If you’re planning on moving to Arizona, add these cities to your list.
Home to natural wonders, sunny weather, and a rapidly growing population, Arizona has it all. The state can generally be split into two sections: the cooler, mountainous region in the north; and the hot, dry desert region in the south.
In the north lies the iconic Grand Canyon, providing endless panoramic views of mile-deep canyons. To the south lies the Sonoran Desert, a dry, cactus-filled landscape where the majority of the state’s population lives. Flagstaff is the main northern hub, while Phoenix, Tucson, and their suburbs define the south.
Arizona has seen tremendous growth in recent years. In fact, from 2022-2023, Arizona’s population increased by 115,900. Phoenix is often the preferred destination, regularly topping nationwide migration charts for homebuyers looking to relocate.
So, in addition to Phoenix, which other cities in The Grand Canyon State provide the most bang for their buck? In this Redfin article, we’ve uncovered the best places to live in Arizona, ranking them on qualities such as affordability, navigability, and number of amenities. You can find more information about our methodology here or at the bottom of the article.
1. Tucson, AZ
Population:
546,574
Average Commute Time:
22.4 minutes
Per-Capita Income:
$24,468
Median Sale Price:
$340,000
Median Rent Price:
$1,431
Unemployment Rate:
4.6%
Tucson tops our list as the best place to live in Arizona. Home to gorgeous weather, a world-renowned cycling race, and surrounded by four mountain ranges providing endless vistas and hiking trails, Tucson is truly an outdoor haven. For example, Saguaro National Park and Catalina State Park offer unparalleled opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing, drawing visitors from far and wide. Nearby, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum highlights the region’s unique history.
Tucson is located at a higher elevation than neighboring Phoenix. Thus, it’s about five degrees cooler and sees nearly four more inches of rain. Most rain generally comes in bursts during the summer monsoon season from July to September. Tucson is at its best during the fall and spring when sunny and mild weather dominate the forecast.
Perhaps most famously, Tucson is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, giving credence to the region’s remarkable cuisine and dedication to Indigenous, Hispanic, and immigrant food heritage. The city also certifies restaurants that meet specific criteria, and many people visit Tucson just to experience the delicious food.
If world-renowned outdoor recreation and restaurants aren’t enough, there’s a lot more that the city has to offer. You can catch athletic events at the University of Arizona and cheer on the Wildcats, or just explore the massive campus and partake in a wide array of activities year round. The area’s economy is highlighted by the UofA and the aerospace sector, with options in healthcare and many other industries as well.
The hub of the Southwest and capital of Arizona, Phoenix is second on our list of the best places to live in Arizona. Phoenix is chock-full of amenities, attractions, and landmarks, including nearly 200 golf courses (The Stadium Course is the most famous), 186 parks, and 200 miles of trails. South Mountain Park and Preserve is one of the best spots for recreation, while the Encanto Island Amusement Park provides scenic entertainment for people of all ages.
Closer to the city center, world famous museums like the Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum dot the gridded streets, while the Desert Botanical Garden highlights the diverse flora in the area. Sports fans can cheer on the Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), and catch the PGA Waste Management Phoenix Open in nearby Scottsdale, the largest zero-waste sporting event in the world.
The best season in Phoenix is from November through early April, when you’ll see blue skies and temperatures generally below 85 degrees. You will likely need a car to get around Phoenix, but Valley Metro provides some light rail and bus options.
Phoenix has exploded in popularity recently. Starting in the 2010s, Phoenix became a magnet for coastal homeowners looking for a change of scenery, boosting the city’s population by over 200,000 to become the fifth-largest city in the country. Sunny weather and affordable house prices continue to be the biggest draws, while decades of drought and increasing heat risks are a growing concern.
Tempe comes in as the third-best place to live in Arizona. This suburban city is nestled between Scottsdale and Mesa just east of Phoenix, with the Salt River meandering along the city’s northern edge.
Tempe is primarily known for its parks, shopping, events, and outdoor recreation. Popular spots include Hayden Butte Preserve Park, which contains rock art and desert flora, and the Tempe Marketplace, which is home to over a million square feet of outdoor shopping and dining. Nearby, Tempe Beach Park hosts outdoor festivals and other riverside activities.
Arizona State University has a major campus in Tempe that houses the colleges of liberal arts, sciences, design, art, innovation, and sustainability. Local landmarks include the century-old Palm Walk, Mountain America Stadium, and Gammage Auditorium, which hosts Broadway shows and other popular events.
Similar to most other Southern AZ cities, the best times to experience Tempe are from late fall to early spring, when the sun is out, temperatures are lower, and rain is less common. Summers can be dangerously hot, though, and climate change is poised to make them even hotter.
Mesa is the fourth-best place to live in Arizona, according to our methodology. Just east of Tempe in the East Valley, Mesa is home to unique culture, cuisine, history, and arts. The popular Mesa Arts Center hosts a variety of exhibitions and attractions throughout the year. Along the Salt River, you’ll find the historic Mesa Grande Cultural Park, which contains the Mesa Grande mound, one of two mounts built by the Hohokam peoples nearly 1,000 years ago.
As another Phoenix suburb, Mesa’s climate is very similar to surrounding cities, with hot and sometimes wet summers, gorgeous falls and springs, and mild winters. Outdoor recreation is best in the cooler months, or during early morning in the summer. Usery Mountain Regional Park is one of the most popular local outdoor hotspots among locals, as are the many tennis courts, golf courses, tracks, and trails around throughout the city.
Scottsdale comes in at number five on our list of the best places to live in Arizona. The city is famous for its upscale living, luxury spas, and golf courses, most notably TPC Scottsdale, which hosts the Phoenix Open. Although the city has been touted for its high quality of life, living in Scottsdale can be very expensive. Housing and rental prices are nearly double that of Phoenix, and the cost of living is 13% higher than the national average.
Scottsdale is often divided into four sections: South Scottsdale, Old Town, Central Scottsdale (Shea Corridor), and North Scottsdale. All are set against the backdrop of Camelback Mountain to the west and Chaparral Park to the east. One of the more expensive neighborhoods is Silverleaf at DC Ranch, which is in North Scottsdale. However, the neighborhoods in South Scottsdale are more affordable.
With luxury living also comes an abundance of amenities. The Fifth Avenue Shopping District is the central hub of the city, while numerous other malls, parks, and country clubs bring people together. Further to the east, The Butterfly Wonderland, OdySea Aquarium, and Paradise Earth all offer renowned opportunities for people of all ages to experience pristine natural beauty.
Flagstaff is the seventh city on our list – and the only city not in the desert valley. Located in Northern Arizona at 7,000 feet, the city is surrounded by the Coconino National Forest. And since it’s just 80 miles southeast of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff is an outdoor paradise. Flagstaff is quite a bit more expensive than most cities in Arizona, though, largely due to its easy access to pristine outdoor recreation, cooler weather, and hip, active culture.
The city lies on the tall Colorado Plateau, which extends throughout the four corners area of the Southwest and contains dozens of national parks and monuments. The plateau is remarkable: rivers, extinct volcanoes, buttes, and canyons provide color and remarkable diversity to the region. In fact, just north of Flagstaff are the San Francisco Peaks, which contains the state’s highest point (Humphreys Peak, 12,633’).
Flagstaff experiences all four seasons, with very snowy winters and warm and sunny summers. The climate is dry, but like most of the state it sees monsoons from July to September. Flagstaff is far cooler than lowland areas of the state and has seen temperatures as low as -30°F, although extreme highs and lows are rare. Wildfires can be an issue in the summer as well.
Seasonal recreation is a major amenity in Flagstaff. Ski resorts, nordic ski trails, and sledding hills come alive during the winter, while festivals, markets, events, and more dominate the summer. Cycling, climbing, running, walking, or just sitting and enjoying the beautiful scenery are all popular when the sun is out.
If Phoenix feels too big, Chandler may be a great option. Just 30 minutes southeast from downtown Phoenix, Chandler provides a nice mix of urban amenities and laid-back living in the Valley of the Sun.
Chandler is known for its agricultural and industrial history and celebrates it at the Chandler Museum and the Arizona Railway Museum. More recently, the city has forayed into the tech industry and is home to two massive Intel campuses, as well as other electronic engineering firms.
For sports fans, living in Chandler means you have easy access to Cactus League MLB Spring Training games from February through March. It’s also convenient to watch one of many professional sports leagues in Phoenix for a fun night out.
The city butts up against the Gila River Indian Reservation to the South and West, and primarily contains master-planned communities and gridded streets. The Ocotillo is a particularly popular and expensive neighborhood built around a luxurious golf club.
Just east of Chandler, Gilbert is the eighth city on our list of the best places to live in Arizona. Gilbert’s most well known attraction is its downtown, called the Heritage District. The Heritage District is the heart of the city and home to lively restaurants, bars, and local shops, like Culinary Dropout, Liberty Market, and Snooze. Gilbert is also home to many parks, including Freestone District Park and the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch.
Gilbert is a little more expensive than nearby Chandler and Mesa, and home prices have increased by 36% since March 2020. Commuting into Phoenix will also take a little longer. Similar to most areas in the Phoenix metro, neighborhoods are generally split into isolated developments that are laid out on a city-wide grid.
Located in the far southwest of Arizona in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, Yuma comes in at number nine on our list. Historically a cowboy town, Yuma is officially the sunniest city in the world and one of the hottest cities in the U.S., making it ideal for outdoor recreation, agriculture, and basking in the sun. This has turned Yuma into a top spot among snowbird homeowners. In fact, the city’s population nearly doubles during the winter months. A very affordable cost of living is also a big plus.
There’s a lot to do within Yuma. Walking through its historic downtown, visiting the old Yuma Territorial Prison, or exploring one of three nearby national wildlife refuges are popular options. Hiking, canoeing, and cycling are also popular.
Because of the region’s dry and sunny climate and easy access to the Colorado River, Yuma is ideal for year-round agriculture. Yuma is actually the largest producer of winter produce in the U.S., with lettuce topping the list. More than 1 billion pounds of produce is harvested every month.
Peoria, AZ rounds out our list as the tenth-best place to live in Arizona. Located in the northwest part of the Phoenix metropolitan area, Peoria is known for its suburban feel and natural beauty. The city boasts scenic views of the nearby Bradshaw Mountains and provides easy access to outdoor recreational areas like the popular Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Lake Pleasant Regional Park offers two marinas and is popular for boating, camping, fishing, and scuba diving.
The Peoria Sports Complex and Challenger Space Center are highlights of the area, while events like the Peoria Arts & Cultural Festival showcase local talent and creativity. 36 neighborhood parks and 60 miles of trails dot and connect the landscape, offering ample places to connect with neighbors and friends.
However, like all cities in the region, Peoria contends with extreme risks of heat, drought, and even flooding during the summer monsoon season.
Redfin’s Best Places to Live rankings are meant to help home searchers make an informed decision when choosing where to live. To attempt to measure the overall quality of a metro area, each ranking takes into account several key factors, including access to healthcare, open outdoor space, navigability, housing trends, employment statistics, income, and travel time to work. Only metros with a population of 20,000 or greater were considered for our Arizona list. More information about our methodology can be found here.
Data valid April 2024. This article is for informational and educational purposes only.
If you are represented by an agent, this is not a solicitation of your business. This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice from a medical provider, licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional. Consumers should independently verify any agency or service mentioned will meet their needs. Learn more about our
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Jamie is part of the Content Marketing team at Redfin and has spent 2+ years writing about climate change, housing affordability, and the housing market. He fell in love with writing in college, where he decided he wanted to help others understand complicated topics. He was born and raised in Seattle, where he currently lives with his wife and three pets. His dream home is a small, modern house in the forest where he can hear the wind blowing at night.
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