From a 640-acre desert homestead in 1888 to one of America’s most celebrated urban districts, Old Town Scottsdale is a place where cowboy heritage, world class art, James Beard dining, and luxury real estate coexist across just over one unforgettable square mile.

“Old Town Scottsdale delivers a caliber of urban desert living that is unmatched in the Southwest, historic charm meets modern luxury across one unforgettable square mile.” - The Scottsdale Agent

• Zip Code 85251
• 9 Walkable Districts
• 30 Plus Art Galleries
• Two World Class Art Museums
• Arizona’s Most Walkable Urban Neighborhood

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Old Town Scottsdale is the historic downtown core of Scottsdale, Arizona, a dense, walkable, one square mile district packed with 100 plus restaurants, 30 plus art galleries, two world class museums, luxury boutiques, rooftop bars, and some of the Valley’s most sought after real estate. It is simultaneously Scottsdale’s founding neighborhood, its cultural capital, and its most energetic entertainment destination.

Divided into nine distinct walkable sub-districts, each with its own personality from the boot-scootin’ Historic Old Town to the gallery lined Arts District to the canal side Scottsdale Waterfront Old Town offers a layered, neighborhood within a neighborhood experience that is unlike anything else in metro Phoenix.

For real estate buyers, Old Town is the rare urban market in the Valley where a car is optional. Residents walk to dinner, bike to galleries, and stroll to world class shopping. That walkability, exceptional by Arizona standards, combined with strong short term rental demand and a consistent influx of high income transplants makes Old Town one of the most compelling and dynamic residential markets in the entire Southwest.

“For real estate buyers, Old Town is the rare urban market in the Valley where a car is optional an exceptional distinction in the car-centric Phoenix metro.”

Old Town is 93% condominiums and apartments, a density profile that places it among the top 1% of all U.S. neighborhoods for multi family housing concentration. This translates to a market defined by walkability, lock and leave convenience, and exceptional short term rental opportunity.

Arizona’s short term rental laws are among the most investor friendly in the United States. Old Town properties near major events Spring Training, Barrett Jackson, the Waste Management Phoenix Open — command exceptional nightly rates during peak season. Old Town consistently ranks as one of the top short term rental markets in the entire country from January through April.

The overall median real estate price in Old Town exceeds one million dollars, placing it in the top 16.2% of all U.S. neighborhoods by home value a testament to the area’s enduring desirability and the quality of life it delivers.

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The History of Old Town Scottsdale

• Pre 1880s

  Before Scottsdale was Scottsdale, the Salt River Valley was home to the Akimel O’odham (Pima) people, who farmed the fertile floodplains and established sophisticated irrigation networks that would later inspire the city’s canal system.

• 1885

  Developer W.J. Murphy completes the Arizona Canal, opening the Salt River Valley to large scale agriculture and attracting the first wave of Anglo settlers to the area.

• 1888

  U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott and his wife Helen purchase 640 acres at just $3.50 per acre in what is today the heart of Old Town. Scott plants two olive trees on Second Street that still stand today. The town is named Scottsdale in his honor.

• 1892

  The Titus House, the oldest still occupied residential structure in Scottsdale, is built in the Old Town area and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1896 to 1909

  Scottsdale establishes its first school district (1896) and first business the J.L. Davis General Store and Post Office (1897) at Brown Avenue and Main Street. In 1904, Sarah Thomas purchases Davis’s store, making her the first female business owner in town history. The Little Red Schoolhouse opens in 1909 and is now home to the Scottsdale Historical Museum.

• Late 1910s

  The Old Adobe Mission the oldest standing church in Scottsdale and one of only three adobe structures remaining in the city is constructed by Scottsdale’s first Mexican settlers, featuring handcrafted stained glass windows and Spanish Revival Colonial architecture.

• 1947 to 1951

  The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce begins marketing the town’s “West’s Most Western Town” identity to attract tourism. On June 25, 1951, Scottsdale is formally incorporated as a town with a population of 2,032 and Malcolm White as its first Mayor.

• 1951 to 1956

  The Parada del Sol, the World’s Largest Horse Drawn Parade is launched in 1951. In 1956, the Hotel Valley Ho and the Safari Hotel open as Scottsdale’s first modern resorts, cementing Old Town as a leisure destination. The area grows from 2,000 to 10,000 residents during the decade.

• 1958

  The Sugar Bowl ice cream parlor, one of Old Town’s most beloved institutions, opens on Christmas Eve — originally as a general store and automotive station that also served ice cream. It continues operating today as an Old Town landmark.

• 1975

  The inaugural Scottsdale ArtWalk takes place on a Thursday night along Main Street and Marshall Way. It has continued every Thursday since — more than 50 years of weekly art, culture, and community on the same streets.

• 1999 to 2015

  The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) opens in 1999 Arizona’s only museum dedicated solely to contemporary art, design, and architecture. In 2005, the Arizona Canal banks are redeveloped into the pedestrian Scottsdale Waterfront. In 2015, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West opens, completing Old Town’s dual museum cultural campus.

• Today

  Old Town Scottsdale is home to nine walkable districts, 100 plus restaurants, 30 plus galleries, two art museums, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale Stadium (spring training home of the San Francisco Giants), and a residential real estate market drawing buyers from across the country and around the world.

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Old Town Scottsdale’s Nine Walkable Districts

What makes Old Town truly unique is its internal diversity. Rather than a single downtown character, Old Town is divided into nine walkable and bikeable districts, each with its own distinct personality.

Galleries & Culture

Arts District

The creative heart of Old Town. Home to fine art galleries, wine tasting rooms, the Scottsdale Artists’ School, and Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Every Thursday night since 1975, the weekly ArtWalk fills these streets with gallery openings, live artists, and hundreds of art lovers.

Old West · Landmark

Historic Old Town District

The original townsite, anchored by the Rusty Spur Saloon (70 plus years strong), the Old Adobe Mission, the Saturday Farmers Market, and the Little Red Schoolhouse and Historical Museum. Western boutiques, Native American jewelry, and buildings dating to the 1920s define this small village within a city.

Nightlife · Energy

Entertainment District

Where Old Town comes alive after dark. Celebrity DJs, live bands, master mixologists, upscale nightclubs, and high energy bars make this the premier nightlife destination in all of metro Phoenix. The laidback daytime scene transforms completely by 9pm.

Arts · Performance

Scottsdale Civic Center

A 21 acre pedestrian park with lush lawns, public art installations, and botanic gardens housing the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (1,000 plus events annually), the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, and Scottsdale Stadium spring training home of the San Francisco Giants.

Boutiques · Local

Fifth Avenue Shopping District

A long time local favorite lined with dozens of unique boutique shops, award winning restaurants, and the iconic Bronze Horse Fountain by Bob Parks. A relaxed, walkable stretch that embodies the original spirit of Old Town retail, locally owned, eclectic, and genuinely charming.

Canal · Dining

Scottsdale Waterfront

Developed in 2005 along the banks of the historic Arizona Canal, the Waterfront is now one of Old Town’s most scenic and popular dining and retail corridors. Anchored by the architecturally stunning Soleri Bridge and Plaza, it features canal side restaurants, boutiques, and some of Scottsdale’s most coveted luxury condominiums.

Mixed Use · Local

Brown and Stetson District

A vibrant mixed use corridor housing restaurants, bars, locally owned businesses, and neighborhood services. A grounded, community oriented counterpart to the more tourist heavy districts, popular with full time Old Town residents seeking everyday amenities within walking distance.

Canal · Upscale

Southbridge District

On the south banks of the Arizona Canal opposite the Waterfront, Southbridge houses some of Old Town’s most popular upscale restaurants and boutiques. An intimate, architecturally refined district that feels slightly removed from the main Old Town energy perfect for a quieter evening out.

Luxury Retail

Scottsdale Fashion Square Area

Adjacent to Old Town proper, Scottsdale Fashion Square is the largest shopping mall in Arizona, anchored by Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Dillard’s, and 240 plus luxury retailers. Its expansion and renovation have anchored the eastern boundary of Old Town’s luxury residential and retail corridor.

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Old Town Scottsdale Market Snapshot

Old Town’s real estate market is unlike any other in the Valley. Where most Phoenix area neighborhoods are dominated by single family homes on large lots, Old Town is 93% condominiums and apartments a density profile that places it among the top 1% of all U.S. neighborhoods for multi family housing concentration.

Who Buys in Old Town?

The buyer pool is uniquely diverse. Young professionals drawn by the urban walkable lifestyle that Old Town offers in a city otherwise defined by car dependency. Snowbirds and retirees seeking lock and leave winter condominiums in Arizona’s finest district. Investors capitalizing on Arizona’s short term rental friendly laws and the consistent year round demand driven by Spring Training, the Barrett Jackson auction, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and Scottsdale’s robust convention calendar.

Housing stock ranges from midcentury ranch homes (many beautifully renovated) in neighborhoods like Villa Monterey, to sleek new construction luxury high rises along the Waterfront, to loft style condominiums and townhomes throughout the core. Luxury single family homes are rare and command significant premiums when they come to market.

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Why People Choose Old Town Scottsdale

World Class Dining

100 plus restaurants spanning James Beard recognized chefs, farm to table concepts, and rooftop bar dining with Camelback Mountain views. Old Town is the culinary capital of the entire Valley.

Scottsdale ArtWalk

Every Thursday evening since 1975, galleries open their doors along Main Street and Marshall Way for Scottsdale’s beloved weekly art walk — free, walkable, and genuinely world class.

Two Art Museums

SMoCA (Arizona’s only dedicated contemporary art museum) and Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West sit within steps of each other in the Civic Center campus.

Spring Training Baseball

Scottsdale Stadium, home of the San Francisco Giants during Cactus League spring training, sits in the Civic Center district. The season brings tens of thousands of visitors and renters to Old Town annually.

Scottsdale Fashion Square

The largest mall in Arizona with Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, 240 plus luxury and lifestyle retailers, and upscale dining — all walkable from the core Old Town residential buildings.

Walkability

Old Town is among the most walkable neighborhoods in all of Arizona. The core district is compact enough to walk end to end, supplemented by the free Scottsdale Trolley and horse drawn carriage service on ArtWalk nights.

STR Investment Upside

Arizona’s short term rental laws are among the most investor friendly in the U.S. Old Town properties near major events command exceptional nightly rates during the January through April peak season.

Airport Proximity

Old Town is approximately 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport via the Loop 202 among the closest walkable urban neighborhoods to a major U.S. hub airport anywhere in the country.

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Old Town Scottsdale’s Iconic Events Calendar

Old Town hosts some of the most attended and most recognized annual events in the American Southwest. These events drive extraordinary short term rental demand and reinforce Old Town’s status as a year round destination.

Barrett Jackson Car Auction

January · WestWorld of Scottsdale

Waste Management Phoenix Open

January to February · Most attended golf event in history

Cactus League Spring Training

February to March · San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium

Scottsdale ArtWalk

Every Thursday year round · Since 1975

Scottsdale Arts Festival

March · Scottsdale Civic Center

Parada del Sol

February · World’s Largest Horse Drawn Parade since 1951

Old Town Farmers Market

Every Saturday · Brown Avenue and Indian School

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

Year round · 1,000 plus events annually

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Old Town Scottsdale: Common Questions Answered

Where is Old Town Scottsdale?

Old Town Scottsdale is the historic downtown core of Scottsdale, Arizona, located in the city’s southernmost area (zip code 85251). It sits just east of Phoenix and Tempe, approximately 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and borders the Arizona Canal to the north and Scottsdale Road to the east. The walkable core spans roughly one square mile.

What is Old Town Scottsdale known for?

Old Town Scottsdale is known for its unique blend of Old West heritage and modern luxury. It is famous for the weekly Thursday night Scottsdale ArtWalk (running since 1975), 100 plus restaurants, two world class art museums, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Cactus League spring training at Scottsdale Stadium, the Barrett Jackson car auction, and some of the best nightlife in the entire Southwest.

What are home prices like in Old Town Scottsdale?

As of late 2025, the median sale price in Old Town hovered around $565,000, reflecting the high concentration of condominiums and smaller units in the area. However, luxury condominiums along the Scottsdale Waterfront and single family homes in the surrounding neighborhoods can exceed $1M to $3M and above. The overall area median real estate price surpasses one million dollars, placing it in the top 16% of all U.S. neighborhoods by value.

Is Old Town Scottsdale a good investment for short term rentals?

Yes. Old Town Scottsdale is consistently ranked among the top short term rental (STR) markets in the United States. Arizona’s progressive STR laws, combined with Old Town’s year round event calendar (Spring Training, Barrett Jackson, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Scottsdale Arts Festival) and high tourist demand, allow well positioned properties to generate exceptional rental yields, especially during January through April peak season.

What is the Scottsdale ArtWalk?

The Scottsdale ArtWalk is a free, self guided art event held every Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm along Main Street and Marshall Way in Old Town. Launched in 1975, it is one of the longest running weekly art events in the United States, featuring 30 plus galleries, live artists, wine tastings, free trolley service, and horse drawn carriage rides through the Arts District.

What are the nine districts of Old Town Scottsdale?

Old Town is divided into nine walkable sub districts: the Arts District, Historic Old Town District, Entertainment District, Scottsdale Civic Center, Fifth Avenue Shopping District, Scottsdale Waterfront, Brown and Stetson District, Southbridge District, and the adjacent Scottsdale Fashion Square area. Each has a distinct character, from cowboy heritage boutiques in Historic Old Town to gallery lined streets in the Arts District to rooftop bar nightlife in the Entertainment District.

Who founded Old Town Scottsdale?

Old Town Scottsdale was founded by U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott, who purchased 640 acres of Salt River Valley land in 1888 for approximately $3.50 per acre. Scott planted two olive trees on Second Street that still stand today. The town was named Scottsdale after him in 1894 and formally incorporated in 1951 with a population of 2,032.

Is Old Town Scottsdale walkable?

Yes. Old Town Scottsdale is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in all of Arizona, which is a notable distinction in the car dependent Phoenix metro area. The core district is compact enough to walk end to end, supplemented by the free Scottsdale Trolley and horse drawn carriage service on ArtWalk nights. Most residents within the Old Town core can reach dining, shopping, groceries, and entertainment entirely on foot.

What events happen in Old Town Scottsdale?

Old Town Scottsdale hosts some of Arizona’s most iconic annual events: the Cactus League Spring Training (San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium), the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, the Waste Management Phoenix Open (the most attended golf tournament in history), the Parada del Sol (World’s Largest Horse Drawn Parade since 1951), the Scottsdale Arts Festival, the Old Town Farmers Market every Saturday, and over 1,000 events annually at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

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From canal side luxury condominiums along the Scottsdale Waterfront to renovated midcentury ranch homes in Villa Monterey I can help you find the right property in the right district. Relentlessly local. Relentlessly dedicated.

• The Scottsdale Agent
• 15 Plus Years Luxury Market Experience
• Scottsdale and Paradise Valley Specialist
• 480.999.9945
• amsrealtyaz.com