If you are thinking about visiting Scottsdale and have qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered. We deep dived into the statistics, crime rates and talked to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe the safe the city really is.
Is Scottsdale, AZ safe?
If you just look at the crime statistics provided by the FBI, Scottsdale is a safe city. In 2021, Scottsdale had a violent crime rate of 217.51 per 100,000 residents, which is 45% less than the national average and similar to cities like Irving, Honolulu and Chandler. Out of the 100 most populous cities in the United States, Scottsdale’s had one of the lowest crime rates for a city with over 200,000 people.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Scottsdale’s crime rate
Scottsdale Crime Rates And Crime Stats
The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the FBI UCR and cross referenced with the Scottsdale Police Department and are for 2020 and 2021:
Scottsdale police reported a total of 6,286 offenses in 2021, compared with 5,436 in 2020, which is a 16% year-over-year increase.
|
2020 |
2021 |
% Change |
Homicide |
7 |
5 |
-29% |
Rape |
109 |
98 |
-10% |
Robbery |
97 |
103 |
6% |
Aggravated Assaults |
257 |
322 |
25% |
VIOLENT CRIME TOTALS |
470 |
528 |
12% |
Burglary |
683 |
675 |
-1% |
Larceny |
3,963 |
4,649 |
17% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
299 |
416 |
39% |
Arson |
21 |
18 |
-14% |
PROPERTY CRIME TOTALS |
4,966 |
5,758 |
16% |
TOTAL CRIME |
5,436 |
6,286 |
16% |
Violent Crime Rate
In 2021 Scottsdale reported 528 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 217.51 per 100,000 residents. Scottsdale’s violent crime rate is 45% less than the national average.
Year over year violent crime increased 12%.
You have a 1 in 460 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Scottsdale.
Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in Scottsdale in the last 11 years.
Property Crime Rate
In 2021 Scottsdale reported 5,758 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,371.96 per 100,000 residents. Scottsdale’s property crime rate is 21% higher than the national average.
Year over year property crime increased 16%.
You have a 1 in 42 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Scottsdale.
Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Murder Rate
In 2021 Scottsdale reported 5 murders and had a murder rate of 2.06 per 100,000 residents. Scottsdale’s murder rate is 68% less than the national average.
Year over year murders has decreased by 29%.
You have a 1 in 48,551 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale vs Other Cities In Arizona (2020)
Here’s a graph showing you the violent crime rates of the 10 most populous cities in Arizona. Scottsdale had one of the lowest crime rate of all cities listed.
City |
Population |
Violent Crime Rate |
1,608,139 |
848.56 |
|
542,629 |
708.22 |
|
Tempe |
180,587 |
609.12 |
Glendale |
248,325 |
452.23 |
504,258 |
388.69 |
|
Peoria |
190,985 |
246.62 |
Chandler |
275,987 |
196.75 |
Scottsdale |
241,361 |
194.73 |
Surprise |
143,148 |
146.00 |
Gilbert |
267,918 |
106.00 |
Scottsdale’s Crime Rate Comparison
Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Scottsdale had a significantly lower crime rate than all cities listed below.
City |
Population |
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000 people |
Monroe |
47,702 |
2,932.79 |
Memphis |
633,104 |
2,418.24 |
Atlantic City |
38,497 |
2,335.25 |
Saginaw |
44,202 |
2,327.95 |
Detroit |
639,111 |
2,248.44 |
St. Louis |
301,578 |
1,995.17 |
Alexandria |
45,275 |
1,877.42 |
Pine Bluff |
41,253 |
1,808.35 |
Little Rock |
202,591 |
1,805.11 |
Milwaukee |
577,222 |
1,733.13 |
South Bend |
103,453 |
1,706.09 |
Cleveland |
372,624 |
1,689.10 |
Camden |
71,791 |
1,632.52 |
Birmingham |
200,733 |
1,577.22 |
Kansas City |
508,090 |
1,558.58 |
Baltimore |
585,708 |
1,460.11 |
Albuquerque |
564,559 |
1,406.41 |
Chattanooga |
181,099 |
1,382.67 |
San Bernardino |
222,101 |
1,365.59 |
New Orleans |
383,997 |
1,358.08 |
Oakland |
440,646 |
1,347.34 |
Scottsdale | 242,753 | 217.51 |
Is Downtown Scottsdale safe?
Old Town Scottsdale is a very safe area to visit during the day and at night. It is a very well populated area and there are many shops, bars and restaurants in the areas that are in walking distance of each other.
Is the public transportation in Scottsdale, AZ safe?
The public transportation system in Scottsdale is handled by the Valley Metro, which offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.
The Valley Metro is generally a safe option to use during the day and at night.
Is Scottsdale, AZ safe at night?
Scottsdale is generally a safe city at night. At night take a few extra precautions and stay in well populated areas and avoid walking through alleys or desolate areas. And as a woman you should also avoid walking far distance by yourself at night.
What do residents of Scottsdale say about it’s safety?
- Some people will tell you that South Scottsdale is sketchy but it is just a lower income area, but it is not dangerous. There are areas in Phoenix which are way more questionable.
- Scottsdale is one of the safest areas I have ever lived. My wife has no qualms about walking our dog at night.
- Coming from someone born and raised in Scottsdale, I would say there is no where in Scottsdale that is unsafe.
- North Scottsdale is the safest area. South is less so but it is still safe compared to many areas in Phoenix.
- Scottsdale is a suburb of Phoenix and is insanely safe.
- Anyone that thinks that South Scottsdale is dangerous is living in a very sheltered bubble. It’s just not as affluent as the rest of Scottsdale and that why it gets a bad rap. It’s also one of the oldest areas and the infrastructure looks a bit dated.
- Even the worst parts of Scottsdale is pretty nice when you compare it to the worst parts of some major cities like LA, Chicago or Baltimore.
- There is no ‘ghetto’ in Scottsdale. There are only a few areas of lower income residents and the disparity throws some people off.
Tips to stay safe while visiting Scottsdale, AZ
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Continuously scan the area for any dangers that might be present.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car. Carry valuables with your or hide it in the trunk.
- You do not need to be polite with anyone making you feel uncomfortable. Walk to the other side of the street. Sit in another train car.
- Trust your intuition. Remove yourself from a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Facts about Scottsdale, AZ
- The population of Scottsdale in 2021 was 242,753.
- The city covers a land area of 184.00 sq mi.
- The median age was 42 years old.
- 96.8% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 59.4% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- The median income for a household in the city was $91,042. The per capita income for the city was $64,992.
- 6.8% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Scottsdale is $900K in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Scottsdale 2-bedroom apartment is $2,200.
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