Best places to live in Arizona (2026)

All 24 ranked places in Arizona, by all-round score. 5 other places without FBI crime data are on the places list.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Gilbert, AZBig city · 3-bed $472k · very safe74
2. 2Chandler, AZBig city · 3-bed $469k · very safe74
3. 3Peoria, AZSuburb · 3-bed $414k · very safe72
4. 4Tempe, AZCollege town · 3-bed $452k · moderate crime71
5. 5Surprise, AZSuburb · 3-bed $388k · very safe71
6. 6Mesa, AZBig city · 3-bed $416k · safe68
7. 7Avondale, AZSuburb · 3-bed $372k · safe68
8. 8Goodyear, AZSuburb · 3-bed $419k · very safe67
9. 9Scottsdale, AZSuburb · 3-bed $812k · very safe67
10. 10Buckeye, AZSuburb · 3-bed $363k · very safe64
11. 11Oro Valley, AZSmall city · 3-bed $472k · very safe64
12. 12Marana, AZSmall city · 3-bed $398k · very safe63
13. 13Glendale, AZBig city · 3-bed $383k · safe61
14. 14Phoenix, AZMajor city · 3-bed $405k · moderate crime60
15. 15Maricopa, AZSuburb · 3-bed $314k · very safe59
16. 16Tucson, AZMid-size city · 3-bed $320k · moderate crime57
17. 17Prescott Valley, AZSmall city · 3-bed $440k · very safe57
18. 18Prescott, AZSmall city · 3-bed $626k · safe55
19. 19Sierra Vista, AZSmall city · 3-bed $283k · safe54
20. 20Casa Grande, AZSmall city · 3-bed $298k · safe51
21. 21Yuma, AZSmall city · 3-bed $284k · safe50
22. 22Flagstaff, AZSmall city · 3-bed $640k · moderate crime48
23. 23Lake Havasu City, AZSmall city · 3-bed $491k · very safe44
24. 24Bullhead City, AZSmall city · 3-bed $323k · safe44

Cheapest places to live in Arizona

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1Sierra Vista, AZSmall city · rent $1,750/mo · cost of living 89$283k
2. 2Yuma, AZSmall city · rent $1,890/mo · cost of living 93$284k
3. 3Casa Grande, AZSmall city · rent $2,450/mo · cost of living 103$298k
4. 4Maricopa, AZSuburb · rent $2,450/mo · cost of living 103$314k
5. 5Tucson, AZMid-size city · rent $1,950/mo · cost of living 97$320k

Safest places to live in Arizona

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Oro Valley, AZSmall city · violent crime 0.1× the US rate48 per 100k
2. 2Marana, AZSmall city · violent crime 0.2× the US rate72 per 100k
3. 3Gilbert, AZBig city · violent crime 0.3× the US rate97 per 100k
4. 4Surprise, AZSuburb · violent crime 0.3× the US rate98 per 100k
5. 5Buckeye, AZSuburb · violent crime 0.4× the US rate137 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Arizona

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1Prescott Valley, AZ4 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, wildfires89
2. 2Lake Havasu City, AZ3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves87
3. 3Casa Grande, AZ3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves85
4. 4Prescott, AZ4 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, wildfires83
5. 5San Tan Valley, AZ3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves83

Best places to live for families in Arizona

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1Gilbert, AZBig city · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $472k79
2. 2Marana, AZSmall city · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $398k76
3. 3Chandler, AZBig city · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $469k74
4. 4Peoria, AZSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $414k73
5. 5Surprise, AZSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $388k73

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.