That's why these cities in Arizona were ranked among the best

In Arizona and the greater Phoenix area, the rapid growth of the last decade continues.

A recent study found that many people from California, Texas, Colorado and other countries are moving to the Grand Canyon State.

If you’re considering a move to Arizona or a move within the state, there’s a city you can call home – whether you’re looking for the best schools, the best real estate prices, or overall happiness.

From the Phoenix metropolitan area to Greenlee County, here’s everything you need to know about all the cities and towns that will be great (or not so great) places to live in 2024.

Chandler is one of the best places for families in the USA

Chandler was ranked as one of the best places for families to live in the United States in a Forbes study.

Chandler ranked 37th on the media organization’s third annual list. The list, released in July, gave the honor to 50 cities across the country. A great place to live is one that supports a family in the present and then continues to serve them “for the long haul.”

Consider this Arizona city if you’re relocating. It was named one of the most livable places in the USA

Gilbert was named the best city in Arizona to raise a family

According to a study by Wallethub that analyzed 45 metrics such as housing costs, quality of schools and healthcare systems, and opportunities for family fun, Gilbert ranked sixth among more than 180 cities in which to raise a family.

Gilbert, which had the highest percentage of families with young children, received an overall score of 64.02, ranking fifth in socioeconomic factors and 12th in affordability. The city ranked 20th in health and safety and 43rd in education and child care.

Gilbert received the lowest rating for family fun, coming in at number 79. According to Wallethub, the city had the second fewest playgrounds per capita. On its website, the city lists 22 parks, including the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch.

Although Gilbert has been in the news recently for a wave of youth violence, the city ranked fourth in the city’s per capita violent crime rating.

Some cities in Arizona score poorly in terms of quality of life, according to US News

According to an analysis by US News and World Reports, cities in Arizona did not rank high on a recent list of the most livable cities in the United States.

For its annual ranking of the best places to live, US News evaluates the quality of life in 150 major cities and ranks them from best to worst places to live. In this year’s list, Phoenix and Tucson both narrowly made it into the top half, between cities like Columbus, Indianapolis and Anchorage.

Although both Arizona cities scored 6.3 out of 10, Tucson was four spots ahead of Phoenix on the list, likely because the southern Arizona city scored higher in the quality of life and value for money categories.

The poor performance of both cities on the list also reflects Arizona’s low ranking in another U.S. News ranking of America’s best states.

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Arizona ranks last on the list of best states

Arizona ranked 32nd in U.S. News’s best states ranking, up about five spots from the previous year but still in the bottom half of the list.

The Grand Canyon State performed best in the economy category, coming in 10th, likely due to the state’s population and business growth.

Arizona also ranked 18th in infrastructure, 20th in healthcare, 30th in financial stability, crime and corrections, 34th in opportunity, 42nd in natural environment and 44th in education.

Bisbee was named one of the most livable cities

Bisbee, a historic copper mining town in the Mule Mountains about 10 miles north of the Mexican border, was named one of the 50 best places to live in the U.S. by financial magazine Money. It was the only Arizona city to make this year’s list.

The southern Arizona city of just under 5,000 residents covers about five square miles, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. In addition, a Cochise County tourism study conducted from 2019 to 2020 found that 62.1% of the county’s visitors went to Bisbee, more than any nearby community.

The magazine, which has been compiling its list of the best places to live for over 30 years, analyzes the state of the job market, average housing costs, poverty rates, the quality of public schools and reader opinion to determine whether a city or town deserves a spot.

2 Arizona Cities Named Best for Renters

According to a recent Forbes study, two cities in Arizona are best for renters due to the cost and availability of rental properties.

Tucson ranked ninth with a score of 79.4 out of 100, Forbes reported. The average monthly rent was $1,650, or about 21.3 percent of the average monthly income. Tucson was “the sixth best city in the availability and amenities category,” according to the study. The study showed that Tucson was the eighth best U.S. city in terms of rental availability.
Gilbert ranked 13th out of the 95 cities Forbes analyzed for its study, scoring 72.55 out of 100. The median monthly rent is $2,491, according to Forbes, which is about 17.4% of the median household income. The study found that the average monthly rent has decreased by $9 in the past year. The study showed that there were 25 rental units available for every 100,000 households.

Scottsdale named happiest city in Arizona

The world is happier than ever since COVID-19, a new report shows

According to Gallup’s Global Emotions Report for 2024, the world is experiencing its highest level of happiness since the COVID-19 pandemic.

without brand – lifestyle

Scottsdale was named the 10th happiest city in the U.S. in a WalletHub ranking of 182 cities based on 29 key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income growth rates and average daily leisure time.

According to WalletHub, Scottsdale ranked fourth in the community and environment category, 27th for emotional and physical well-being, and 170th for income and employment.

“Money can buy happiness to some extent, as a stable income is essential to a person’s physical and mental well-being,” says Cassandra Happe, an analyst at WalletHub. “However, many other factors influence happiness as well, and the happiest cities combine economic security with friendly communities and conditions that promote low depression rates and high life satisfaction.”

These cities in Arizona are growing faster than the Phoenix metropolitan area

A U.S. Census Bureau report released Thursday pointed to strong growth in cities outside the Phoenix metropolitan area, contributing to Arizona’s fast-growing status.

Yuma, a city in southern Arizona bordering California, was one of four cities in the country to surpass the 100,000-person population mark in 2023. According to World Population Review, Yuma is the 13th largest city in Arizona.

In northern Arizona, Prescott Valley also reached an important milestone: it was one of five cities to reach 50,000 residents last year. Prescott Valley is the 23rd largest city in Arizona by population.

This Arizona county was named the most livable county

Greenlee County was named the most livable county in Arizona, according to Niche’s 2024 list of Arizona’s Most Livable Counties.

Greenlee County is in the eastern part of the state and has a population of less than 10,000. Niche said the county’s public schools are highly rated and that median home values and rent are well below the national average.

Former Republic reporter Abigail Beck contributed to this article.