Best counties to raise a family in Arizona

Written by:
September 1, 2023
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Best counties to raise a family in Arizona

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Arizona using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

#15. Mohave County, Arizona

- Population: 211,274
- Median home value: $192,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $884 (28% own)
- Median household income: $49,738
- Top public schools: Kingman Academy of Learning - Middle School (grade A+), Mohave Accelerated Elementary School East (grade A+), Masada Charter School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Centennial Academy (grade C), Calvary Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Emmanuel Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Desert Hills (grade B), Kingman (grade C+), Lake Havasu City (grade C)

#14. Gila County, Arizona

- Population: 53,211
- Median home value: $190,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $873 (24% own)
- Median household income: $51,406
- Top public schools: Destiny School (grade A), Tonto Basin Elementary School (grade A minus), Pine Strawberry Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Charles School (grade unavailable), Payson Community Christian School (grade unavailable), Peridot Lutheran Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Globe (grade B minus), Claypool (grade B minus), Miami (grade B minus)

#13. Apache County, Arizona

- Population: 66,473
- Median home value: $57,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $565 (19% own)
- Median household income: $34,788
- Top public schools: Alpine Elementary School (grade A), St. Johns Middle School (grade A minus), Coronado Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Michael Indian School (grade B), Immanuel Mission School (grade B+), Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: St. Johns (grade B+), Springerville (grade B+), Eagar (grade B)

#12. La Paz County, Arizona

- Population: 16,845
- Median home value: $104,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $701 (28% own)
- Median household income: $39,732
- Top public schools: Bouse Elementary School (grade A minus), Blake Primary School (grade B+), Parker High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Parker (grade B), Quartzsite (grade C+), Ehrenberg (grade C minus)
- Top places to live: grade C+

#11. Yavapai County, Arizona

- Population: 233,789
- Median home value: $295,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,030 (28% own)
- Median household income: $56,170
- Top public schools: BASIS Prescott (grade A+), Tri-City College Prep (grade A), Skyview School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Verde Valley School (grade A+), The Orme School (grade A+), Trinity Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Sedona (grade B+), Prescott (grade B), Williamson (grade B)

#10. Navajo County, Arizona

- Population: 106,609
- Median home value: $145,700 (71% own)
- Median rent: $725 (29% own)
- Median household income: $46,126
- Top public schools: Joseph City Elementary School (grade A minus), Joseph City Junior High School (grade A minus), Taylor Intermediate School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: East Fork Lutheran Grade School (grade unavailable), St. Anthony School (grade unavailable), Mountain Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Show Low (grade B+), Taylor (grade B+), Holbrook (grade B)

#9. Yuma County, Arizona

- Population: 202,944
- Median home value: $148,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $903 (32% own)
- Median household income: $52,563
- Top public schools: Desert View Academy (grade A), AmeriSchools Academy - Yuma North Campus (grade A minus), Gowan Science Academy (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Yuma Catholic High School (grade A minus), Yuma Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Francis of Assisi School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Yuma (grade B minus), Fortuna Foothills (grade B minus), Somerton (grade C)

#8. Pinal County, Arizona

- Population: 420,625
- Median home value: $218,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,143 (22% own)
- Median household income: $65,488
- Top public schools: Mary C. O'Brien Elementary School (grade A+), Legacy Traditional School - Queen Creek (grade A+), Legacy Traditional School - Maricopa (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 to live: Maricopa (grade B), San Tan Valley (grade B), Apache Junction (grade B)

#7. Santa Cruz County, Arizona

- Population: 47,463
- Median home value: $165,500 (67% own)
- Median rent: $667 (33% own)
- Median household income: $45,089
- Top public schools: Mexicayotl Academy (grade A), Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary School (grade B+), Little Red Schoolhouse (grade B)
- Top private schools: Lourdes Catholic School (grade B+), Sacred Heart Catholic School (grade unavailable), Sonshine Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Rio Rico (grade C+), Nogales (grade C+), Tubac (grade B)

#6. Coconino County, Arizona

- Population: 144,942
- Median home value: $320,400 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,302 (40% own)
- Median household income: $61,888
- Top public schools: BASIS Flagstaff (grade A+), Haven Montessori Charter School (grade A+), Northland Preparatory Academy (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 to live: Flagstaff (grade B+), Kachina Village (grade B+), Page (grade B minus)

#5. Graham County, Arizona

- Population: 38,145
- Median home value: $150,400 (71% own)
- Median rent: $788 (29% own)
- Median household income: $57,105
- Top public schools: Discovery Plus Academy (grade A minus), Safford High School (grade B+), Thatcher High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Safford Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Palomita Children's Center (grade unavailable), APACHE BAPTIST ACADEMY (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Thatcher (grade B+), Safford (grade B), Pima (grade B minus)

#4. Pima County, Arizona

- Population: 1,035,063
- Median home value: $217,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $976 (36% own)
- Median household income: $59,215
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), BASIS Oro Valley (grade A+), University High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (grade A)
- Top places to live: Highland Vista Cinco Via (grade A+), Mitmann (grade A+), Catalina Foothills (grade A+)

#3. Cochise County, Arizona

- Population: 125,092
- Median home value: $159,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $841 (30% own)
- Median household income: $55,077
- Top public schools: Colonel Smith Middle School (grade A), General Myer Elementary School (grade A), Leman Academy of Excellence Sierra Vista (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Veritas Christian Community School (grade A minus), Loretto Catholic School (grade unavailable), First Baptist Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sierra Vista (grade A minus), Benson (grade B+), Bisbee (grade B)

#2. Maricopa County, Arizona

- Population: 4,367,186
- Median home value: $304,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,275 (36% own)
- Median household income: $72,944
- Top public schools: BASIS Scottsdale (grade A+), BASIS Phoenix (grade A+), BASIS Peoria (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Phoenix Country Day School (grade A+), Brophy College Preparatory (grade A+), Rancho Solano Preparatory School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Ahwatukee Foothills (grade A+), Chandler (grade A), Gilbert (grade A)

#1. Greenlee County, Arizona

- Population: 9,542
- Median home value: $92,600 (54% own)
- Median rent: $513 (46% own)
- Median household income: $67,723
- Top public schools: Fairbanks Middle School (grade B+), Metcalf Elementary School (grade B+), Morenci High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Clifton (grade A), Duncan (grade B), York (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade A minus

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