An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Arizona using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 15- Overall Rank: 679
- Population: 50,573
- Median household income: $110,660
- Median home value: $560,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,198 (26% 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), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
Akarawut // Shutterstock
2 / 15- Overall Rank: 2,062
- Population: 267,267
- Median household income: $115,179
- Median home value: $454,300 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,839 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Mesa (grade A+), BASIS Ahwatukee (grade A+), BASIS Chandler (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Arizona Cultural Academy & College Prep (grade A+), Seton Catholic Preparatory (grade A+), Redeemer Christian School (grade A)
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
3 / 15- Overall Rank: 2,330
- Population: 12,672
- Median household income: $221,333
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (95% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (5% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Phoenix (grade A+), BASIS Scottsdale (grade A+), Khalsa Montessori Elementary School at Virginia (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Phoenix Country Day School (grade A+), Rancho Solano Preparatory School (grade A+), Brophy College Preparatory (grade A+)
BAZA Production // Shutterstock
4 / 15- Overall Rank: 2,271
- Population: 2,155
- Median household income: $51,364
- Median home value: $339,489 (11% own)
- Median rent: $1,138 (89% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), BASIS Tucson Primary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock
5 / 15- Overall Rank: 2,065
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
6 / 15- Overall Rank: 2,020
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
RossHelen // Shutterstock
7 / 15- Overall Rank: 1,885
- Population: 1,602
- Median household income: $55,331
- Median home value: $265,000 (21% own)
- Median rent: $1,188 (79% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), BASIS Tucson Primary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
8 / 15- Overall Rank: 1,847
- Population: 1,999
- Median household income: $78,353
- Median home value: $249,581 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,302 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), BASIS Tucson Primary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
Jacek Chabraszewski // Shutterstock
9 / 15- Overall Rank: 1,823
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 15- Overall Rank: 1,795
- Population: 1,647
- Median household income: $73,363
- Median home value: $270,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,144 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), Hermosa Montessori School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
11 / 15- Overall Rank: 1,740
- Population: 2,871
- Median household income: $67,783
- Median home value: $179,596 (59% own)
- Median rent: $955 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), Hermosa Montessori School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 15- Overall Rank: 1,736
- Population: 3,122
- Median household income: $75,866
- Median home value: $245,727 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,302 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), BASIS Tucson Primary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
Laura Beach // Shutterstock
13 / 15- Overall Rank: 1,428
- Population: 2,364
- Median household income: $83,013
- Median home value: $282,592 (47% own)
- Median rent: $1,085 (53% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), BASIS Tucson Primary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock
14 / 15- Overall Rank: 1,369
- Population: 6,888
- Median household income: $85,506
- Median home value: $421,074 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,329 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), BASIS Tucson Primary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock
15 / 15- Overall Rank: 887
- Population: 2,645
- Median household income: $78,332
- Median home value: $251,274 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,519 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: BASIS Tucson North (grade A+), University High School (grade A+), Hermosa Montessori School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Gregory School (grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (grade A), Desert Christian Schools (grade A)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
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