Living in a mountainside mansion in Paradise Valley (85253) offers residents stunning views of the city and the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Until now, the Paradise Valley ZIP code earned the prestigious title of having the highest household wealth in Arizona. According to a 2022 data report from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the North Scottsdale ZIP code of 85262 has knocked Paradise Valley into second place for the first time in decades.
One of the most esteemed communities within the 85262 ZIP code is Desert Mountain. Conceptualized by Taliesin Associated Architects, the luxurious guard-gated 8,300-acre master-planned community offers a private members club that requires an invitation to join and a $200,000 initiation fee, which currently has a waiting list.
Desert Mountain offers members seven of the finest year-round golf courses and clubhouses. In addition to award-winning golf, residents can indulge in over 10 fine-dining restaurants run by Culinary Director Chef Bertrand Bouquin. After hitting the golf courses and indulging in a delicious meal, residents can choose from over 15 award-winning tennis courses or a state-of-the-art spa.
“Desert Mountain features an adult lifestyle that’s very unique,” Scott Grigg, owner of Grigg’s Group Powered by the Altman Brothers, told Phoenix Business Journal. “Desert Mountain is basically adult Disneyland for active adults and golfers. Where else can you find a community with seven golf courses?”
Grigg said the demographic for Paradise Valley versus Desert Mountain has a lot to do with lifestyle preferences. Wealthy individuals who are attracted to Desert Mountain usually aren’t required to travel into the city every day to do work, whereas Paradise Valley residents are just minutes from the city with shopping, dining and entertainment options
According to a USA Wealth Report conducted in 2024 from Henley & Partners, Scottsdale also has the second-highest growth rate for millionaires. The city had a 102% increase in millionaires in just 10 years. The rate has drastically accelerated as more people relocate to Scottsdale from large metro areas, such as Southern California, Chicago and New York City, said J. Andrew Turley, president of Phoenix Valuations, which appraises luxury properties.
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