Living in Old Town Scottsdale

What Is It Like to Live in Old Town Scottsdale?

Old Town Scottsdale is the historic, walkable core of Scottsdale and the cultural engine of the entire city. Roughly a dozen blocks of galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and nightlife venues are packed into an area you can cross on foot in fifteen minutes — yet it never feels small. Thursday ArtWalks draw thousands to the Scottsdale Arts District, the Waterfront hosts seasonal festivals, and the entertainment strip along Saddlebag Trail keeps weekend energy high well past midnight.

Living in Old Town means trading yard space for walkability. The housing stock is dominated by condos, lofts, and townhomes, with a handful of smaller single-family homes on the periphery. You can walk to brunch, bike to Camelback Mountain, and grab dinner at a James Beard-recognized restaurant without ever starting a car. The Scottsdale Trolley provides free rides around the district, and Valley Metro bus connections link you to Tempe and downtown Phoenix. The trade-off is real: parking is tight, weekend noise carries, and summer tourists can overwhelm the sidewalks. But for residents who want an urban desert lifestyle with genuine character, Old Town is the only address in the Valley that delivers it.

The area has attracted a wave of younger residents in recent years. Tech workers, remote professionals, and empty nesters who sold suburban homes are all drawn to the same thing — a neighborhood where you can actually live without a car in a metro that was built for them.

Who Lives in Old Town Scottsdale?

Old Town draws a surprisingly broad mix for such a compact neighborhood. Young professionals in their late 20s and 30s make up the most visible cohort — you will see them at weekend brunches, rooftop bars, and cycling along the canal paths. But the median age is around 44, pulled up by a significant contingent of empty nesters and retirees who downsized from larger Scottsdale homes and wanted to stay close to the action. About 54% of residents hold a college degree, and the average household income is approximately $112,000. The neighborhood is predominantly renter-occupied, with many residents choosing the flexibility of apartment and condo leases over ownership.

What Does It Cost to Live in Old Town Scottsdale?

Old Town is one of the more affordable entry points into Scottsdale, thanks to the prevalence of condos and townhomes rather than single-family estates. The median home sale price sits around $565,000, though that number reflects the density of smaller units — a two-bedroom condo near the Waterfront might list for $400,000 while a renovated townhome near Goldwater Boulevard could push past $800,000. Luxury penthouses at newer developments like the Optima Kierland or Scottsdale Waterfront condos can exceed $1.5 million.

Rentals are plentiful. Studios start around $1,200, one-bedrooms average $1,500 to $1,800, and two-bedrooms run $1,900 to $2,400 depending on the building and finishes. Groceries and dining out are slightly above the national average — you are paying a lifestyle premium to be in the walkable core. Arizona has no local city income tax, and the flat 2.5% state income tax is a draw for transplants from higher-tax states.

Where Should You Eat and Drink in Old Town?

Old Town Scottsdale's dining scene runs from quick bites to destination restaurants. Citizen Public House on N. Goldwater does one of the best burgers in the Valley — the chopped salad is oddly famous, too. For brunch, Butters Pancakes on Camelback fills up fast, and Hash Kitchen (same strip) does boozy brunch with a DIY Bloody Mary bar. Late night, Culinary Dropout on the Waterfront has lawn games and a solid pretzel bites situation. If you want something more upscale, FnB on E. Indian School is a farm-to-table spot with a wine list that punches above its weight.

Getting Around from Old Town

Old Town is the most walkable neighborhood in the entire Phoenix metro, and it is not close. A Walk Score in the 80s puts it in rare company for a Sun Belt city. Within the district, daily life can genuinely function without a car — groceries, dining, fitness, and entertainment are all within walking or biking distance. Beyond Old Town, you are back in car-dependent territory.

Is Old Town Scottsdale Right for You?

Old Town is the rare Scottsdale neighborhood where you can ditch the car and live an urban lifestyle in the middle of the desert. Here is how it stacks up for different residents.

Old Town Scottsdale FAQs