Arizona is famous for its spectacular sunset alongside its stunning landscape. The Grand Canyon state houses 22 national parks and monuments attracting millions of visitors worldwide.
Constantly rated as one of the fastest growing states in the country, Arizona keeps attracting more people as a result of its low crime rate, affordable homes, and booming job market among several other things.
Arizonians are never worried about hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes, and the state has one of the lowest average rainfalls in the United States.
If you're considering moving to Arizona, we created this guide just for you. This guide contains all the key things you need to know about Arizona before making up your mind about moving to the Grand Canyon state.
In this guide, we'll show you:
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Top 10 Reasons To Move To Arizona
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Pros and cons of moving to Arizona
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The best places to live in Arizona
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The cost of living in Arizona
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A summary of the job market in Arizona
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How much you'll likely pay in taxes in Arizona
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Arizona Most Know For
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Schools in Arizona
Make the Most of All the Information You Need to Know About Moving to Arizona
Here's a quick summary of what we're going to cover in this Arizona state guide:
Let's get you up to speed!
Top 10 Reasons To Move To Arizona
Here are key reasons why moving to Arizona could be the right choice.
- Low costs of living
- Sunny climate
- Arizona is pet-friendly
- Beautiful scenery and affordable homes
- Growing job market
- Its home to the Grand Canyon
- Exciting outdoor activities
- It's a sports fan haven
- It's a great place for retirement
- Its a tax friendly state
Pros and Cons of Living in Arizona
The pros and cons of living in the state isn't exactly the same for everyone. What seem to be pros for some will be cons for others. Here are the key pros and cons of moving to Arizona:
| Pros of living in Arizona | Cons of living Arizona |
|---|---|
| Great weather | Gas prices are high here |
| Affordable housing | Summer heat is fierce |
| Low cost of living | Transportation and healthcare are expensive |
| Driving is easier | Long stretches of desert |
| Vibrant and diverse cultures | Insects and bugs are everywhere |
| Amazing outdoors | Incomes are relatively low here |
| Enjoy pool parties all year round | Be ready for Dust Storms (Haboobs) |
| Enjoy all types of sports | Public schools aren't so amazing |
| The job market is amazing | Economy is too dependent on real estate and construction |
| Arizona is amazing for road trips | Many sparsely populated areas |
| Great for camping, hiking, biking, and off-road tours | Presence of hard water |
| High crime rates |
What Are the Best Places to Live in Arizona?
If you're considering moving to Arizona, living in the best places in the state should be among your top priority. So, we've compiled relevant data about the ten best places to live in Arizona to help you get started.
| Place | Population | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise Valley | 14,215 | $1,505,300 | 1.4% |
| Gilbert | 237,484 | $310,400 | 4.4% |
| Scottsdale | 246,026 | $455,900 | 3.7% |
| Oro Valley | 43,815 | $297,500 | 5.7% |
| Sahuarita | 28,949 | $200,700 | 3.7% |
| Chandler | 248,631 | $285,000 | 4.1% |
| Marana | 43,606 | $242,300 | 4.3% |
| Thatcher | 5,030 | $149,400 | 3.1% |
| Peoria | 164,572 | $248,700 | 5.5% |
| Prescott | 42,068 | $328,000 | 7.1% |
What's the Cost of Living in Arizona?
The cost of living in Arizona is fairly competitive compared to other states across the country. Otherwise known for its low cost of living which is now rising gradually as many more people flock to the state.
If you're considering moving to Arizona, here's the average cost of living in the state using a national average of 100:
- The average cost of grocery in Arizona is rated 96.1%.
- The average cost of healthcare in Arizona is 95.2%.
- The average cost of housing in Arizona is rated 107.8%.
- The average cost of utilities is rated 102.7%.
- The average cost of transportation is 107%.
- The average cost of miscellaneous is 95.8.
Overall, the cost of living in Arizona is rated 102%, while the U.S. average is 100. This means the cost of living in Arizona is slightly higher than the U.S. average. Housing is considered the biggest factor in the cost of living index, below is key data about Arizona's rental and real estate market.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent A Home in Arizona?
Renting a home can be a great option if you're moving to Arizona. In fact, about 30.4% of people living in Arizona are renters. Similar to several other states across the country, all types of homes are available for rent in Arizona. However, only about 2.5 apartments and houses are open for rent in Arizona.
Here's a simple breakdown of the state's real estate market:
- The average rental cost in Arizona is $1,381. The U.S. average is $1,470
- Arizona Studio Apartment is $646. The U.S. average is $821
- Arizona 1 Bedroom is $783. The U.S. average is $930
- Arizona 2 Bedroom is $978. The U.S. average is $1,148
- Arizona 3 Bedroom is $1,411. The U.S. average is $1,537
- Arizona 4 Bedroom is $ $1,702. The U.S. average is $1791
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START MY QUOTEAre Homes Affordable in Arizona?
If you're moving to Arizona, buying a home in the state is a great idea. However, to help you make the right decision, we collected the most important data about Arizona's real estate market to help you get started:
- The median home value in Arizona is $277,574
- Arizona home values have increased by 7.5% over the past year
- The median list price per square foot in Arizona is $166
- The median price of homes currently listed in Arizona is $299,900
- The median price of homes that sold in Arizona is $265,800
- The median rent price in Arizona is $1,500
- Arizona 0.6 homes are foreclosed (per 10,000). The U.S. average is 1.2
- Delinquent mortgages in Arizona is 0.7%. The U.S. average is 1.1%
This housing market information gives you a crystal-clear picture of the state real estate market if you're moving to Arizona.
How Is The Job Market In Arizona?
We've compiled key information about the job market in Arizona including the biggest employers, top industries, top career options, and the average amount you're most likely to earn if you're moving to Arizona
Here's a simple summary of Arizona's job market:
- The unemployment rate in Arizona is 4.7%. The U.S. average is 3.6%
- Arizona's recent job growth is 2.86%. The US job growth is 1.59%
- Future job growth in Arizona is predicted at 41.79%. The U.S. is 33.51%
- About 5.9% of people in Arizona work from home
- Arizona average one-way commute time is 25.1 minutes. U.S. is 26.4 minutes
Top Industries in Arizona
These are the largest industries in the state of Arizona:
- Service Industry
- Manufacturing Industry
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Mining industry
- Finance and insurance
- Healthcare and Social Assistance
- Transportation and Warehousing
- Information Technology
Top Career Options
If you're considering changing your career after moving to Arizona, we've compiled a list of the leading industries in the state to help you make an informed decision. Here they are:
- Miner
- Rod Buster
- Operations Analyst
- Roofer
- Cement Mason
- Hvac Technician
- Helper
- Interpreter And Translator
- Electrician
- Construction Worker
Who Are the Biggest Employers in Arizona?
These companies are rated as the biggest employers in Arizona and they cut across various sectors of the state economy. If you're moving to Arizona, knowing who the biggest employers are can help you put the right foot forward. Here they are:
- PetSmart
- Banner Health
- Circle K
- ON Semiconductor
- Freeport-McMoRan
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Amkor Technology
- The University of Arizona
- Apollo Education Group
- Knight Transportation
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START MY QUOTEHow Much Will You Likely Earn If You Get A Job in Arizona?
While getting a job in Arizona is fairly easy, what's the average amount you're mostly likely to earn in the state? Let's find out.
- The median household income of Arizonians is $56,213
- The average household income of Arizonians is $77,221
- Arizonians Per Capita Income is $29,265
- Arizona has 5.3% High Income Households making over $200,000 per year
Will You Be Paying More Taxes or Less If You Move to Arizona?
Here's a simple breakdown of taxes in Arizona using data collated from SmartAsset:
- Arizona income tax is 2.59% to 4.50%
- Arizona sales tax is 5.60% -11.20%
- The average effective rate of Arizona property tax is 0.72%
- Arizona gas tax is 19 cents per gallon of gasoline,
- Arizona taxes 27 cents per gallon of diesel (19 cents for light or exempt cars)
What Is Arizona Most Known For?
Arizona is known for many things. While its practically impossible to list all, we've compiled the key things the state is mostly known for. Here they are:
- The Grand Canyon National Park
- Hoover Dam
- Constant sunshine
- Desert Botanical Garden
- Meteor Crater
- Monument Valley
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Saguaro National Park
- Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the U.S.
- Oak Creek Canyon
What are the Best Schools and Universities in Arizona?
These are the best schools in Arizona including elementary, middle, high, colleges and universities.
Best elementary schools in Arizona
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Alhambra Traditional School
Alhambra Elementary District, Public, K-8 | 710 students -
Cherokee Elementary School, Scottsdale Unified District, Public, PK-5 | 636 students
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Cheyenne Traditional Elementary School, Scottsdale Unified District, Public, PK-8 | 928 students
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Cochise Elementary School
Scottsdale Unified District, Public, PK-5 | 576 students -
Desert Canyon Elementary School
Scottsdale Unified District, Public, PK-5 | 462 students
Best Middle Schools in Arizona
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Fort Thomas High School
Fort Thomas Unified District, Public, 7-12 | 226 students -
Alhambra Traditional School
Alhambra Elementary District, Public, K-8 | 710 students -
Cheyenne Traditional Elementary School
Scottsdale Unified District, Public, PK-8 | 928 students -
Milestones Charter School
Milestones Charter School, Charter, K-8 | 248 students -
Vista Del Sur Traditional School
Laveen Elementary District, Public, PK-8 | 801 students
Best high school in Arizona
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Grand Canyon High School
Grand Canyon Unified District, Public, 9-12 | 69 students -
Fort Thomas High School
Fort Thomas Unified District, Public, 7-12 | 226 students -
Hamilton High School
Chandler Unified District, Public, 9-12 | 3788 students -
University High School
Tucson Unified District, Public, 8-12 | 1100 students -
Bagdad High School
Bagdad Unified District, Public, 6-12 | 202 students
Best Colleges and Universities in Arizona
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Arizona State University - Tempe
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University of Arizona
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Arizona Christian University
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Grand Canyon University
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Northern Arizona University
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