If you are considering moving to Arizona, please read on and choose one of the best places to live in Arizona. Arizona is located in the southwest of the United States, bordering Mexico. Its capital is Phoenix. The people living here are diverse, with Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and so on. Arizona is also rich in minerals and is the largest copper-producing region in the United States, accounting for 50% of the country’s. If you want to move here, read this article for more details and pick one of the best places to live in Arizona.
Best places to live in Arizona
1. Tucson
- Population: 546,574
- Per-Capita Income: $24,468
- Median House Price: $340,000
- Median Rent Price: $1,431
- Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona, just after Phoenix. University of Arizona is also built here, so it is convenient for you to go to school, if you choose to live in Tucson. Tucson has been the most populated city in Arizona for a long time, until Phoenix surpass it. In 2015, Tucson was designated as a “City of Gastronomy” by UNESCO, which is the first American city gaining this name. As an open city living diverse people, you can enjoy various activities here either, such as Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, Tucson Folk Festival, Fourth Avenue Street Fair, Tucson Rodeo (Fiesta de los Vaqueros).
2. Phoenix
- Population: 1,664,409
- Per-Capita Income: $37,499
- Median House Price: $455,000
- Median Rent Price: $1,962
- Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, is the most populous city in Arizona, and also the American state’s capital with the most people. It is also known as the “Valley of the Sun”. Its canal system led to its thriving agriculture, which is the primary industry in Phoenix. The whole city is full of Hispanic style, for 42% people living here are Hispanic. If you want to experience this atmosphere, living in Phoenix is your best choice.
3. Tempe
- Population: 185,950
- Per-Capita Income: $33,205
- Median House Price: $479,000
- Median Rent Price: $1,826
- Unemployment Rate: 4.2%
Tempe is a city in Arizona, named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Arizona State University is also situated in Tempe. Therefore, Tempe is the destination for many students to settle. Arizona State University is the biggest schools by enrollment in the US, so you may have difficulty in renting student accommodation. Don’t worry. uhomes.com has sufficient properties for you to choose, and can meet all your requirements.
4. Mesa
- Population: 512,498
- Per-Capita Income: $30,903
- Median House Price: $460,000
- Median Rent Price: $1,806
- Unemployment Rate: 3.3%
Mesa is the third most populous city in Arizona, just after Phoenix and Tucson. There are over 10 colleges and universities in Mesa, including Mesa Community College, the Polytechnic Campus of Arizona State University, Arizona College, Carrington College, etc. Mesa is also a good place for you to visit. Even if you don’t choose to live in Mesa, you can come here for various cultural attractions, consisting of Mesa Arts Center, Mesa Amphitheater, Mesa Historical Museum, Mesa Historical Museum, and so on.
5. Scottsdale
- Population: 243,050
- Per-Capita Income: $64,992
- Median House Price: $825,000
- Median Rent Price: $2,882
- Unemployment Rate: 3.3%
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, and is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The city is named after its founder Winfield Scott, a retired U.S. Army chaplain. Over the past two decades, it has been the fastest growing real estate market in the USA. As one of the best places to go in Arizona, Scottsdale offers residents convenient transportation, and complete facilities.
6. Flagstaff
- Population: 75,907
- Per-Capita Income: $26,969
- Median House Price: $681,444
- Median Rent Price: $2,213
- Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
Flagstaff is the principal city in the Flagstaff metropolitan area, Arizona. The city is about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level and borders the Mount Elden. Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet (3,852 m) above sea level. The unique topography of Flagstaff makes its tourism industry flourishing. Living here you can visit many famous attractions: Grand Canyon National Park, Oak Creek Canyon, the Arizona Snowbowl, Meteor Crater, and Historic Route 66.
7. Chandler
- Population: 280,711
- Per-Capita Income: $42,580
- Median House Price: $549,500
- Median Rent Price: $2,266
- Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
As a part o the East Valley, Chandler is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, and a suburb in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chandler is pretty hot in summer, while you can enjoy the warm winter if you live here. Chandler is also a commercial and technology hub for corporations like Intel, Northrop Grumman, Wells Fargo, PayPal and Boeing. Therefore, many professionals choose to settle here.
8. Gilbert
- Population: 275,346
- Per-Capita Income: $39,073
- Median House Price: $580,541
- Median Rent Price: $2,373
- Unemployment Rate: 2.9%
Located southeast of Phoenix, Gilbert is a young city, because one-third of its residents are under the age of 18. Gilbert was founded in 6 July, 1920, and was once called the “Hay Shipping Capital of the World”. Now, Gilbert has become an economically diverse suburban community, featuring strong economy, competitive schools and safe neighborhoods. Many companies here focus on biotechnology, aerospace, renewable energy and many other advanced industries.
9. Yuma
- Population: 98,527
- Per-Capita Income: $26,679
- Median House Price: $270,000
- Median Rent Price: $1,459
- Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
Yuma is undeniably one of the best areas to live in Arizona. According to Guinness World Records, Yuma is the “Sunniest City on Earth”, because it promises there will be “sunshine and warm weather at least 91% of the year”. If you are afraid of cold weather and enjoy sunshine, Yuma is your best choice. Don’t wait and move to Yuma, Arizona!
10. Peoria
- Population: 197,866
- Per-Capita Income: $35,936
- Median House Price: $514,000
- Median Rent Price: $2,221
- Unemployment Rate: 2.8%
Peoria is the sixth largest city in Arizona by land area and the ninth largest by population. It is named after Peoria, Illinois. Peoria has a hot desert climate with warm winters and extremely hot summers. So, if you like warmth, moving here would be perfect for you. Peoria’s old town has many historic buildings. The city also hosts several events throughout the year, such as holiday events (Easter egg hunts, Halloween revelries and the Old Town Holiday Festival).
Methodology of ranking best cities to live in Arizona
The above ranking is from Redfin. When they ranked the best places to live, they considered 20 factors, which were categorized into 4 aspects. Redfin got these data from Census Bureau API, Foursquare Places API, GeoDB Cities API, Google Places API, and Redfin Data. Here are the categories and their weights Redfin considered during ranking.
- Community and health: 40%
- Health and medicine: 17%
- Landmarks and outdoors: 12%
- Community and government: 8%
- Share of homes that use solar energy: 3%
- Navigability: 20%
- Average commuting time: 7%
- Travel and transportation: 5%
- Walk score: 3%
- Transit score: 3%
- Bike score: 2%
- Housing and economy: 20%
- Median home sale price: 7%
- Share of residents who are unemployed: 4%
- Share of residents with a high school diploma: 3%
- Estimated per capita income: 3%
- Recreation and leisure: 20%
- Food and drink: 7%
- Arts and entertainment: 4%
- Sports and recreation: 3%
- Retail: 3%
- Events: 3%
Is Arizona a good place to live?
Overview:
- Average Household Income: $73,658
- Average Property Tax: $1,343
- State Population: 7,383,720
- Sales Tax: 5.6%
- State Income Tax: 2.59%
Arizona is indeed a good place to live, if you are keen on sunshine, outdoor activities, diverse cultures, and a laid-back lifestyle.
If you are crazy about outdoor activities, Arizona is certainly good for you. It is possible for you to enjoy sunshine most of your time. Even in winter, the weather is warm. Living in Arizona, you can permanently escape from coldness.
Arizona’s economy is thriving in recent years. Many key industries, including technology, medicine, tourism, etc., promoted the economic growth, and create employment opportunities.
You can also receive high-quality education in Arizona. In addition to several primary and high schools, there are some universities in Arizona, such as University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and so on.
All in all, it is good for you to move to Arizona. Don’t wait and check uhomes.com. Whether you move here for study, work, or just for life and vacation, Arizona can offer you complete facilities and best experience.
Cost of living in Arizona
The average cost of living in Arizona is $44,875 per year, and the experience of living here will make you feel worth it. If you crave sunshine and comfortable lifestyle, Arizona can be your best choices. If all these benefits mentioned above cannot let you make your mind immediately, let’s look at the cost of living in Arizona. You can find out if moving to Arizona is in your budget.
Accommodation
Average accommodation costs in Arizona: $973 to $2,169 per month
When moving to a new place, the largest expense should be accommodation. You have various accommodation types to choose from. If you don’t know how to choose, please look at the table below.
| Types | Median Rent Price |
|---|---|
| Studio | $973 |
| One-bedroom | $1,047 |
| Two-bedroom | $1,251 |
| Three-bedroom | $1,478 |
| Four-bedroom | $1,688 |
| Five-bedroom (or more) | $2,169 |
However, the accommodation costs vary depending on the city you live in. Living in a relatively developed city is certainly more expensive than living in a relatively small city. Here are the accommodation costs in best cities to live in Arizona.
| Cities | Median House Price | Median Rent Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $340,000 | $1,431 |
| Phoenix | $455,000 | $1,962 |
| Tempe | $479,000 | $1,826 |
| Mesa | $460,000 | $1,806 |
| Scottsdale | $825,000 | $2,882 |
| Flagstaff | $681,444 | $2,213 |
| Chandler | $549,500 | $2,266 |
| Gilbert | $580,541 | $2,373 |
| Yuma | $270,000 | $1,459 |
| Peoria | $514,000 | $2,221 |
Utilities
Average Utility Costs in Arizona: $408 per month
Except for rent, you also have to pay for utilities. By the way, if you want to save this kind of money, especially if you are a student, please check uhomes.com and discover your ideal home covering utilities.
| Utility | Average Bill |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $131 |
| Gas | $116 |
| Cable&Internet | $108 |
| Water | $53 |
Transportation
Average Transportation Costs in Arizona: $5,316 to $15,073 per year
Arizona is a liveable state with a vast territory. Thus, it is necessary to consider the cost of transportation. The below will list transportation expenditure for different people who live in Arizona.
| Family Makeup | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| One adult, no children | $5,316 |
| Two working adults, no children | $9,561 |
| Two working adults, three children | $15,073 |
Chilecare
Average Child Care Costs in Arizona: $787 to $1,283 per child, per month
Arizona is a good place for family to live. Living here, your children can receive quality education, and experience an open but rigorous atmosphere.
| Types | Average Cost Per Month, Per Child |
|---|---|
| Infant classroom | $1,283 |
| Toddler classroom | $981 |
| Preschooler classroom | $787 |
| Home-based Family Childcare | $1,080 |
Higher Education
Most of Arizona’s top colleges and universities are located in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. While most students attend large universities, Arizona also has many small and medium-sized colleges and universities. The following table shows tuition fees at major universities in Arizona. If you want to find a cosy accommodation around these universities, please contact uhomes.com.
| Universities | Annual Tuition (local) | Annual Tuition (out-of-state) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | $12,402 | $36,738 |
| Arizona State University–Tempe campus | $11,338 | $29,428 |
| Northern Arizona University | $11,896 | $26,642 |
| Grand Canyon University | $17,263 | $17,263 |
| University of Phoenix | $9,552 | $9,552 |
Choosing best places to live in Arizona
After knowing best places to live in Arizona, have you made up your mind? The sunshine and clear sky make Arizona a dream destination for many people. Living here, you can enjoy the beauty of natural scenery, diverse activities and a laid-back lifestyle. Some people may worry about safety when living in Arizona, because some reports show that the crime rate is relatively high. Don’t worry. Most crime cases happen in small towns, and you can avoid living in these places. If you don’t know where to live, you can refer to the best cities to live in Arizona we mentioned above. If you want to get more details and choose your own home, please consult uhomes.com. We will offer sufficient properties and professional guidance until you find your new home.
FAQ
| Category | Average Annual Per Capita Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $8,184 |
| Food and beverages (no restaurant) | $3,346 |
| Gas and energy goods | $1,061 |
| Health care | $6,828 |
| Other personal expenditures | $25,457 |
| Month | Highest Temperature (°F) | Lowest Temperature (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 68 | 44 |
| February | 73 | 46 |
| March | 79 | 51 |
| April | 91 | 61 |
| May | 98 | 69 |
| June | 107 | 79 |
| July | 110 | 86 |
| August | 107 | 83 |
| September | 103 | 78 |
| October | 91 | 65 |
| November | 80 | 53 |
| December | 71 | 47 |
Arizona is certainly a good place to live. People choose to live here mainly for its sunshine and blue skies. In addition, there are more job opportunities in recent years, because some emerging industries became Arizona’s polar industries. Some are students who move to Arizona for higher education, such as University of Arizona, Arizona State University and so on.
