Best places to live in the Phoenix metro area

Written by:
July 8, 2025
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

Best places to live in the Phoenix metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Phoenix metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

You may also like: Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Phoenix by diners
1 / 25
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#25. Florence

- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 25,961

2 / 25
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#24. Buckeye

- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 99,844

3 / 25
FamVeld // Shutterstock

#23. New River

- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 18,365

4 / 25
Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#22. Avondale

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 90,644

5 / 25
BAZA Production // Shutterstock

#21. San Tan Valley

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 105,231

You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Phoenix area by diners
6 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Youngtown

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 6,985

7 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#19. Sun Lakes

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 14,079

8 / 25
F8 studio // Shutterstock

#18. Glendale

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 250,193

9 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#17. Citrus Park

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 5,136

10 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#16. Cave Creek

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 5,033

You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Phoenix metro area
11 / 25
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#15. Phoenix

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 1,624,832

12 / 25
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#14. Surprise

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 149,519

13 / 25
Akarawut // Shutterstock

#13. Carefree

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 3,672

14 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#12. Goodyear

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 102,891

15 / 25
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock

#11. Fountain Hills

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 23,768

You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Phoenix by diners
16 / 25
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock

#10. Mesa

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 507,478

17 / 25
RossHelen // Shutterstock

#9. Anthem

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 22,622

18 / 25
Jacek Chabraszewski // Shutterstock

#8. Peoria

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 194,338

19 / 25
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#7. Tempe

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 186,419

20 / 25
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#6. Queen Creek

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 66,369

You may also like: See how Phoenix ranks in commuting
21 / 25
Josep Suria // Shutterstock

#5. Litchfield Park

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 6,871

22 / 25
oneinchpunch // Shutterstock

#4. Chandler

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 278,123

23 / 25
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#3. Paradise Valley

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 12,621

24 / 25
Laura Beach // Shutterstock

#2. Scottsdale

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 242,169

25 / 25
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock

#1. Gilbert

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 271,118

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Phoenix

Trending Now