Scottsdale vs Seattle
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Scottsdale, AZ | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $933K | $901K |
| Median single-family | $1.35M | $1.17M |
| Median condo | $345K | $503K |
| Median $/sq ft | $430 | $571 |
| Median days on market | 76 | 11 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 96.4% | 100.8% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 2,330 | 1,750 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 52,383 | 43,938 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Seattle is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $901K versus $933K in Scottsdale, roughly 3% less (Redfin, May 2026). Price per square foot points the other way: Scottsdale runs about $430 per square foot against $571 in Seattle, so the gap in median price says more about home size than about the cost of space. Seattle homes have been moving faster, 11 median days on market versus 76 in Scottsdale. Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Washington has no personal income tax on wages. In 2024 about 52,000 Californians moved to Arizona and about 44,000 to Washington (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Scottsdale: 2.5% flat rate (tax year 2026). Seattle: None on wages (Washington has no personal income tax on wages). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Scottsdale and moving from LA to Seattle.
Common questions
Is Scottsdale or Seattle cheaper?
Seattle had the lower median sale price, about $901K versus $933K in Scottsdale (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 3% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Scottsdale or Seattle?
Seattle has the lower state income tax. Washington has no personal income tax on wages. By comparison, Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Scottsdale vs Seattle?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 2,330 square feet in Scottsdale and 1,750 in Seattle, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
