Where Scottsdale's Newest Residents Are Moving From: The Top 10 Origin Cities
By Kyara Eyre · Published August 31, 2026 · Williams Luxury Homes
I get some version of this question constantly: "Where is everyone actually moving from?" Buyers ask because they're curious whether their own move is typical, and honestly, I ask myself the same thing every time I get a new relocation client, because it shapes how I set expectations for their search. So I pulled the numbers. Here's who's showing up, where they're coming from, and why.
Where does this data come from?
The ranking reflects the net inflow of Redfin home searchers into Scottsdale from January through March 2026. It's not a perfect measure of every relocation buyer in the market (it only captures Redfin's own user base, tracks home-search activity rather than confirmed moves, and is specific to Scottsdale rather than Paradise Valley or the wider Valley), but it's one of the more current, publicly available looks at where interest in this market is coming from, and the pattern lines up with what I see in my own client base.
Worth noting: Census-based migration data has identified Los Angeles as a leading source of people moving into the Phoenix metro, reflecting the sheer size of Southern California's population relative to any one city in the Pacific Northwest. The Redfin numbers below are more specific to Scottsdale's luxury search activity right now, and Seattle is the standout there.
The top 10 cities people are moving to Scottsdale from
Ranked by net inflow of Redfin home searchers into Scottsdale, January through March 2026.
| Rank | Metro Area | Relative Inflow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | Largest by a wide margin |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | Strong |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | Strong |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | Moderate |
| 5 | Portland, OR | Moderate |
| 6 | Washington, D.C. | Smaller but consistent |
| 7 | Denver, CO | Smaller but consistent |
| 8 | New York, NY | Smaller but consistent |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | Smaller but consistent |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | Smaller but consistent |
Source: Redfin migration data, Q1 2026 (Jan.–Mar. 2026). Data reflects home-search activity and does not necessarily represent completed moves. I've deliberately left exact figures out of this table since they shift quarter to quarter and are best pulled fresh for a specific conversation, just ask if you'd like current numbers.
Why each of these cities sends buyers to Scottsdale
Seattle, WA
Seattle is, right now, the single biggest source of Scottsdale home searchers. The pattern I see most is tech-driven equity looking for a lower cost of living and more sun, plain and simple. Washington has historically had no state income tax, so for a long time the draw for Seattle buyers wasn't taxes the way it is for Californians, it was weather and lifestyle: trading a gray, rainy nine months for consistent sunshine and a golf season that basically never ends.
That's shifting, though. Washington is also introducing a new 9.9% state income tax beginning in 2028 for individuals and married couples with more than $1 million in adjusted gross income, adding another consideration for high-income households already navigating Washington's capital-gains tax. For high-income households comparing states, Arizona's 2.5% flat individual income tax rate is one of the financial differences worth considering. So increasingly, my Seattle clients are chasing tax savings right alongside the sunshine, not just the sunshine.
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles buyers are almost always chasing the same combination: California's cost of living, a state income tax that tops out at 13.3% versus Arizona's flat 2.5%, and home equity that goes noticeably further here. Plenty of my LA clients also keep a foothold in California and treat a Scottsdale or Paradise Valley property as a primary residence they're building toward, or a part time home they use heavily in the cooler months.
Chicago, IL
Chicago is a classic winter-escape market. Some of my Chicago clients relocate outright, but plenty start with a seasonal home they use from late fall through spring and build up to full time later. For Chicago-area buyers considering a move, Illinois' 4.95% individual income tax and local property-tax burden can also be part of the financial comparison.
San Francisco, CA
Similar story to Los Angeles, amplified. Bay Area buyers are often coming from some of the highest home prices and highest cost of living in the country, so the jump in what their budget buys in Scottsdale tends to be the most dramatic of any group I work with.
Portland, OR
Portland buyers tend to mirror the Seattle pattern: Pacific Northwest weather fatigue, a search for more consistent outdoor living, and home values that stretch further once they land here.
Washington, D.C.
D.C. relocation clients are frequently looking for a warm-weather second home they can use heavily in the winter months, alongside continued ties to the D.C. area for work.
Denver, CO
Denver might seem like an unusual one, since it already has mountains and sunshine, but the draw I hear most is trading Colorado's snow and long winters for a low desert climate with four distinct but milder seasons.
New York, NY
New York buyers usually cite a mix of cost of living, state and city income tax, and wanting a true warm-weather escape from winter, similar to the Chicago and Minneapolis pattern.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis is one of the more clear-cut snowbird markets on this list. Winters there are genuinely brutal, and I see a steady stream of buyers who start as seasonal residents and gradually shift toward spending more of the year here.
San Diego, CA
San Diego buyers are often looking for meaningfully more home and land for the same budget, while staying within a short flight of family and friends back in California.
What this means if you're relocating to Scottsdale or Paradise Valley
If you're coming from one of these cities, you're not an outlier, you're the norm, and I've almost certainly worked with someone making a similar move. That matters practically: I already have a sense of the questions you're likely to have, whether that's how Arizona's flat income tax actually works, what a seasonal versus full time purchase should look like, or how to structure a search around limited trips out here before you buy.
Wherever you're moving from, I'd recommend reaching out before your search officially begins rather than after you've started touring. That gives us time to build a comparative market analysis, narrow in on communities that fit your lifestyle, and get you access to off-market opportunities before you ever need to book a flight.
Curious how your own city compares, or want current relocation numbers for your specific situation? See the Paradise Valley relocation guide for what the buying process looks like once you've decided to make the move, or reach out directly below.
Frequently asked questions
Where are most people moving to Scottsdale from?
Recent home-search migration data shows Seattle sending the largest number of prospective buyers to Scottsdale by a wide margin, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Portland. Washington, D.C., Denver, New York, Minneapolis, and San Diego round out the top ten. Exact figures shift from quarter to quarter, so it's worth confirming current numbers before treating them as fixed.
Why are so many Seattle residents moving to Scottsdale?
The most common reasons I hear are trading Pacific Northwest gray and rain for consistent sun, tech-driven equity that stretches further in a lower cost-of-living market, and a golf and outdoor lifestyle that's harder to access year round in Seattle. Washington is also introducing a new 9.9% state income tax beginning in 2028 for individuals and married couples with more than $1 million in adjusted gross income, on top of its existing capital-gains tax, which is another financial difference some higher earners are weighing.
Is Arizona's income tax really lower than California's?
Yes. Arizona has a flat 2.5% individual income tax rate, while California's top marginal rate reaches 13.3%. For a high-income household relocating from California, that difference alone can mean a meaningful amount of money staying in their pocket every year, on top of typically buying more home for the same budget.
Do most relocation buyers move to Scottsdale full time, or is it a second home?
It's a genuine mix. Buyers from colder markets like Chicago and Minneapolis often start with a seasonal or part-time home and shift to full time later, while buyers from California and the Pacific Northwest more frequently relocate outright. Either way, I always ask early in the process which one a client is planning for, since it changes how I approach the search.
How can I get started if I'm relocating to Scottsdale or Paradise Valley from out of state?
I'd recommend reaching out before your search officially begins. That gives us time to talk through budget, timeline, and which communities fit your lifestyle, and to get you set up with a comparative market analysis and video touring so you're not starting from scratch once you're ready to fly in.
Relocating to Scottsdale or Paradise Valley?
Reach out to me at 708-714-2896 or kyara@williamsluxuryhomes.com, wherever you're moving from, I'm happy to walk through what the process looks like for you.