America’s Best Places to Live 2008: No. 47, Scottsdale, Arizona

As seen in the August 2008 issue of Money magazine and on the web at CNNMoney.com.

Scottsdale, AZ
Top 100 rank: 47
Population: 231,100

The epitome of an upscale shopping destination – the New York Times described its downtown as “a desert version of Miami’s South Beach” with “plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene.”

Scottsdale has plenty to offer. If you love golf, this is the place. The town is home to the FBR Open Golf Tournament, the best-attended event on the PGA Tour.

As you might imagine, Scottsdale isn’t cheap. But the cost of housing, similar to other Phoenix-area towns, has declined from the market peak.