North Scottsdale
Gated golf communities and Sonoran Preserve views north of the 101.
$1.318M
Median Home Price
+7.8% over the last 12 months
$1.882M
Avg. Sale Price
+7.1% YoY
$495
Price per Sq Ft
+5.1% YoY
69
Days on Market
58-85 by ZIP code
36%
Cash Transactions
vs. 25% citywide
30,000+ acres
Preserve Access
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Living in North Scottsdale
North Scottsdale is the stretch of the city above Loop 101, roughly 85255, 85258, 85259, and 85262, where master-planned communities like DC Ranch, Grayhawk, and McDowell Mountain Ranch give way to the ultra-high-end gated enclaves of Silverleaf, Troon, Desert Highlands, Desert Mountain, and Estancia as you move north toward Pinnacle Peak and Cave Creek. Pricing segments sharply by community: entry-luxury from $700K-$1.1M in Grayhawk and McDowell Mountain Ranch, core luxury $1.1M-$2.5M in DC Ranch and Troon, and estate luxury $2.5M-$6M-plus in Silverleaf, Estancia, and Desert Mountain, where custom compounds routinely list between $5M and $25M.
The defining amenity is the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, more than 30,000 acres and 225 miles of trails, the largest urban preserve in the country, which borders DC Ranch, Silverleaf, McDowell Mountain Ranch, Troon, and Pinnacle Peak directly from their front gates. Pair that with the country's densest concentration of Golf Digest-ranked private clubs and it's the valley's clearest answer for buyers who want resort-caliber golf and hiking access built into a gated, low-density neighborhood.
Gated Golf Communities
DC Ranch, Silverleaf, Grayhawk, Troon, and Desert Highlands anchor a corridor of private and semi-private clubs, several ranked among the best in the state.
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Direct trailhead access from multiple communities into one of the largest urban preserves in the U.S., 225+ miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
Master-Planned Retail
Market Street at DC Ranch and similar village centers bring grocery, boutique retail, and dining within golf-cart distance of home.
Golf
4 courses in the area, all within a short drive of each other.
Troon North Golf Club
Monument and Pinnacle courses wrapping the granite boulders at the base of Pinnacle Peak, semi-private with public tee times.
The Estancia Club
Tom Fazio design ranked #1 in Arizona by Golf Digest, private, invitation-only membership inside a 600-acre gated community.
Desert Highlands Golf Club
Jack Nicklaus design at the base of Pinnacle Peak, host of the first televised Skins Game in 1983, private club community.
Grayhawk Golf Club
Talon and Raptor courses, a daily-fee club that's hosted NCAA championships.
Where to Eat
A handful of standout tables in and around North Scottsdale.
Mastro's Steakhouse North Scottsdale
Prime steaks and seafood steps from Pinnacle Peak Country Club, named Best Steakhouse in Arizona Foothills Magazine's Best of Our Valley.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
DC Ranch location off Pima and Thompson Peak Parkway, prime steaks and an extensive by-the-glass wine list.
Belmont Kitchen & Cocktails
Ingredient-driven modern American from two-Michelin-starred chef Alex Stratta, on Pinnacle Peak Road.
Schools
Zoned to Scottsdale Unified School District, with a cluster of top-rated private options nearby. Fair housing law means I can't offer an opinion on school quality, always confirm boundaries with the district and check independent ratings below.
Copper Ridge School
PublicPK-8 neighborhood school inside DC Ranch, part of SUSD
Redfield Elementary School
PublicPK-5, Comprehensive Gifted Program, north Scottsdale neighborhood school
Cochise Elementary School
PublicK-5 neighborhood school serving the McCormick Ranch/north Scottsdale area
Desert Mountain High School
PublicA-rated, the only SUSD school offering the IB program
BASIS Scottsdale
PublicCharter, grades 5-12, STEM-intensive college-prep curriculum
Great Hearts Scottsdale Prep
PublicCharter, grades 6-12, classical liberal arts curriculum
Dig Into the Data
Independent, third-party sources for the numbers that matter before you buy.
GreatSchools.org
Independent ratings and reviews for every school zoned to this area.
Niche.com
Crime, demographics, and resident-reported livability scores.
Walk Score
Walkability, bikeability, and transit access by address.
Crime Statistics & Transparency
Official crime data and accountability reporting from the Scottsdale Police Department.
Homes for Sale in North Scottsdale
Active and recently sold homes in North Scottsdale, pulled from the map above.
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