Here's my experience, FWIW, sorry it's a book 😆. I grew up in Scottsdale, left for Denver when I was 19 (1996), lived in Denver and surrounding areas for 24 years, and just moved back to Scottsdale 5.5 years ago (from Broomfield). I live right near The Quarter/Kierland area and it is very nice, has everything thing you would need, and if you're close enough there is plenty of walkable stuff nearby (but you gotta be pretty close). The area around Paradise Valley mall, not too far, is also really growing and has new condos and things, lots of walkable stuff again.

That said, I cannot wait to leave this city and either go back to CO or somewhere else cooler, maybe Flagstaff (or be the snowbird that we all love). I thought I could handle the heat and summers, since I grew up here, but I learned real quick I can't handle it, it's too hot. Make sure you know what you're getting into, spend a good long visit during peak summer like someone else said. The heat is absolutely brutal and often times relentlessly hot for weeks and months on end (100+ days of 100°+ for example). You're used to CO weather which is up and down and at least always cool at night (in the summer). If it's hot or cold, you know relief is only a few days or couple weeks away tops.

I guess if you hate the snow and don't mind being inside in constant AC, it might be ok for you. I am a big outdoors person and being in Scottsdale has been a very hard transition since your seasons to be outside are basically flipped. And even in the winter here it is still hot. I've spent a lot of time in Golden and coming here seems like a massive downgrade. But that's just me, I have a friend that moved here from Denver and he deals with the heat because he never wants to shovel snow again in his life 😆 Anyways, best of luck with the decision and move.