Finding a home in Scottsdale, AZ starts with understanding how the city is divided. The mailing address on a listing doesn’t always tell you which city governs the property or what kind of neighborhood you’re buying into.
Key Takeaway
Scottsdale mail runs through a dozen residential ZIP codes from 85250 to 85266, but the split that matters for a purchase is housing type. If you want negotiating room, start with the condo- and townhouse-heavy southern ZIP codes like 85251 and 85257, where condo prices are falling. If you need a detached house, the northern ZIP codes (85255, 85262, 85266) hold most of that stock, but expect firmer pricing.
Who This Guide Is For
You’re trying to place a Scottsdale address in the right ZIP code and jurisdiction, or narrow a home search to the two or three ZIP codes that match the type of home and price you’re after.
List of Scottsdale, AZ ZIP Codes
The United States Postal Service designates 12 residential ZIP codes with a Scottsdale mailing address: 85250, 85251, 85253, 85254, 85255, 85256, 85257, 85258, 85259, 85260, 85262, and 85266. Three of these (85253, 85254 and 85256) carry a Scottsdale address but sit mostly outside the city limits.
South Scottsdale ZIP Codes: Condos and Townhouses
The southern end of the city is where attached homes make up much of the housing stock. Citywide, condo prices fell 4.9% over the past year with 7.9 months of supply. With supply higher and properties sitting longer, you can often ask for repairs or closing cost credits. Expect a mix of older construction and newer infill, with an emphasis on walkable amenities.
85251: Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town and the downtown core sit in 85251, the most walkable section of the city. Condos are the main entry point here, priced near the citywide condo median. That buys a fraction of the space a single-family dollar buys, but in a falling segment where you can negotiate harder. HOA dues and rental rules vary building by building and can erase the price advantage. Ask for current dues, the reserve study and any short-term rental limits before comparing monthly costs.
85257: South Scottsdale
ZIP code 85257 sits directly south of Old Town, bordering Tempe to the south and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to the east. Condos citywide have a median of 95 days on market, based on 189 condo sales, meaning listings have been sitting. Much of the housing is older. Check the year built and get an inspection that covers the age of the roof, plumbing and HVAC before counting on the lower price.
85250: Central South Scottsdale
Located between Old Town and the McCormick Ranch area, 85250 offers a dense mix of townhouses and condos. The citywide townhouse median is a fair budget benchmark here. It’s a small ZIP code with only a handful of active listings at a time, so check the count before making it your only search area.
Central Scottsdale ZIP Codes: Planned Communities
The middle of the city is defined by master-planned developments where townhouses and single-family homes mix closely. Inside the same ZIP code, you’re choosing between negotiating room on an attached home and competition for a detached one. Expect golf courses, unified landscaping and firm community rules on exterior changes and maintenance.
85258: McCormick Ranch and Gainey Ranch
Lakes, greenbelts and multi-use paths connect the master-planned communities of 85258. Townhouses citywide show 5.7 months of supply, so buyers aren’t racing to outbid each other. If you want a townhouse with lake or greenbelt access rather than a condo tower, start here. Many homes pay both a master association and a sub-association, so ask for both fee schedules and what each covers.
85259: Scottsdale Ranch and the East Shea Corridor
East of Loop 101, 85259 is mostly detached homes. Single-family homes citywide sit around $455 per square foot, which frames what a detached house costs here compared with the attached stock farther south. Homes backing onto Loop 101 can hear highway traffic despite the sound walls, so visit at rush hour before writing an offer.
85260: Scottsdale Airpark and the Cactus Corridor
The Scottsdale Airpark dominates the commercial side of 85260. It is an 8.6-square-mile employment center with over 2,900 businesses employing more than 51,000 people. The residential side mixes condos near the Airpark with detached homes farther out in the Cactus Corridor. Parts of 85260 sit under Scottsdale Airport flight paths. Check the city’s 55, 60 and 65 DNL noise contour maps against the specific address before falling for a listing.
North Scottsdale ZIP Codes: Single-Family Homes and Desert Lots
The northern ZIP codes hold the bulk of the city’s detached homes and large acreage. Here, the 10.6% single-family price rise and tighter 4.8 months of supply mean sellers hold more cards. You trade the south’s walkability for space, mountain views and privacy. Arrive with financing ready rather than expecting a steep discount.
85255: DC Ranch, Grayhawk, and Pinnacle Peak
This area features master-planned and guard-gated single-family communities, and it’s the natural starting point for a newer detached home in a master-planned setting. About 7.2% of single-family homes citywide sold above list price, so competing offers are possible here but still uncommon.
Scottsdale’s Native Plant Ordinance applies citywide, in both natural desert and landscaped areas. It requires a permit before any protected large cactus or tree is removed or relocated. Check it before planning a pool or yard project.
85262: Far North Scottsdale
Covering Troon North, Desert Mountain and large stretches of unincorporated Maricopa County, 85262 offers large desert lots, acreage and horse property. Single-family homes citywide sell in a median 75 days, faster than condos, so don’t expect a well-priced listing to sit. Unincorporated parcels may rely on private wells or hauled water rather than city water, so confirm the water source in disclosures before you’re under contract.
85266: North Scottsdale Near Carefree
Bordering Cave Creek and Carefree, 85266 is another area for acreage and horse properties, with the citywide single-family median as the budget benchmark. Errands and the drive to Old Town or Sky Harbor take real time, so drive the route at commute hour before you commit.
Scottsdale Addresses Outside City Limits
The USPS assigns ZIP codes for mail routes, not city boundaries. A Scottsdale mailing address can come with a different town’s rules, sales tax, water provider and property tax area.
To confirm jurisdiction, look up the parcel’s APN on the Maricopa County Assessor’s parcel search. Then enter it in the Treasurer’s Parcel Search and open Tax Year Details, which lists the jurisdiction and tax area code. That jurisdiction sets your property taxes and what you can build on the lot.
85253: The Town of Paradise Valley
Most of 85253 is the Town of Paradise Valley, not Scottsdale. It is the town’s only ZIP code, covering essentially all of its 18.1 square miles. One-acre estate zoning is the main draw. The town sets its own building, zoning and service rules, so confirm which town governs the parcel before planning renovations.
85254: Kierland and North Phoenix
The 85254 ZIP code is split between Scottsdale and Phoenix, and the city line runs right through the Kierland shopping and dining area. Many 85254 addresses are City of Phoenix parcels, subject to Phoenix services and sales tax. Check the parcel jurisdiction, not the mailing address.
85256: Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
ZIP code 85256 is largely Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land. All land in the Community is leased, not sold, and residential use requires a Tribal Homesite Lease application. Lease terms affect financing and resale, so ask for the remaining lease term and confirm with a lender that it qualifies before making an offer.
How to Choose a Scottsdale ZIP Code
Start with home type. Condo and townhouse buyers start in South Scottsdale ZIP Codes and Central Scottsdale ZIP Codes. Detached-house buyers start in North Scottsdale ZIP Codes, with 85255 the pick for a newer master-planned home.
Next, decide if it matters that the home is inside City of Scottsdale limits for city water, city services and city sales tax. If it does, read Scottsdale Addresses Outside City Limits before shortlisting 85253, 85254, 85256 or the unincorporated parts of 85262 and 85266.
Then choose between walking to restaurants and shops and having desert acreage. Walkable points to 85251; acreage points to 85262 and 85266.
Finally, compare your budget to the at-a-glance medians. A budget below the townhouse median of about $560,000 largely rules out detached houses citywide, and the single-family median sits near $1.27 million. Sellers of every property type close near 96% of list price. So the advantage in condo and townhouse ZIP codes comes from time and concessions rather than a deep price discount. Reach out to David Arustamian, who can pull current listings across two shortlisted ZIP codes side by side to help you decide.
Related guides: Scottsdale, AZ population, Where is Scottsdale.
At a Glance
- All homes: median sale price $889,576, up 9.2% year over year (1,208 sales, 90 days ending 2026-09-30)
- Single-family: median sale price $1,271,993, up 10.6% year over year; $455 per sq ft (760 sales, 90 days ending 2026-09-30)
- Townhouse: median sale price $559,907, down 4.3% year over year; $355 per sq ft (257 sales, 90 days ending 2026-09-30)
- Condo: median sale price $352,964, down 4.9% year over year; $325 per sq ft (189 sales, 90 days ending 2026-09-30)
- Median days on market: single-family 75, townhouse 92, condo 95 (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
- Months of supply: single-family 4.8, all homes 5.5, townhouse 5.7, condo 7.9 (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
- Sale-to-list price: single-family 96.4%, condo 96.3%, townhouse 96.5% (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
- Share sold above list: single-family 7.2%, condo 3.8%, townhouse 2.8% (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
- Homes for sale: single-family 1,186, condo 484, townhouse 479 (90 days ending 2026-09-30)
Scottsdale ZIP Code FAQs
How Many ZIP Codes Does Scottsdale Have?
Scottsdale has the 12 residential ZIP codes listed above. PO Box-only and unique ZIP codes such as 85252, 85261, 85267 and 85271 also use Scottsdale as the preferred city.
What County Is Scottsdale, AZ In?
Scottsdale is in Maricopa County, and every ZIP code with a Scottsdale address falls within it.
What Is the Most Expensive ZIP Code in Scottsdale?
85253 typically ranks highest for home values, though most of it is a separate town. Within Scottsdale city limits, northern ZIP codes like 85262 and 85255 hold the highest median single-family prices.
What Is the Area Code for Scottsdale, AZ?
The area code is 480. Neighboring Phoenix uses 602, which matters for 85254 addresses on the Phoenix side of the city line.
How Do I Find My Full 9-Digit ZIP Code in Scottsdale?
Enter the complete street address in the USPS ZIP Code Lookup tool. The last four digits identify a delivery segment, such as a block side or a single building.
Does the Sales Tax Rate Change by Scottsdale ZIP Code?
Yes, because the rate follows the legal jurisdiction, not the ZIP code. Confirm a property’s rate with the Arizona Department of Revenue transaction privilege tax address lookup.
Do School Districts Follow Scottsdale ZIP Codes?
No. Scottsdale-addressed homes can fall into Scottsdale Unified, Paradise Valley Unified or Cave Creek Unified, so confirm the assigned schools with the district’s own address lookup or boundary map.
Can I Check Flood Risk by Scottsdale ZIP Code?
No. Flood zones are mapped by parcel, and one ZIP code can include both flood hazard and minimal-risk areas. Search the street address in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center for the effective flood zone, and ask the seller about any flood insurance history.