Phoenix vs Scottsdale
Phoenix and Scottsdale share a long border on the east side of the valley; here is how the two cities compare on place facts. The two are about 25 minutes apart by car (15 road miles, no traffic; OpenStreetMap road routing).
How do Phoenix and Scottsdale compare?
| Phoenix | Scottsdale | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Phoenix is the Arizona state capital and the largest city in Maricopa County, spanning from South Mountain north past the Loop 101 to the Anthem area along I-17. | Scottsdale runs north–south along the east side of Phoenix, from its southern border with Tempe up to the McDowell Mountains and the Rio Verde foothills. |
| Housing types | Phoenix has historic districts with 1920s–1950s homes, mid-century ranch neighborhoods, downtown and Midtown high-rises, hillside homes near the mountain preserves, and newer subdivisions in the north valley. | Scottsdale housing includes downtown condos and townhomes, 1960s–1970s ranch homes in south Scottsdale, lake and golf communities in the middle of the city, and large-lot desert homes in the north. |
| Place character | The city wraps around the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, South Mountain Park and Camelback Mountain, with light rail running through downtown and along Central Avenue. | The Indian Bend Wash greenbelt runs through much of the city, and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve protects tens of thousands of acres of desert along its northern edge. |
| Nearest job center | Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, ~13 min drive (6 road mi, no traffic) | ASU Tempe campus, ~13 min drive (9 road mi, no traffic) |
| Median sold price | $467,500 (May 2026) | $932,500 (May 2026) |
| Median days on market | 52 days | 76 days |
| Median sold price per sq ft | $279 | $430 |
| Typical rent (ZORI) | $1,574/mo (August 2026) | $2,127/mo (August 2026) |
| Schools | ||
| Parks | ||
| Ivy Realty agents on the map | 8 agents | 1 agent |
Place facts only. Which one fits depends on what you are looking for; the local agent can pull recent sales for both. Sold data: Redfin Data Center — housing market tracker, all residential sales, data published June 2, 2026 (cities one month, neighborhoods 3-month rolling). Rent: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI).
Equal Housing Opportunity
Equal Housing Opportunity. Ivy Realty is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. Ivy Realty supports an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Arizona also prohibits housing discrimination on these bases.
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