The two crime numbers pull in different directions. Violent crime at 153 per 100k sits 60% below the national 381, but property crime at 1,875 is only 4% below the national 1,954 — which is why Scottsdale lands in the 38th percentile of the 13,216 jurisdictions SafeNest grades rather than near the top. Read that as a city where the risk you plan around is theft, not assault, and the trend is moving your way: violent crime fell 7.8% in 2024. Schools are the more consistent number, averaging 7.9/10 across 53 rated schools, though high schools at 7.5 trail middle schools at 8.3. Arizona's 17 federal flood declarations since 1966 are state-level context, not a verdict on any parcel. Every figure here is a city-wide average; the block you buy on can differ.
Crime in Scottsdale vs. the national average
Scottsdale reports 153 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 60% below the U.S. average of 381, and 1,875 property crimes per 100k versus a national 1,954 (4% below). In the most recent FBI reporting year (2024), the violent crime rate fell 7.8% year over year, a pattern SafeNest classifies as improving.
| Scottsdale | US average | |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k) | 153 | 381 |
| Property crime (per 100k) | 1875 | 1954 |
City-wide averages hide block-by-block variation — the safest and least safe neighborhoods in Scottsdale can differ dramatically. For a specific address, a SafeNest report covers it directly — or search free in the iPhone app.
Flood & natural hazard risk
Federal disaster records for Arizona — the state SafeNest uses for Scottsdale's flood context — list 17 FEMA flood disaster declarations between 1966 and 2024, most recently "Flooding". Arizona has also seen 1 hurricane or tropical-storm declaration, events that frequently drive flooding. These are state-level federal declarations, not a parcel-level flood-zone determination — a specific Scottsdale address may sit inside or well outside a FEMA flood zone, which SafeNest does not determine; check FEMA's flood maps and flood-insurance requirements for that address.
Schools in Scottsdale
Public schools in Scottsdale average 7.9/10 on the SafeNest School Score across 53 rated schools. By level, middle schools rate strongest at 8.3/10 on average, while high schools average 7.5/10. The highest-scoring is BASIS Scottsdale at 9.9/10.
Registered offenders
Registered-offender data is meaningful only at the address level, so SafeNest does not publish a city-wide figure for Scottsdale: a single citywide number would blend blocks with very different profiles and mislead more than it informs. Registered offender counts by distance band for any specific Scottsdale address are included in a SafeNest report, drawn directly from the state's public registry. The iPhone app shows that count free for any address, and maps each registrant with Premium.
Check a specific Scottsdale address
City averages are a starting point. A SafeNest report covers one specific address — crime, registered offender counts, flood and disaster history, schools, air quality, taxes — delivered by email as a PDF for $6.99.
Or search any Scottsdale address free in the iPhone app.
Common questions about safety in Scottsdale
Is Scottsdale, AZ safe?
Scottsdale records 153 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 60% below the US national average of 381. Overall SafeNest grade: B, a city-wide average of reported crime. It does not describe a specific street or address.
What is the crime rate in Scottsdale?
Scottsdale reports approximately 153 violent crimes and 1875 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024, the most recent FBI reporting year in our data.
Does Scottsdale have flood risk?
SafeNest reports federal disaster declaration history for the area. For Scottsdale, federal records show 17 FEMA flood disaster declarations for Arizona, most recently in 2024; a specific address may still sit inside or outside a FEMA flood zone, which SafeNest does not determine — check FEMA's flood maps for that address.
How this page was built
Every figure here comes from the same public records behind SafeNest's grading. We published the full method and what it does and doesn't support in We graded 13,216 American cities with FBI data — including where a letter grade means almost nothing. City comparisons: safest cities in Arizona.
Other city safety reports
Data compiled from public sources including FBI crime statistics, FEMA disaster declarations and the FEMA National Risk Index, NCES education data, and state registries. Last updated 2026-08-17. Figures are city-level estimates; verify with primary sources before making decisions. SafeNest is not a consumer reporting agency (see Terms).