North Scottsdale
High-desert golf and master-planned communities
Golf and master-planned communities in the high Sonoran desert, many of them gated, with mountain and city-light views.
North ScottsdaleHigh-desert golf and master-planned communities1SilverleafGuard-gated community at the foot of the McDowells2Central ScottsdaleEstablished neighborhoods along the Shea corridor3McCormick RanchGreenbelt paths and lakes, central and established4Paradise ValleySeparate town with large lots and mountain views5ArcadiaIrrigated lots, citrus and Camelback views6BiltmoreResort, golf and shopping in central Phoenix7
Boundaries are approximate. The list and links on this page carry the same information.
North Scottsdale at a glance
- Median list price
- $2,136,119Single-family listings · RentCast, ZIP 85255, October 2026 to dateUpdated
- Days on market (listings)
- 33 daysSingle-family listings · RentCast, ZIP 85255, October 2026 to dateUpdated
- Lots
- Varies; many smaller lots within HOAs
- Typical homes
- Mostly built 1990s onward
- HOAs
- Common, often gated
- Setting
- High desert, golf, trails
- Walkability
- Low; you drive for most errands
Market figures: RentCast, from single-family listings (list prices, not closed sales) in each area’s main ZIP code. “To date” means the month so far. Areas that share a ZIP code show the same figures. Any figures shown are past results, not a forecast. Descriptions cover places and housing, not who lives there.
Questions about North Scottsdale
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm the specifics against your own contract and with your own advisers.
Is all of North Scottsdale inside the City of Scottsdale?
Not necessarily, because this site’s North Scottsdale follows ZIP codes 85255, 85262 and 85266, and a ZIP code is a postal area rather than a city limit. Check a specific address with the Maricopa County Assessor and the city.
Source: Maricopa County Assessor
What kinds of homes are in North Scottsdale?
Mostly homes built from the 1990s onward, many in golf and master-planned communities. Lot sizes vary, and many are smaller lots within HOAs.
Do North Scottsdale homes usually have an HOA?
Yes, HOAs are common there, and many communities are gated. Read the CC&Rs before you buy: they’re recorded against the property, and buying there binds you to them.
Source: Arizona Department of Real Estate and Arizona REALTORS®, Buyer Advisory (January 2025)
What is Scottsdale’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands overlay?
It’s a set of zoning regulations for about 134 square miles of Scottsdale’s desert and mountain areas, north and east of the Central Arizona Project canal. It requires part of each property to stay natural as open space, and the share depends on the landform and slope. Check it before you plan an addition or pool.
Source: City of Scottsdale, Environmentally Sensitive Lands overlay
Can you walk to errands in North Scottsdale?
Mostly not: walkability is low, and you drive for most errands. The setting is high desert, with golf and trails.
Compare North Scottsdale with
See North Scottsdale beside any of the other six areas: lots, homes, HOAs, setting and walkability.
- Compare North Scottsdale with SilverleafWritten comparison
- Compare North Scottsdale with Central ScottsdaleSide by side in the compare tool
- Compare North Scottsdale with McCormick RanchSide by side in the compare tool
- Compare North Scottsdale with Paradise ValleySide by side in the compare tool
- Compare North Scottsdale with ArcadiaSide by side in the compare tool
- Compare North Scottsdale with BiltmoreSide by side in the compare tool
Guides that cover North Scottsdale
- Arizona property tax basics: Full Cash Value, Limited Property Value and the 5% cap
- Buying land in the Phoenix area: water, lot splits and due diligence
- How buying a home works in Arizona, from offer to keys
- Postal city vs. city limits: which town is that address really in?
- Rising or falling inventory: what it means for a seller, and how to read the figures on this site
- What to fix and what to leave before selling a home in Scottsdale or Phoenix
- When to list a home in the Phoenix and Scottsdale market: what the seasonal data shows
Thinking about North Scottsdale?
Talk it through with Aaron: the streets, the homes and the tradeoffs, in person, by phone or on video.
Book a consultation
Still deciding whether to move? That’s a good time to talk.
Call 602-785-5095Text 602-785-5095