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.
#25. Florence
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 25,961
#24. Buckeye
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 99,844
#23. New River
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 18,365
#22. Avondale
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 90,644
#21. San Tan Valley
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B-
- Population: 105,231
#20. Youngtown
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 6,985
#19. Sun Lakes
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 14,079
#18. Glendale
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 250,193
#17. Citrus Park
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 5,136
#16. Cave Creek
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 5,033
#15. Phoenix
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 1,624,832
#14. Surprise
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 149,519
#13. Carefree
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 3,672
#12. Goodyear
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 102,891
#11. Fountain Hills
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 23,768
#10. Mesa
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 507,478
#9. Anthem
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 22,622
#8. Peoria
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 194,338
#7. Tempe
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 186,419
#6. Queen Creek
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 66,369
#5. Litchfield Park
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 6,871
#4. Chandler
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 278,123
#3. Paradise Valley
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 12,621
#2. Scottsdale
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 242,169
#1. Gilbert
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 271,118