I traveled to Scottsdale and saw why it's the best place in the US to retire
- Scottsdale, Arizona, is the best place in the US to retire, according to a recent Niche ranking.
- Niche's ranking considers weather, health, wellness, and outdoor activities.
Relaxing in the moment and enjoying how far you've come — as a 28-year-old, I can only imagine this is what retirement is all about.
Boomers across the US are in their retirement era, and many of them are moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, recently ranked as the best place in America to retire by Niche.
The website's ranking considers factors like weather, health and wellness, and outdoor activities.
In the wealthy suburb of Phoenix, known for its rapidly increasing millionaire population, 28% of residents are boomers, according to a 2023 report by SmartAsset.
According to 2024 study by the same company, more retirees are moving to Arizona than any other US state besides Florida.
I recently visited Scottsdale and saw what makes this specific desert city an oasis for retirees.
In a conversation with real-estate agent Shawn Shackleton, who has been selling homes in the greater Scottsdale area for more than 20 years, I learned that many of her clients are retiring, and Scottsdale fits the lifestyle they're looking for, with year-round sun, private neighborhoods, and endless golf.
Scottsdale's weather and terrain make the city ideal for retirees.
Niche gave Scottsdale an A+ for its weather score. According to US Climate Data, average high temperatures don't stoop below 75 degrees Fahrenheit all year, making it ideal for sunny winters.
However, summer days regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When I visited in April, the temperature was around 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
"Our summers are hot — there's no question," Shackleton told BI. "But all of my clients that have moved here from the Midwest or East Coast say the same thing: 'I will take this heat over gray clouds, ice, snow, and freezing rain.'"
Shackleton said the weather, paired with mountainous terrain, makes Scottsdale ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, tennis, and pickleball. According to All Trails, there are more than 100 hiking paths in the city. I thought retirees looking to stay active could do so easily in Scottsdale.
Golf is the desert city's biggest draw for retirees.
According to Shackleton, golf is the No. 1 reason retirees move to Scottsdale.
From private clubs to public parks, "there are about 200 golf courses in Scottsdale and surrounding areas," Shackelton said.
She added that one of her biggest struggles is having clients who want to join private clubs, as all are full right now, and she has to put them on waitlists.
"But the bonus about being in Scottsdale is our public courses play almost like private courses," she said. "They're going to be a little more crowded, but the public courses are well cared for."
During my trip, I saw countless golf courses — some from the highway, some from vantage points up in the mountains, and some up close.
Since Scottsdale is in the desert, I expected to spot patches of dried, yellow grass, but there were none. Instead, the bright green spaces were a stark contrast to the sand bunkers and red-pebbled paths dotted with succulents. Against a mountain backdrop, I couldn't imagine a more ideal location to walk around and hit some golf balls.
The health and wellness scene goes beyond fitness.
Niche ranks Scottsdale as no. 30 on its list of the best US cities for health and fitness, and it's not just because of the plethora of outdoor activities. Scottsdale has more spas per capita than any other US city, according to Go Banking Rates.
During my stay, I got a tour of the Phoenician Spa, a three-story resort spa that received Forbes Travel Guide's five-star award for the fifth time in a row this year, according to the Phoenician website.
Upon arrival, the modern interior with gold accents swept me into luxury. It had everything I'd crave for the ultimate spa experience: massages and facials, hairstyling, saunas, a nail salon, an indoor pool, and another on the rooftop with outdoor showers and cabanas.
Pampering aside, Scottsdale also ranked 19th on WalletHub's list of the best US cities for healthcare, taking accessibility, quality of facilities, and insurance coverage into consideration.
North Scottsdale is home to the city's most popular neighborhoods for retirees.
According to Shackleton, her retired clients typically settle in North Scottsdale neighborhoods like Desert Mountain, Terravita, and DC Ranch — the most expensive neighborhood in Scottsdale.
About 40 minutes from Phoenix, North Scottsdale's streets, lined with custom mansions and luxury villas, climb up into the mountains for prime views of the desert landscape.
During my visit, I got a private tour of DC Ranch, a 4,000-acre residential community with convenient amenities ranging from grocery stores and restaurants to spas and private golf clubs.
I thought retirees would find it ideal to escape the hustle and bustle of Phoenix's booming tech scene without having to travel far for daily errands.
The area is full of gated communities that give residents a sense of privacy.
DC Ranch is made up of four villages, and each has its own set of neighborhoods within it. Most of these neighborhoods are gated and have 24-hour guards, according to according to the DC Ranch website.
Gated communities are common in North Scottsdale, and according to Shackleton, that's part of the draw for retirees.
"It's another level of not only security but privacy, which a lot of the people that come here are really seeking," she said.
North Scottsdale also has high-end shopping and dining.
Shackleton said retirees also settle in North Scottsdale because the area offers luxury shopping and fine dining on par with those in a major city. For example, Scottsdale Quarter is an outdoor mall with upscale stores and fine dining establishments.
I spent an evening in Scottsdale Quarter and spotted a range of stores. Residents could shop for clothes, accessories, furniture, tech, and wellness products all in one place.
I went to Dominick's Steakhouse for dinner, where I dined like a queen on dry-aged steak and corn crème brûlée while sitting in a rooftop dining room with a glistening pool just for decoration.
It felt like the kind of dining experience I'd get in NYC, yet I was in North Scottsdale.
While Scottsdale is a popular choice for wealthy retirees, the cost of living is on the higher end.
BI previously reported that Arizona has relatively low tax rates compared to the rest of the US. But that didn't stop Scottsdale from getting a C- for cost of living in Niche's evaluation. According to PayScale, the cost of living in Scottsdale is 13% higher than the national average, largely due to housing costs.
According to Zillow, the millionaire hot spot has a median listing price of $824,868 — double the national average, BI reported in April 2024.
The price point certainly isn't accessible for all retirees, but the lower taxes make Scottsdale more affordable for wealthy boomers from places like New York or California.
Scottsdale offers retirees an upscale lifestyle with a relaxing vibe.
In Scottsdale, residents enjoy the luxurious details of big-city life without sacrificing large, private residences, wide open spaces, and outdoor activities that encourage socializing, from private clubs to pristine public golf courses.
If retirement really is about relaxing in the present moment and appreciating the work it took to get there as I perceive it to be, this Phoenix suburb seems like the ideal home.
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