Safest Neighbourhoods in Phoenix (and Areas to Avoid)
Areas — Scottsdale, downtown Phoenix, Tempe
Recommended for visitors: Old Town Scottsdale (walkable bar/restaurant district, very safe), North Scottsdale (resorts, golf), Camelback Corridor / Arcadia (upscale residential, restaurants), downtown Phoenix (Roosevelt Row arts district, sports venues), Tempe / Mill Avenue (ASU college area).
Stay aware: downtown Phoenix homelessness corridor (along Madison Street near "The Zone" — visible distress, not violent towards passers-by). Maryvale and parts of South Phoenix have higher crime rates but aren't on tourist itineraries.
FAQ
- What's the biggest scam to avoid in Phoenix?
- Phoenix has very little organised scam culture. The recurring practical traps are unofficial Sedona and Grand Canyon "private tour" brokers (book licensed operators directly), aggressive timeshare presentations pitched as discounted attraction tickets at I-17 "welcome centers" (privately-run pitch facilities, not state welcome centres), and rental-car insurance hard-sell at Sky Harbor (most US credit cards already cover rentals; check first). Don't get rescued by a tow-and-rescue outfit from a flooded wash crossing — Arizona's "Stupid Motorist Law" requires you to pay for your own rescue when you drove around the barricades.
Live Phoenix safety score (updates daily) →