Chicago to Scottsdale: The Honest Guide From a Prior Chicagoan

Posted by Judy Orr on June 22nd, 2026

So You're Thinking About Trading Chicago Winters for Scottsdale Sunshine?

Let's be real for a second. If you've ever stood on a Chicago street corner in February, wind ripping through your coat like it has a personal grudge against you, and thought "there has to be a better way," you're not alone. Thousands of Chicagoans make the move to Scottsdale, Arizona every single year, and most of them will tell you the same thing: they wish they'd done it sooner. Illinois is among the top 10 states from which residents move to Arizona.

But moving from one of America's biggest cities to a desert resort town is a big deal. It's not just a change of address. It's a completely different way of living. So before you start packing boxes and Googling "how to…

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