Moving from Chicago, IL, to Scottsdale, AZ

Go smaller in the West’s Most Western Town 

By leaving the “Windy City” of Chicago, IL, for the much smaller town of Scottsdale, AZ, known as “The West's Most Western Town,” you’ll want to plan for smaller city living. Chicago has over 2.7 million residents (9.6 million in the metro), while Scottsdale has a significantly lower population of 241,361, according to the 2020 US Census.  

Think you’ll miss big city living? Arizona’s state capital, Phoenix, is only 12 miles away and has 1.6 million residents. Scottsdale is considered part of the 4.8 million in the capital metro area. Keep reading to learn more about life in “the Grand Canyon State.” 

Say goodbye to snow in Scottsdale

If part of your motivation to move south was to leave the frigid northern winters behind, you’re in luck. Scottsdale averages zero inches of snow per year, quite the contrast to Chicago’s average of 35 inches.  

Temperatures in Scottsdale rarely drop below 40 degrees in the winter and often exceed 100 degrees during the hottest month of July. Scottsdale’s desert climate has 299 sunny days per year and an average of only 11 inches of rain annually. The dry heat can lead to dehydration if you’re not used to it, so be careful when spending time outdoors in the summer. 

Scottsdale living

The cost of living in Scottsdale is comparable to Chicago, and the job market is strong in the Phoenix area. The growing technology hub also has opportunities in business, financial services, health care and tourism. Some of the top employers in the area include Amazon, American Express, Bank of America, Banner Health, Honeywell, JPMorgan Chase Co., Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Wells Fargo.

Enjoy mountain time

Arizona is in the Mountain Standard Time Zone (MST) and does not observe Daylight Saving Time (except for the Navajo Nation. And the state has plenty of mountain ranges to enjoy. Scottsdale is located at the base of Mount McDowell, nestled in a 21,099 park and nature reserve where you can bike, camp, hike, ride horses, picnic and stargaze. 

Prefer some time indoors to beat the heat? Don’t these attractions: 

  • Butterfly Wonderland 
  • OdySea Aquarium 
  • Scottsdale Historical Museum 
  • Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art 
  • Western Spirit Museum of the West 
     

Get a quote to move south to Arizona

U-Pack® has over 25 years of experience in out-of-state moves, and we can get you from Chicago to Scottsdale through our nationwide network of service centers. We’ll handle the driving so you can focus on packing, loading and unloading. Request your free, no-obligation online quote today or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant. We’re here to help!