Located just outside of Phoenix, Scottsdale is famous for having a flavor all its own. It’s been called “The West’s Most Western Town,” a name it lives up to with the annual Scottsdale Jaycees Parada del Sol event, a month long celebration of the cowpoke tradition, complete with a PRCA Rodeo and the world’s largest horse-drawn parade. There’s more to town than boots and spurs—the Scottsdale Artwalk, held every Thursday evening, is considered to be among the best and most unique in the country. Students from Scottsdale Community College call the city home, as well as students from nearby Arizona State University in Tempe, who often choose to live in Scottsdale and make the ten minute commute to campus.

Scottsdale is comprised of four primary districts: South Scottsdale, Old Town Scottsdale, Central Scottsdale, and North Scottsdale. Although the real estate in town is among the most expensive in the United States, students can still find incredible housing within their means.

Old Town, or Downtown, is undoubtedly the most popular choose for commuters. It’s seen a revival in the past few years and now boasts a high concentration of boutiques, restaurants, nightclubs, art galleries, and bars. The high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, among the top 20 largest malls in the United States, is also in this area. 

As the nearest neighborhood to ASU, Old Town offers a host of newly constructed student-friendly apartments and condominiums, with more projects promised for the future.

South Scottsdale also houses a smattering of the local student population, thanks in large part to SkySong, a satellite research center for ASU. The development brings a mix of graduate students, young professionals, and students to the south side of town. South Scottsdale stretches from McKellips Road in the south to Thomas Road in the north.