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Retiring in Scottsdale, AZ

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

105°/39°
Climate (Summer/Winter)
$859,406
Housing (Typical Value)
154.1
Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

Is Scottsdale Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 242,169, Scottsdale offers a mid-size city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

  • Lower violent crime
  • Low hurricane risk

Potential Tradeoffs

  • Hot summers
  • Dry climate
  • Higher housing costs
  • Elevated riverine flooding risk
  • Elevated wildfire risk

Potential advantages. The reported violent crime rate is 154.1 per 100,000, 57% below the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign a lower risk designation to hurricane.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 105°F. Annual precipitation is 8.8 inches. The typical home value is $859,406, 131% above the $371,774 US median. Median gross rent is $1,910 per month, 36% above the $1,400 per month US median. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to riverine flooding and wildfire.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)105°F
Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)39°F
Annual snowfall0"
Annual precipitation8.8"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$859,406131% above the $371,774 US median
Median gross rent$1,910/mo36% above the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate154.1 /100,00057% below the 359.1 /100,000 US median
Property crime rate1876.5 /100,000near the US median of 1760.1 /100,000
Motor vehicle theft rate156.6 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalGreenbaum Surgical Specialty Hospital (0.5 mi)
Hospital qualityNot Rated (CMS)
Primary care accessStrong (1,430 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index11.6/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population242,169Classified as a mid-size city
Elevation2,187 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingVery High
Coastal floodingN/A
TornadoRelatively Moderate
HurricaneVery Low
WildfireRelatively High
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate
Ice stormsN/A
TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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