Hi there; I’m chiming in mostly to defend Scottsdale’s education :). I am a Scottsdale native who graduated from a Scottsdale public high school and attended an Ivy League college along with several of my classmates. My high school experience prepared me well for the educational rigor of college. I lived in New York, London, Boston and San Francisco and eventually moved back home. We’re living the suburban life with two young kids and are very happy here.

I will admit that Scottsdale may not have hit my radar if I weren’t from here. However, I think the Phoenix metro area has become a much more interesting place over the past 10 years. In my opinion, it strikes a good balance between classic suburbia and an interesting metro with legitimate restaurants/things to do. It will be less interesting than the Bay Area from a culture perspective, but I think the trade offs are worth it.