a golf course? Yes? Then come on down! McCormick Ranch is mostly residential. This is a potential area for bargains if you are patient. And by bargain, we mean that relatively for Scottsdale, of course. Gainey Ranch is another option just next door to McCormick Ranch, but apartments are more scarce and mostly independently owned.
The New Old
Some are already calling this the new Old Town. It doesn’t have as many hitching posts, but it does have just as much shopping. Don’t miss the spa options, either. The rents around here are climbing, though, so be prepared.
Gaining Ground
A good mix of the residential and commercial, Gainey Ranch has seen an uptick in popularity recently. It may be a good option if you want to pay a little less than in Kierland, but want more to do than in McCormick.
We said it once and we’ll say it again, if you’re moving to Scottsdale, you’re most likely in the money. Now get out there and find a great spot to enjoy the smooth, financial sailing. Enjoy your stay in the West’s Most Western Town! We’re positive you will.
The representation of ethnic minorities in Scottsdale is lower than the national average. The eight main ethnic groups that make up the population of Scottsdale are White (77.1%), Hispanic Or Latino (11.8%), Asian (4.7%), Two Or More (3.7%), Black Or African American (1.6%), Other (0.7%), American Indian Or Alaska Native (0.2%), and Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander (0.2%).
The representation of ethnic minorities in Scottsdale is lower than the national average. The eight main ethnic groups that make up the population of Scottsdale are White (77.1%), Hispanic Or Latino (11.8%), Asian (4.7%), Two Or More (3.7%), Black Or African American (1.6%), Other (0.7%), American Indian Or Alaska Native (0.2%), and Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander (0.2%).
Apartment List has released the results for Scottsdale from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters nationwide, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the country’s 111 million renters.
These Scottsdale neighborhoods are insanely popular right now! Renters are hunting down properties in these places.
Searching for an apartment for rent in Scottsdale, AZ? Look no further! Apartment List will help you find a perfect apartment near you. There are 914 available rental units listed on Apartment List in Scottsdale. Click on listings to see photos, floorplans, amenities, prices and availability, and much more!
The average rent in Scottsdale is $1,604 for a studio, $2,026 for a one-bedroom apartment, and $2,583 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you are looking for a deal, keep an eye out for a red pulsing icon that indicates rent specials.
Tired of browsing? Take our personalized quiz. You’ll answer a couple of simple questions and we’ll put together a list of Scottsdale apartments that are best for you. We’ll also factor in your commute, budget, and preferred amenities. Looking for a pet-friendly rental, or an apartment with in-unit washer and dryer? No problem, we’ll provide you with apartments that match that criteria.
You can trust Apartment List to help you find your next Scottsdale, AZ apartment rental! After all, everyone deserves a home they love.
Welcome to the Apartment List December 2024 Rent Report for Scottsdale, AZ. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,712, roughly the same as last month. Prices are now down 2.7% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the Scottsdale rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the broader Phoenix metro area and the nation as a whole.
The median rent in Scottsdale fell by 0.2% over the course of November, and has now decreased by a total of 2.7% over the past 12 months. Scottsdale’s rent growth over the past year has is similar to the state average (-2.6%) but has fallen below the national average (-0.6%).
Eleven months into the year, rents in Scottsdale have fallen 2.6%. This is a similar rate of growth compared to what the city was experiencing at this point last year: from January to November 2023 rents had decreased 2.7%.
Scottsdale rents went down 0.2% in the past month, compared to the national rate of -0.8%. Among the nation's 100 largest cities, this ranks #19. Similar monthly rent growth took place in Albuquerque, NM (-0.2%) and Santa Ana, CA (-0.2%).
Citywide, the median rent currently stands at $1,457 for a 1-bedroom apartment and $1,713 for a 2-bedroom. Across all bedroom sizes (ie, the entire rental market), the median rent is $1,712. That ranks #24 in the nation, among the country's 100 largest cities.
For comparison, the median rent across the nation as a whole is $1,214 for a 1-bedroom, $1,368 for a 2-bedroom, and $1,382 overall. The median rent in Scottsdale is 23.9% higher than the national, and is similar to the prices you would find in Gilbert, AZ ($1,731) and Denver, CO ($1,700).
If we expand our view to the wider Phoenix metro area, the median rent is $1,411 meaning that the median price in Scottsdale ($1,712) is 21.4% greater than the price across the metro as a whole. Metro-wide annual rent growth stands at -2.7%, below the rate of rent growth within just the city.
The table below shows the latest rent stats for 11 cities in the Phoenix metro area that are included in our database. Among them, Surprise is currently the most expensive, with a median rent of $1,756. Glendale is the metro’s most affordable city, with a median rent of $1,301. The metro's fastest annual rent growth is occurring in Surprise (1.7%) while the slowest is in Glendale (-4.5%).
You can also use the map below to explore the latest rent trends in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Apartment List is committed to the accuracy and transparency of our rent estimates. We begin with reliable median rent statistics from the Census Bureau, then extrapolate them forward to the current month using a growth rate calculated from our listing data. In doing so, we use a same-unit analysis similar to Case-Shiller’s approach, capturing apartment transactions over time to provide an accurate picture of rent growth in cities across the country. Our approach corrects for the sample bias inherent in other private sources, producing results that are much closer to statistics published by the Census Bureau and HUD. For more details, please see the Apartment List Rent Estimate Methodology.
Apartment List publishes monthly rent reports and underlying data for hundreds of cities across the nation, as well as data aggregated for counties, metros, and states. These data are intended to be a source of reliable information that help renters and policymakers make sound decisions. Insights from our data are covered regularly by journalists across the country. To access the data yourself, please visit our Data Downloads Page.
Welcome to the Apartment List December 2024 Rent Report for Scottsdale, AZ. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,712, roughly the same as last month. Prices are now down 2.7% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the Scottsdale rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the broader Phoenix metro area and the nation as a whole.
Apartment List has released Scottsdale’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Scottsdale renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "They gave most categories above average scores."
Key findings in Scottsdale include the following:
Renters say:
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
Congratulations! If you’re moving to Scottsdale, you’re probably doing alright for yourself. Scottsdale is one of the more exclusive enclaves of the greater Phoenix desert metroplex. A hop and a skip from downtown and right next door to college town Tempe, you’ll never be lacking for food, entertainment, or shopping around here. Pop open a nice bottle of wine and read on.
Summer in Scottsdale feels like summer in a wok
View Scottsdale City Guide
