Phoenix East Valley Relocation Guide

More than a place to live.

Compare the communities, housing costs, schools and everyday lifestyle before deciding where you belong in the East Valley.

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Choose a city

Find the East Valley that feels like you.

Pick a city to see its housing, local character and useful numbers.

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Selected city

Scottsdale

Housing: Condos, established neighborhoods, golf communities and luxury desert estates.

PopulationAbout 247,000

Median home priceAbout $900K

Median household incomeAbout $111,000

To Sky Harbor15–30 min

What locals know

Old Town Scottsdale
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
TPC Scottsdale & dozens of golf options

Public schools

Scottsdale Unified serves much of the city. Some northern addresses fall within Cave Creek Unified; boundaries should be verified by address.

Keep in mind

The broadest luxury market in the East Valley, but generally the highest prices and long north–south drives.

Get more details about Scottsdale

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Population and household income: recent U.S. Census estimates. Housing snapshot updated September 2026. Airport time is approximate in normal traffic and varies by neighborhood.

After the moving truck leaves

What will your weekends look like?

Downtowns and districts

Five places locals actually gather.

Downtown Gilbert

The Heritage District combines locally known restaurants, nightlife, the Hale Centre Theatre, farmers markets and the town's agricultural roots in a compact destination.

Downtown Chandler

Historic storefronts, restaurants, breweries, public art and the Chandler Center for the Arts give downtown a walkable core that continues to add events and new development.

Old Town Scottsdale

A larger district spanning galleries, restaurants, nightlife, museums, resorts and Scottsdale Fashion Square—with a very different rhythm by day and after dark.

Downtown Mesa

Light rail, the Mesa Arts Center, museums, restaurants and live music anchor an increasingly active downtown corridor.

Tempe & Town Lake

Mill Avenue, ASU, Tempe Beach Park and Town Lake create the East Valley's most urban mix of events, dining, recreation and transit.

Golf in the Valley

You could play a different course every week.

Resort layouts, desert target golf, traditional parkland courses and municipal options are spread throughout the metro.

TPC ScottsdaleWe-Ko-Pa Golf ClubTalking Stick Golf ClubOcotillo Golf ClubWhirlwind Golf ClubLas Sendas Golf ClubLongbow Golf ClubKierland Golf ClubThe BouldersSan Marcos Golf Course

Signature events

Put these on the calendar.

Chandler Ostrich FestivalTumbleweed Park
Cactus League Spring TrainingStadiums throughout the Valley
WM Phoenix OpenTPC Scottsdale
Barrett-JacksonWestWorld of Scottsdale
Scottsdale Arabian Horse ShowWestWorld of Scottsdale
Tempe Festival of the ArtsDowntown Tempe

Sports and concerts

The entire Phoenix metro is part of the lifestyle.

The Valley has hosted multiple Super Bowls, college football national championships and NCAA basketball championships, along with major bowl games, NASCAR weekends and the Cactus League. Some of the largest venues sit west of the East Valley, so event-day drive time matters when comparing locations.

State Farm Stadium

Arizona Cardinals, major concerts and national sporting events

Chase Field

Arizona Diamondbacks and large-scale events

Phoenix's downtown arena

Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and arena concerts

Desert Diamond Arena

Touring concerts, shows and special events

Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Large outdoor concert tours

Arizona Financial Theatre

National touring music and comedy

Mesa Amphitheatre

Outdoor concerts in downtown Mesa

Mullett Arena

ASU sports, hockey and live events in Tempe

Spring-training favorites near the East ValleySloan Park · Scottsdale Stadium · Salt River Fields · Hohokam Stadium · Tempe Diablo Stadium

Outside is a big reason people move here

Mountains, desert trails and water are closer than they look.

Beyond the city limits

A short list for your first year.

Desert and trails

McDowell Sonoran Preserve, San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Usery Mountain and South Mountain offer hiking, running, biking and trail riding.

Lakes and rivers

Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake and the Lower Salt River open the door to boating, paddling, fishing and seasonal tubing.

Arts and culture

Mesa Arts Center, Scottsdale Arts, Chandler Center for the Arts, museums and ASU performances bring year-round programming.

Day trips

Sedona, Prescott, Payson and Tucson make practical weekend escapes when you want a change in scenery or temperature.

A second airport worth knowing

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway can save a long drive.

For Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek and San Tan Valley, Gateway Airport can be considerably more convenient. It serves fewer destinations than Sky Harbor, but southeastern East Valley residents should check both airports before booking.

About Arizona schools

Verify the address, not just the city.

School boundaries do not always follow city limits, and fast-growing areas may include several districts. Verify the assigned schools directly with the district before making a housing decision.

Arizona School Report Cards ↗Department of Education ↗

The question everyone asks

Is it hot?

Yes. The summers are hot.

From roughly June through September, daytime temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, and the hottest stretches can reach 110°F or more. Outdoor life shifts to early mornings, evenings, pools and air-conditioned spaces.

Mild winters and abundant sunshine
Golf, patios and hiking through much of the year
Higher summer electric bills
Covered parking and pool access become meaningful
Hydration, pets and hot pavement must be taken seriously

The practical next step

What can you afford in the East Valley?

Median prices only tell part of the story. Your rate, down payment, taxes, insurance, HOA fees and other costs determine your true buying power.

See my true buying power →