North Scottsdale vs. Central Scottsdale: Key Differences

If you’re buying in Scottsdale, one of the first choices you’ll make is which part of the city fits you. North Scottsdale and Central Scottsdale are both inside the same city line, but they feel like two different places. North is newer, more spread out, and built around golf and the desert. Central is older, closer-in, and built around Old Town, the lakes, and walkable neighborhoods.

Buyers weigh these two areas because they pull in opposite directions on a few things that matter: how new the home is, whether you want a golf-community setup, how private or gated you want to be, and whether you’d rather walk to dinner or drive to a trailhead. Price plays into it too, though the gap is smaller than most people expect once you compare like-for-like homes.

There’s no wrong answer here. The right pick comes down to your budget, the home style and age you want, whether golf matters, how much you value walkability versus seclusion, and the day-to-day lifestyle you’re after.

Andrew Holm and The Holm Group have worked with Scottsdale and Phoenix-area buyers and sellers for more than 26 years, with over $250 million in closed transactions and a focus on luxury and golf-community real estate.

North Scottsdale vs. Central Scottsdale at a Glance

Feature	North Scottsdale	Central Scottsdale
Location	North of the Loop 101 toward Pinnacle Peak, Troon, and Carefree Hwy (85255, 85262, 85266)	Closer-in around Old Town, the Waterfront, and the canal (85250, 85251, 85253, 85258, 85254)
Golf	High concentration of golf communities and private clubs	A few strong options, more mixed with non-golf neighborhoods
Gated options	Many gated and guard-gated communities	Fewer gates; more open, connected streets
Home styles	Newer master-planned and custom desert homes, generally larger	Mix of condos, townhomes, and single-family, plus some luxury; older and more established
Price range	Median around $1.2M; roughly $600K for attached homes up to $10M+ in Silverleaf and Desert Mountain	Blended median around $1.1M; condos from the $300Ks up to $3M+ for luxury and custom homes
HOA	Common, often higher, sometimes with club or guard-gate costs	Ranges from none to moderate; lower on many older neighborhoods
Amenities	Golf, hiking and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Kierland and Scottsdale Quarter shopping	Old Town, the Waterfront, Fashion Square, lakes, dining and nightlife
Best suited for	Buyers who want newer homes, golf, space, and privacy	Buyers who want to be central, walkable, and close to the action

Which Area Has Better Golf?

North Scottsdale wins on sheer concentration. Troon North is a well-known public option, and the private clubs stack up fast: DC Ranch, Silverleaf, Desert Mountain, and Estancia are all up here. Central Scottsdale still has real golf, mainly McCormick Ranch (public) and the private club at Gainey Ranch. One thing to keep in mind on the private clubs in either area: a golf or club membership is usually separate from owning the home, so budget for that on top of the purchase.

Which Has Better Amenities?

This one flips depending on what you want. Central Scottsdale is the walkable, social side: Old Town’s dining and nightlife, the Waterfront, Scottsdale Fashion Square, the art galleries, and the lakes and mature landscaping through McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, and Scottsdale Ranch. North Scottsdale leans into the outdoors and newer retail: direct access to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and its trail system, golf, and upscale shopping and dining at Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter. If you want to walk out your door to a restaurant, Central has the edge. If you want a trailhead or a fairway out your door, North does.

Gated Options & Privacy

North Scottsdale has far more gated and guard-gated communities, and a lot of the newer master-planned developments were built that way from the start. If privacy and a controlled entry matter to you, you’ll find more of it up north. Central Scottsdale has some gated pockets, but most of it is older, more open, and connected by regular streets and sidewalks, which is part of what makes it walkable in the first place. It’s a trade-off: more seclusion up north, more connection and foot traffic in the center.

Who Each Area Is Best For

North Scottsdale is best for buyers who want a newer or custom home with more space, are drawn to golf-community living, and value privacy and desert scenery over being in the middle of things. It fits people who don’t mind driving a bit for dinner or shopping.

Central Scottsdale is best for buyers who want to be close-in and walkable, like the idea of Old Town, the Waterfront, and the lakes nearby, and want a wider range of price points, including condos and townhomes that are harder to find up north.

If you are selling in North Scottsdale or Central Scottsdale, see how The Holm Group prices and markets homes in these communities, or request a home value estimate.

Learn More

Browse current homes across the city on the Scottsdale homes for sale page, and check zoning, permits, and city services through the City of Scottsdale official site.

Not sure which area fits your budget and how you want to live? Reach out to Andrew Holm and The Holm Group and we’ll help you narrow it down.

Last Updated: October 2026