Best counties to live in Arizona

Written by:
April 8, 2024
Laura Beach // Shutterstock

Best counties to live in Arizona

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Arizona using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#12. Yuma County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 204,374
- Median household income: $56,439
- Median home value: $173,500 (69% own)
- Median rent: $950 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Desert View Academy (grade A minus), PFC James D. Price Elementary School (grade B+), Gowan Science Academy (grade B)
- Top private schools: Yuma Catholic High School (grade A), Southwestern Christian School (grade A+), Yuma Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Yuma (grade B minus), Fortuna Foothills (grade C+), Somerton (grade C+)

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#11. Yavapai County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 237,830
- Median household income: $62,430
- Median home value: $354,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,128 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Prescott (grade A+), Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center - Prescott Valley (grade A), Ash Fork Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Verde Valley School (grade A+), The Orme School (grade A+), Trinity Christian School (grade C+)
- Top places: Sedona (grade B), Prescott (grade B), Williamson (grade B minus)

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#10. Pinal County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 433,338
- Median household income: $73,313
- Median home value: $268,900 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,317 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: ASU Preparatory Academy - Casa Grande High School (grade A+), Mary C. O'Brien Elementary School (grade A), Legacy Traditional School - Queen Creek (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Peter Indian Mission School (grade unavailable), St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School (grade unavailable), Logos Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Maricopa (grade B minus), San Tan Valley (grade B minus), Apache Junction (grade B minus)

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#9. Apache County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 66,054
- Median household income: $37,483
- Median home value: $62,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $635 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Alpine Elementary School (grade A), St. Johns Middle School (grade A), Coronado Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Michael Indian School (grade A minus), Immanuel Mission School (grade unavailable), Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: St. Johns (grade A minus), Eagar (grade B), Springerville (grade B)

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#8. La Paz County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 16,681
- Median household income: $46,634
- Median home value: $117,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $691 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Bouse Elementary School (grade A), Blake Primary School (grade B+), Salome High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Parker (grade B), Quartzsite (grade C+), Ehrenberg (grade C minus)

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#7. Navajo County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 107,110
- Median household income: $50,335
- Median home value: $165,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $800 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Capps Elementary School (grade A minus), Joseph City High School (grade A minus), Joseph City Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School (grade C minus), East Fork Lutheran Grade School (grade unavailable), St. Anthony School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Taylor (grade B), Show Low (grade B), Holbrook (grade B)

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#6. Santa Cruz County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 47,838
- Median household income: $51,885
- Median home value: $196,700 (67% own)
- Median rent: $741 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Elgin Elementary School (grade A minus), Mexicayotl Academy (grade B+), Nogales High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Lourdes Catholic School (grade A minus), Sacred Heart Catholic School (grade unavailable), Sonshine Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Rio Rico (grade C+), Nogales (grade C), Patagonia (grade B)

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HildaWeges Photography // Shutterstock

#5. Coconino County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: 1,358
- Population: 144,705
- Median household income: $67,266
- Median home value: $379,400 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,353 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Haven Montessori Charter School (grade A+), BASIS Flagstaff (grade A+), Mountain School (grade A)
- Top private schools: San Francisco de Asis Catholic School (grade unavailable), Flagstaff Christian School (grade unavailable), Mt. Calvary Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Flagstaff (grade B+), Kachina Village (grade B), Page (grade B minus)

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#4. Cochise County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: 639
- Population: 125,504
- Median household income: $58,421
- Median home value: $183,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $893 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: General Myer Elementary School (grade A), Colonel Smith Middle School (grade A), Leman Academy of Excellence Sierra Vista (grade A)
- Top private schools: Veritas Christian Community School (grade A minus), Loretto Catholic School (grade unavailable), First Baptist Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sierra Vista (grade A minus), Benson (grade B), Bisbee (grade B minus)

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#3. Maricopa County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: 631
- Population: 4,430,871
- Median household income: $80,675
- Median home value: $371,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,437 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Phoenix (grade A+), BASIS Scottsdale (grade A+), BASIS Mesa (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Phoenix Country Day School (grade A+), Rancho Solano Preparatory School (grade A+), Brophy College Preparatory (grade A+)
- Top places: Ahwatukee Foothills (grade A), Gilbert (grade A), Paradise Valley (grade A)

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#2. Pima County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: 435
- Population: 1,042,393
- Median household income: $64,323
- Median home value: $258,300 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,071 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), BASIS Oro Valley (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Green Fields School (grade A)
- Top places: Catalina Foothills (grade A+), Udall Park (grade A+), Sam Hughes (grade A+)

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#1. Greenlee County, Arizona

- Overall Rank: 332
- Population: 9,483
- Median household income: $73,756
- Median home value: $93,900 (56% own)
- Median rent: $532 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: Metcalf Elementary School (grade A minus), Fairbanks Middle School (grade B+), Duncan High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Clifton (grade A minus), Duncan (grade B), York (grade B minus)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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