AREA INFORMATION

I have collected a number of informative sites within each of the categories above, take a look.  

They will provide all of the information you need to find out about your new home.  

Just click on the buttons above for further details.

      Many more community links are at the end of this page.

Arizona Republic Newspaper      Phoenix Business Journal

Sonoran News: http://www.sonorannews.com/                    

20062005 Winners Top 100 Cities States FAQ High incomes Safest Pricey homes Educated Job growth Hottest Most singles Youngest Skinniest Clean air Scottsdale, AZ Top 100                           Rank: # 7   Population: 226,000       *2006 Compare Scottsdale to Top 10 Best Places       Financial   City stats Best places average Median family income (per year) $84,747 $76,893 Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted) $59,639 $68,109 Sales tax 7.95% 6.55% State income tax rate (highest bracket) 5.04%* 6.46% State income tax rate (lowest bracket) 2.87%* 2.74% Auto insurance premiums (Average for the state) $2,588 $2,207 Job growth % (2000-2005) 8.75% 10.97% Housing   City stats Best places average Median home price $370,000 $259,566 Home price gain (2004-2005) 25.40% 9.26% Education   City stats Best places average Colleges, universities and professional schools 15 8 Junior colleges and technical institutes 1 0 Test scores reading (% +/- state average) 34.6% 13.3% Test scores math (% +/- state average) 37.5% 16.9% % students attending public/private schools 90.0/10.00 88.4/11.59 Quality of life   City stats Best places average Air quality index (% of days AQI ranked as good) 22.2% 71.9% Personal crime risk (100 is nat'l average; lower is better) 52 45 Property crime risk (100 is nat'l average; lower is better) 120 74 Personal crime incidents (per 100,000) 209 228 Property crime incidents (per 100,000) 4,011 3,105 Median commute time (in minutes) 21.5 20.8 % population with commute 45 mins. or longer 11.3% 13.4% Leisure and culture   City stats Best places average Movie theaters (within 15 miles) 34 22 Restaurants (within 15 miles) 3,822 2,268 Bars (within 15 miles) 241 127 Public golf courses (within 30 miles) 134 74 Libraries (within 15 miles) 45 43 Museums (accredited by AAM within 30 miles) 5 7 Ski resorts (within 100 miles) 0 10 Weather   City stats Best places average Annual precipitation (inches) 11.97 36.00 Clear days 211 107 High temp in July � F 105.2� 87.7� Low temp in Jan � F 39.9� 23.5� Health*   City stats Best places average Has health plan (% of residents) 84.9% 88.2% Body mass index (avg. for residents) 26 27 Cancer mortality (per 100,000, age-adjusted) 182.6 191.3 Cardiac mortality (per 100,000) 187.3 202.0 Meet the neighbors   City stats Best places average Median age 39.9 34.5 Completed at least some college (% of residents) 73.8% 63.9% Married 53.7% 54.3% Divorced 12.5% 9.3% Amount spent on vacations (domestic and foreign, household avg. per year) $8,272 $7,549 *County data Income tax notes: For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.

SCOTTSDALE SCHOOLS OVERVIEW

Scottsdale School Info Reporting on District: Scottsdale Unified District 2004-05 Student/Teacher Ratio: 18.40 State Average: 18.90 High Low 2003-04 Graduation Rate: 69.10% State Average: 76.80% Low High 2003-04 Expenditure per Student: $6,424.00 State Average: $9,075.00 Low High Data Source: Arizona Department of Education

% Meeting or Exceeding AIMS Standards in 2005

 

SCOTTSDALE CENSUS INFORMATION Median Household Income: $57,484 State Average: $40,558 Low  High    Median Family Income: $73,846 State Average: $46,723 Low  High    Per-Capita Income: $39,158 State Average: $20,275 Low  High    Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing Units: $220,800 State Average: $121,300 Low  High    Median Price Asked for Housing Units: $257,700 State Average: $115,900 Low  High

 

2004 Crime Statistics % population affected Scottsdale Maricopa County Arizona Property Crime 4.01% 5.76% 6.03%     Arson 0.01% 0.02% 0.03%     Burglary 0.93% 1.06% 1.07%     Larceny Theft 2.49% 3.42% 3.82%     Motor Vehicle Theft 0.59% 1.28% 1.14% Violent Crime 0.21% 0.52% 0.57%     Aggravated Assault 0.12% 0.31% 0.36%     Murder <0.01% 0.01% 0.01%     Rape 0.03% 0.03% 0.04%     Robbery 0.06% 0.17% 0.17%

 

Year Home Was Built % of respondents	Scottsdale	Maricopa County	Arizona
Built 1939 or earlier	0.30%	1.38%	2.23%
Built 1940 to 1949	0.41%	1.97%	2.34%
Built 1950 to 1959	6.15%	7.11%	7.29%
Built 1960 to 1969	12.45%	10.52%	10.56%
Built 1970 to 1979	19.11%	23.36%	23.62%
Built 1980 to 1989	23.84%	25.75%	24.67%
Built 1990 to 1994	13.16%	10.19%	10.52%
Built 1995 to 1998	18.37%	14.27%	13.69%
Built 1999 to March 2000	6.22%	5.45%	5.09%
Total	104,949	1,250,231	2,189,189

 

Household Income % of respondents	Scottsdale	Maricopa County	Arizona
Less than $10,000	5.26%	6.80%	8.58%
$10,000 to $14,999	3.73%	5.25%	6.35%
$15,000 to $19,999	4.18%	5.82%	6.74%
$20,000 to $24,999	5.02%	6.39%	7.16%
$25,000 to $29,999	4.70%	6.53%	7.05%
$30,000 to $34,999	5.62%	6.61%	6.92%
$35,000 to $39,999	4.88%	6.30%	6.43%
$40,000 to $44,999	4.86%	5.89%	5.87%
$45,000 to $49,999	4.70%	5.28%	5.20%
$50,000 to $59,999	8.76%	9.60%	9.08%
$60,000 to $74,999	10.62%	11.11%	10.12%
$75,000 to $99,999	11.69%	11.17%	9.68%
$100,000 to $124,999	8.05%	5.68%	4.70%
$125,000 to $149,999	5.09%	2.72%	2.19%
$150,000 to $199,999	5.29%	2.34%	1.89%
$200,000 or more	7.55%	2.51%	2.03%
Total	90,602	1,133,048	1,901,625

 

Travel Time to Work % of respondents	Scottsdale	Maricopa County	Arizona
Less than 5 minutes	2.12%	2.05%	3.01%
5 to 9 minutes	10.59%	8.45%	10.61%
10 to 14 minutes	14.14%	12.86%	14.49%
15 to 19 minutes	14.97%	15.01%	15.69%
20 to 24 minutes	16.18%	15.69%	15.05%
25 to 29 minutes	8.20%	6.84%	6.25%
30 to 34 minutes	15.02%	16.54%	14.83%
35 to 39 minutes	3.68%	3.35%	2.89%
40 to 44 minutes	3.93%	4.41%	3.69%
45 to 59 minutes	7.06%	8.70%	7.45%
60 to 89 minutes	2.53%	4.33%	4.00%
90 or more minutes	1.56%	1.75%	2.05%
Worked at home	7.10%	3.68%	3.67%
Did not work at home	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Total	102,824	1,406,442	2,210,395

Demographics

	Scottsdale, AZ 85250	National Average
Population of Scottsdale	19026	11535
Median Age	44.3 years	37.47 years
Median Household Income	$51263	$42350.95
Percentage of Single Households	50.1%	41.53%
Percentage of Married Households	49.9%	58.46%
Percentage Families (households with children)	11.4%	24.32%
Average Household Size	2.02 people	2.57 people
Percentage College or Better	40.6%	20.14%
Percentage White Collar	77%	47.14%

Cost of Living

	Scottsdale, AZ 85250	National Average
Cost of Living Index	105.1	99.52
Average Yearly Utility Cost	3445	3196.27
Average Household Total Consumer Expenditures	$48895 per year	$41075.28 per year
Average Household Education Expenditures	$466 per year	$450.93 per year
Average Household Entertainment Expenditures	$2657 per year	$2207.08 per year
Average Household Transportation Expenditures	$1820 per year	$1563.85 per year
Average Household Retail Expenditures	$22730 per year	$18600.46 per year
Average Household Non-RetailExpenditures	$26165 per year	$22474.81 per year

Quality of Life

	Scottsdale, AZ 85250	National Average
Average Winter High Temperature	58.6 degrees	41.29 degrees
Average Winter Low Temperature	39.1 degrees	22.88 degrees
Average Summer High Temperature	107.6 degrees	86.56 degrees
Average Summer Low Temperature	68.6 degrees	62.35 degrees
Average Annual Precipitation	10.2 inches	38.69 inches
Air Quality Index	1	44.59
Total Crime Index	5	3.60
Personal Crime Index	3	3.43
Culture Index	130	93.65

View the entire official Census data:  http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/ahs/ahs.html

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  Sun placement Chart - summer vs. winter.

Many like a North/South orientation, but that really depends on where you want the sun and at what time of day!  I like an East/West orientation because I like the morning sun and like to enjoy my back patio (in the shade) in the afternoon.  A lot depends on the roof over-hang and how far it extends.  I also tell clients to purchase the property, first, then design the home for the property.  You have no ideal of how many people do it the other way around.

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Link to the City of Scottsdale:  http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov

Interesting Area Information

ARIZONA INFORMATION   

Visiting Scottsdale ~ Some Interesting Statistics

Maybe it's the abundance of luxury resorts in the area and the desert's natural beauty that is to blame for Scottsdale's "resort lifestyle". But for whatever reason, Scottsdale is a cosmopolitan city full of young go-getters, affluent families and retirees that all share a passion for life, arts, and GOLF. Scottsdale real estate includes condos, master planned neighborhoods, and retirement communities designed to bring generations together and give easy access to all Scottsdale has to offer.

Scottsdale is a year-round celebration of the arts with more than 125 galleries and museums like the famous Heard Museum, over 500 restaurants, several fine performing arts venues, architectural wonders including Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West, the downtown Scottsdale Art & Shopping Districts, and events like the Thursday night Scottsdale Art-Walk and the seasonal Native Trails Festivals.

With over 330 days of sunshine a year and 40 miles of trails for hiking, biking, riding and walking, you can't help but become the outdoorsy type. And if you're already an outdoor lover, Scottsdale is the perfect place to take your passion to a new level or even come across a new one. Hot air ballooning, river rafting on the Salt River, or kayaking on Saguaro Lake! Check out the San Francisco Giants team during spring training at Scottsdale Stadium. You get the idea- you have plenty to do when you're not playing golf.

The exclusive Robb Report named Scottsdale "America's Best Place to Live for Golf". From the traditional to courses highlighting native plants and vegetation, golfers can choose from nearly two hundred courses near Scottsdale real estate alone. Every January, Scottsdale hosts the FBR Open. This tournament attracts over 40,000 visitors each year to watch top PGA players in action and pick up a few new tricks. The FBR Open is called "The Greatest Show on Grass".

Economic Data

Population - 215,080+

Size - 184.5 square miles, stretching 31 miles from north to south

The Center of Scottsdale is now at the corner of Pima and Pinnacle Peak Road in North Scottsdale!  We are not making any more land and prices are set to increase dramatically in the near future, especially in North Scottsdale.

Elevation - Average is 1,248 feet above sea level and exceed 2500 feet in North Scottsdale.

Climate - Average median temperature is 70.3 F degrees, average precipitation is 7.05 inches per year, and average percentage of sunny days per year is 86 percent.  A "normal" year in the Valley is 8 inches of precipitation.

Size Rank - Fourth in total area and fifth in population within Arizona (January 2000)

Number of Visitors Annually - 7.2 million visited Scottsdale during 1999

Unemployment rate - 2.0 percent (June 2000)

Property Tax Rate - Among the lowest city property tax rates in Maricopa County, at $1.38 per $100 assessed valuation for Fiscal Year 2000.

Average Cost of Housing - Home prices range from $60,000 to $6+ million with $228,000 as the median price (1998).

"Most Livable City" U.S. Conference of Mayors - 1993

**Statistics courtesy of City of Scottsdale**

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ USE THESE LINKS  ++++++++++++++

About Arizona
Arizona Blue Book - Every two years, the Secretary of State publishes a reference which includes not only election results and information about Arizona's elected officials but also highlights some aspect of Arizona's history and other information of interest to citizens and
Arizona Highways - Links to information about the award winning travel magazine published by a group within the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Arizona Capitol
Capitol Centennial Exhibit - Links to photographs and other information related to the Centennial of the Arizona Capitol.
Museum Division - Links to information about the Arizona Capitol and educational resources related to Arizona's history and government.
Community Profiles - Links to overviews of the history, economy and scenic attractions of Arizona's counties, cities and towns prepared by the Arizona Department of Commerce.

Copper, Cattle, Cotton, Citrus and Climate
All About Supima Cotton - This Supima Association of America site has information about the development of cotton in Arizona.
Arizona Citrus Resources - This University of Arizona Cooperative Extension site has links to Arizona citrus related newsletters, reports and contacts.
Arizona Cattlemen's Association - This site has information about Arizona's cattle and beef.
Arizona Cotton Production - This National Cotton Council of America site shows the
Arizona-Where We Came From - The University of Arizona Library preserved the late Congressman Morris K. Udall's report on the 5 C's which made up Arizona's economy. Arizona is now positioning itself in the New Economy.
Copper: The Star of Arizona - This is an Arizona Mining Association report by Susan McChesney which discusses the uses and importance of copper.

Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park: On-line Visitor Center - This National Park Service site includes a map and trip planning information.
Maps of Grand Canyon National Park - This links to maps from the collections of the Library of Congress.
Geology of the Grand Canyon - This information is from a PBS/The American Experience episode.
Grand Canyon, Arizona - This is from Northern Arizona University's Land Use History of North America: Colorado Plateau.

History
Arizona Historical Society:  http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/

Arizona History - In addition to an introduction to materials about Arizona history which can be found in the collections of the Arizona History and Archives Division, this site has a link to a selection of resources on Selected Web Sites on Arizona and Western History.
Arizona History and Archives Division - Information about Arizona historical records and resources that can be found in the State Archives.
Arizona History Traveler - An Arizona Office of Tourism and Arizona Humanities Council site which highlights museums and heritage sites in Arizona.
Arizona State Museum's Exhibits - Links to information about the exhibits, including online exhibits, of the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the region which is located on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, AZ.
ASU Libraries' Arizona Collection - Links to information about the resources and materials about Arizona in the Department of Archives and Manuscripts in the Arizona State University Libraries.
Capitol Centennial Exhibit - Links to photographs and other information related to the Centennial of the Arizona Capitol.
Civil War Battle at Picacho Pass, Arizona - Arizona was a Confederate territory before it became a Territory of the of the United States and the Battle at Picacho Pass is called westernmost battle of Civil War.
NAU Cline Library's Web Exhibits - Links to online exhibits about Arizona history from Northern Arizona University's Cline Library Special Collections and Archives.
State Historian - Marshall Trimble is Arizona's Official State Historian.
Sharlot Hall Museum's Governor's Mansion Exhibit - Links to information about Arizona's territorial history and the first governor's "mansion." Arizona does not have a governor's mansion now.
U of A Library's On Line Exhibits - Links to online exhibits about Arizona history from the collections of the University of Arizona Library

Indians/Native Americans
Indian Community Profiles - This Arizona Dept. of Commerce site has information about the location, population and economic base of the various Indian communities in Arizona.
Map of Tribal Lands - This Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs' map shows the location of tribal lands in Arizona.
Arizona @ Your Service - This is the State of Arizona's portal with links to state agencies, cities and counties and additional search engines.

Information Gateways - Arizona Government
Arizona @ Your Service - This is the State of Arizona's portal with links to state agencies, cities and counties and additional search engines.
Arizona Legislative Information Service (ALIS) - This is the gateway to the Arizona Legislature.
Find-It Arizona - This Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records' search engine focuses on Arizona state agency web sites.
State of Arizona Directory - This is an online version of the State phone directory.
Libraries - Arizona Library Association's links to Arizona libraries.

Parks and Forests
Arizona Forests - Select locations from a map to learn more about U.S.D.A. Forest Service sites in Arizona.
Arizona State Parks' Tour - Select locations from a map to learn more about historic and scenic places in Arizona.
Park Guide - Arizona - Select locations from a map to learn more about the national parks, monuments and historic sites in Arizona, including the Grand Canyon.

Photographs
Historical Photograph Collection - A database of a portion of the historical photograph collection in the State Archives
Images - Images of Arizona from the Arizona Office of Tourism.

Records Resources
Accessing Arizona Public Records - Where the various types of Arizona Public Records might be located
Arizona History and Archives Division - Information about Arizona historical records and resources that can be found in the State Archives.
Government Records - Overview of local Arizona government records stored in the State Archives.

Rough Riders
Rough Riders - This Library of Congress site gives a brief history of the Rough Riders.
William Owen O'Neill - "Buckey" O'Neill, as he was known in Arizona, was killed in Cuba and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
State Balladeer - Dolan Ellis is Arizona's Official State Balladeer.
State Historian - Marshall Trimble is Arizona's Official State Historian.

Travel
Arizona Guide - This is the Arizona Office of Tourism's guide to travel in Arizona.
Arizona History Traveler - An Arizona Office of Tourism and Arizona Humanities Council site which highlights museums and heritage sites in Arizona.
U of A Poison Center's Venomous Critters - An introduction to some of the unique creatures inhabiting the desert.

Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Affairs
Phoenix Regional Office - Phoenix Regional Veterans Affairs Office