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Old 02-06-2009, 10:11 AM
 
Location: Utopia
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What is going on in Scottsdale that it is such a retiree mecca? I have never been there, but know there are a considerable number of over 65 year olds there and am wondering just what the rest of us must be missing? Anyone?
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Old 02-06-2009, 10:19 AM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
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Parts of Scottsdale cater to the resort crowd so there are many restaurants, recreational and shopping opportunities to be enjoyed year round.
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Old 02-06-2009, 10:29 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie View Post
What is going on in Scottsdale that it is such a retiree mecca? I have never been there, but know there are a considerable number of over 65 year olds there and am wondering just what the rest of us must be missing? Anyone?
good weather
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Old 02-06-2009, 10:43 AM
 
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nothing is "going on" in Scottsdale that makes it a retiree mecca....there are all types of demographics there...

many areas of Arizona, including Scottsdale, are popular with older folks as the weather is dry and warm for most of the year....somewhat wealthier people can live in Scottsdale if they want that prestige....a few upscale retirement homes are being built in Scottsdale, too....
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Old 02-06-2009, 10:47 AM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
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Originally Posted by azdr0710 View Post
nothing is "going on" in Scottsdale that makes it a retiree mecca....there are all types of demographics there...

many areas of Arizona, including Scottsdale, are popular with older folks as the weather is dry and warm for most of the year....somewhat wealthier people can live in Scottsdale if they want that prestige....a few upscale retirement homes are being built in Scottsdale, too....
Good point. I'd say Surprise area is more of a retirement "mecca" than Scottsdale with the many Sun City developments up there.
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Old 02-06-2009, 11:48 AM
 
Location: La Jolla, CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie View Post
What is going on in Scottsdale that it is such a retiree mecca? I have never been there, but know there are a considerable number of over 65 year olds there and am wondering just what the rest of us must be missing? Anyone?
I wouldn't say it's a retiree mecca. There are retirees. The median age in Scottsdale is 41. Compared to some other cities it is quite a bit lower:

Carefree: 55
Sun City: 75
Surprise: 46

The main attractions in Scottsdale are weather, of course, resorts, golf, shopping, and entertainment. It isn't a retiree mecca as much as a destination.

In a contrasting example, let's look at a place like Gilbert. The median 2007 resident age was 30.1 years. The difference is staggering. I would guess the difference is not because Gilbert is a destination for 20-something singles, rather that the median "kids per household" would be much higher in Gilbert. The same holds true for a non-destination city like St. George UT (median age, 31). I have never heard of St. George being a "destination city", and I highly doubt that the number of single 20-somethings is high at all, but it is a mostly LDS community, and it's got a lot of big families with young children. So the numbers are very young.

What I'm saying is, Scottsdale has a lot of attractions that cater to upscale types with disposable income. Some families fit into this mold. But so do singles, couples without kids, and older people with extra money.
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Old 02-06-2009, 12:00 PM
 
Location: USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie View Post
What is going on in Scottsdale that it is such a retiree mecca? I have never been there, but know there are a considerable number of over 65 year olds there and am wondering just what the rest of us must be missing? Anyone?
No idea, its not out of control college town like Tempe, but you can still walk to places if you live in near fashion square. It's quiet at night and all the noise is kept to the downtown area of Scottsdale. There is a brand new park that stretches for miles and there is a very nice dog park. There are also many fancy, hole in the wall, restaurants that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

North Scottsdale isn't so "together" like south Scottsdale.

I enjoy south Scottsdale very much and wish i could live there.
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Old 02-06-2009, 12:17 PM
 
Location: A Place With REAL People
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I can sum it up in ONE word.... GOLF. While golfing is anything BUT a unique domain of the retired, it is a primary draw. If I recall there are perhaps more golf courses per square mile in Scottsdale's area than most. St. George is much the same, a huge golf area and retiree's flock there for this primary reason. It probably doesn't hurt that it is very close to a Mayo clinic, some of the finest dining and entertainment on the planet. Those are all great retirement perks. Sun City has an entirely different vibe to it. When I've been there I FEEL older and closer to the end of life. In Scottsdale it is more invigorating. You've got the great high end mall there, then there's the Old town with it's unique shops, amazing hotels and spas to be pampered in, and just a nice clean place to hang out. For me personally, my tastes lean more towards Prescott. But I just prefer that kind of environment. The greater Phoenix area to me is wayyyyy to congested. If I had the $$ to retire I prefer to be somewhere a bit less populated with more open space and cleaner air, one thing of which is a rare commodity in that area of Arizona.
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Old 02-06-2009, 12:21 PM
 
Location: Utopia
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Sounds great in Scottdale for me. I agree with the Sun City idea...ewwwww icky..and I'm a geezer myself...but no, thanks.
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Old 02-06-2009, 12:51 PM
 
Location: Metro Phoenix, AZ USA
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I actually don't see Scottsdale as a retiree "mecca" for year round living. It has its share, but as was already noted, other Valley cities have higher median ages.
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