City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Scottsdale, AZ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Scottsdale - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

242,169
Residents
$107,372
Median income
$709,900
Median home
$1,839
Median rent (state)

Scottsdale - the verdict

Scottsdale ranks in the 82nd percentile for household income and the 31st percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

82nd
percentile, household income
93rd
percentile, home value
77th
percentile, median rent
31st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale is a mid-sized U.S. city in Arizona, home to 242,169 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $107,372 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.7%. Home values in Scottsdale run a median of $709,900, and the median resident age is 49.2 years. About 61.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 59.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1,320 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Growing), up 5% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2027.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,839 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Arizona's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

242,169 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$107,372 /yr

Poverty 4.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Scottsdale compare to other US cities?

Scottsdale measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 82% higher than other cities
Home value 93% pricier than other cities
Median rent 77% pricier than other cities
Safety 31% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Arizona, Scottsdale ranks #41 of 61 Arizona cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Scottsdale against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Arizona only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Arizona-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Scottsdale's strongest outlier among Arizona cities

Among the 327 Arizona cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Scottsdale ranks #7 - the 98th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Scottsdale only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#26 of 333
92nd percentile in Arizona
Median Gross Rent
#29 of 394
71st percentile in Arizona
Median Home Value
#7 of 327
98th percentile in Arizona
Poverty Rate
#259 of 393
34th percentile in Arizona
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#11 of 394
97th percentile in Arizona

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Arizona only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

82ndIncome percentile
31stSafety percentile

82nd percentile nationally for median household income · 31st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Scottsdale's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Scottsdale's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 43 Avg. percentile National median
Scottsdale's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Scottsdale's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$709,900 7th percentile more affordable than 7% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Scottsdale $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Scottsdale, AZ Scottsdale, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Scottsdale, AZ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Scottsdale, AZ median $107,372/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Scottsdale, AZ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Scottsdale, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 61.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
242,169
Median Income
$107,372
Median Home Value
$709,900
Median Age
49.2
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Labor force participation
59.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
61.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2027.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
152.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1875.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
54
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
241,000 residents242,000 residents243,000 residents244,000 residents245,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 241,855 residents 243,006 residents ▲ +0.5%
Scottsdale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
1,320
housing units authorized
Single-Family
403
detached homes
Multifamily
917
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,259
2020 3,086
2021 1,700
2022 799
2023 1,067
2024 1,320

Permit volume increased 5% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
62.1%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
29.0%
Other
2.3%

Based on 124,022 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arizona - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$34
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arizona state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arizona state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Scottsdale sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.7
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,839/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arizona

Glendale
250,193 people
Gilbert
271,118 people
Chandler
278,123 people
Peoria
194,338 people
Tempe
186,419 people
Surprise
149,519 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Scottsdale's 242,169 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Garland, TX
245,298 people
Boise City, ID
235,701 people
Arlington, VA
235,463 people
Norfolk, VA
235,037 people
Winston-Salem, NC
250,887 people
Chesapeake, VA
251,153 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Scottsdale's $107,372 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Olympia Heights, FL
$107,381 median income
West Elmira, NY
$107,359 median income
Carson, CA
$107,391 median income
Wheaton, MD
$107,349 median income
King Arthur Park, MT
$107,341 median income
Bowleys Quarters, MD
$107,339 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Scottsdale, AZ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Scottsdale, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.8% 8.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.4% White 81.8% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 5.1% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 8.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Scottsdale compares to nearby Arizona cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Scottsdale (this city) 242,169 $107,372
Glendale 250,193 $70,139
Gilbert 271,118 $121,351
Chandler 278,123 $103,691
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Scottsdale, AZ?

What is the population of Scottsdale, AZ? +

242,169 people live in Scottsdale, AZ according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Scottsdale, AZ? +

The median household income in Scottsdale is $107,372 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Scottsdale? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Scottsdale; the closest available measure is the Arizona state average, a cost of living index of 100.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arizona vary by metro area.

Is Scottsdale, AZ safe? +

Scottsdale has a total crime rate of 2027.8 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Scottsdale, AZ? +

A typical home in Scottsdale is worth $709,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.