Best places to live in Arizona
Cities and suburbs in Arizona with 25,000+ people, scored against each other: affordability on a $75k salary after taxes and rent (35%), violent crime (30%), schools (20%) and job growth (15%).
| # | City | Score | Rent | Home | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandler, AZ | 69/100 | $1,902/mo | $508k | 8.6/10 |
| 2 | Apache Junction, AZ | 61/100 | $1,146/mo | $212k | 2.8/10 |
| 3 | Surprise, AZ | 56/100 | $2,033/mo | $435k | 5.3/10 |
| 4 | Scottsdale, AZ | 55/100 | $2,013/mo | $790k | 9.1/10 |
| 5 | Peoria, AZ | 55/100 | $1,843/mo | $464k | 6.2/10 |
| 6 | Gilbert, AZ | 54/100 | $2,110/mo | $575k | 8.4/10 |
| 7 | Casa Grande, AZ | 52/100 | $1,386/mo | $304k | 2.9/10 |
| 8 | Queen Creek, AZ | 50/100 | $2,210/mo | $635k | 8.6/10 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | 49/100 | $1,145/mo | $266k | 2.3/10 |
| 10 | Mesa, AZ | 49/100 | $1,620/mo | $408k | 4.9/10 |
| 11 | Tempe, AZ | 47/100 | $1,743/mo | $455k | 3/10 |
| 12 | Maricopa, AZ | 46/100 | $1,998/mo | $377k | 3.7/10 |
| 13 | Buckeye, AZ | 45/100 | $1,963/mo | $420k | 2/10 |
| 14 | Goodyear, AZ | 44/100 | $1,956/mo | $471k | 2.3/10 |
| 15 | Avondale, AZ | 44/100 | $1,832/mo | $395k | 2.3/10 |
| 16 | Glendale, AZ | 38/100 | $1,528/mo | $388k | 1.4/10 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | 35/100 | $1,582/mo | $421k | 1.9/10 |
Rent, income and home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: 2026 federal and state rates for a single filer.
Compare the top 4