Scottsdale Ranked One of the ‘Best Places’ to Live

According to recent rankings by two popular magazines, Parenting and Money, Scottsdale is one of America’s best cities to call home.

Parenting magazine ranked Scottsdale the eighth best city for families, while Money magazine ranked Scottsdale 71 on its list of the top small cities to live in.

In order to compile its list, Parenting conducted a nationwide survey of women from Parenting’s MomConnection research panel to pinpoint their top criteria in choosing a place to raise their families, according to Parenting.com.

Their top criteria were (in order of priority): quality of schools; affordability and availability of quality housing; low crime rates; job availability and growth; number of registered sex offenders; recreational opportunities; quality/quantity of pediatricians/family physicians; commute time and distance; proximity to a good children’s hospital; quality/quantity of childcare facilities and preschools; and air quality.

Parenting ranked Scottsdale as the safest city in America based off its low number of violent crimes in 2008 and low number of registered sex offenders, according to the state sex offender’s registry.

It also ranked number three in terms of recreation, with the proximity of the McDowell Mountain Ranch Park and Aquatic Center. Scottsdale ranked 46th in education, 59th in economy, and 82nd in health. Other cities that made Parenting’s list were Phoenix, 44; Tucson, 52; and Mesa, 62.

Money magazine looked at crime, schooling and the local economy, when creating its best cities list.

Money pointed out Scottsdale’s “zillions of golf courses”, upscale shopping, top-notch restaurants, and resort spas in its reasoning for ranking the city of 235,000 on its list.

The hot, dry climate and proximity to the Sonoran Desert and McDowell Mountains also set Scottsdale apart for Money magazine with exceptional desert hiking.

Parenting’s top three cities for families were Arlington, Va., Austin, Tex. and Madison, Wis.

Money magazine’s top three places to live were Eden Prairie, Minn.; Columbia/Ellicott City, Md., and Newton, Mass.

Purchasing a home is a big decision with many factors to consider before signing on the dotted line. Recent data reveals now is a good time to buy, as well as build. Sereno Canyon is a secluded North Scottsdale, Arizona gated community offering estate-sized home sites averaging an expansive 2.5 acres in size. Take an online tour of the community today or schedule an in-person tour and discover the desert paradise that is Sereno Canyon.

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