Moving to Phoenix, AZ? Comprehensive relocation guide - 2021

If you'd like to live in a sunny city with clear skies and warm temperature almost all year-round, moving to Phoenix will be perfect for you.

Phoenix is the 5th most populated city in the U.S. and it's known for amazing outdoor activities, the desert, and rated among the top golf cities in the U.S. amongst several other attractions.

If you're mulling over moving to Phoenix, AZ this guide is for you. We have all the most important information you need about the city to make the right moving decision.

Let's get started.

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  Population of Phoenix, AZ

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  Top reasons to move to Phoenix, AZ

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  Pros & Cons of living in Phoenix, AZ

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  Housing market in Phoenix, AZ

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  Neighborhoods in Phoenix, AZ

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  Cost of living in Phoenix, AZ

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  Best Things To Do In Phoenix, AZ

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  How Safe is Phoenix, AZ

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  Schools in Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix average one-way commute time is 25.4 minutes. It is slightly less than the US average of 26.4 minutes, according to Best Places. Here's how people in Phoenix commute to work using data from Best Places:

• About 74.6% of Phoenix residents drive their own car alone
• Up to 12.5% of residents in Phoenix carpool with others
• About 5.4% of Phoenix residents work from home
• Up to 3.3% take mass the transit

• Exciting outdoor activities for outdoor enthusiasts

  Hiking, biking, rock climbing; Phoenix has exciting options for every type of outdoor enthusiast. Here are some of the best activities in Phoenix to explore.

  • Morning Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Phoenix
  • Visit Monument Valley
  • Fly over and Hike the Grand Canyon
  • Camping on Grand Canyon's North Rim
  • Kayak the lower Salt River and see Wild Horses
  • Bike through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
  • Backpack the Superstition Wilderness
  • Hike to Havasu Falls

• Great nightlife

  If you think Phoenix is famous for its daytime adventures, you are wrong. The true charm of Phoenix is best viewed after the sunsets. Here's how to make the most of it.

  • Float on and glow on at Tempe Town Lake
  • Sip drinks inside a hidden bar
  • Get familiar with the local arts scene
  • Have dinner in a fancy restaurant with a view

• Phoenix area arts and culture

  Phoenix takes pride in its fabulous arts and culture. Some of the best places in phoenix and nearby areas to explore arts and culture are:

  • Heard Museum
  • Phoenix Art Museum
  • Musical Instrument Museum
  • Arizona Science Center
  • Children's Museum of Phoenix
  • AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park
  • Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park
  • ASU Gammage
  • Valley Youth Theatre
  • Orpheum Theatre

• Phoenix is a golfer's paradise with 200 golf courses

  For avid golfers, there is no place better than Phoenix, which along with its neighboring communities is home to nearly 200 golf courses. From lush Sonoran Desert scenery to the classic green grass and wide fairways located in resorts, remote landscapes, and city-owned courses, there are amazing golfing spots in Greater Phoenix.

• Arizona State offers an award-winning education

  It is not just the topography and climate that makes Arizona a great state but the quality of education is also top-notch. And here are the most of the best education institutions in Arizona are in Phoenix.

• Affordable cost of living

  Living in Phoenix is a lot cheaper than living in many big cities in the US, such as San Francisco, Houston, and Seattle. The homes are cheaper in Phoenix because residents don't need to spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

  The average two-bedroom rent in Phoenix is $958. That's much cheaper than Detroit ($1,087) and far cheaper than San Francisco ($4,189), New York ($3,841), Boston ($3,166), and Los Angeles ($2,556).

  The Median Home Cost in Phoenix is $239,400. In addition, utilities, transportation, and health are also much cheaper here.

• Foodies enjoy flavors from all corners of the world

  The cuisine in Phoenix is greatly influenced by Mexico and the city is the best place to try fresh flour tortillas and smoky carne asada outside Mexico. Once you are here, you should not leave Phoenix without relishing the authentic delicacies, which include:

  • Sonoran Hot Dog
  • Mesquite flour
  • Cheese crisp
  • Chimichanga
  • Navajo tacos
  • Piki bread
  • Posole
  • Tamales
  • Red chile stew

• All the good weather

  Phoenix takes pride in its sunny weather. The city has 300 plus sunny days per year, which makes it a popular destination for snowbirds. The winters are warm and the sunsets are the best in the US.

• Entertainment for the young and young-at-heart

  The landscape and topography of Phoenix and its surrounding areas are perfect to try adventure activities. If you are young or want to feel young-at-heart, you need to try some of the amazing adrenaline rushing activities, such as:

  • Salt River Rafting
  • Stellar Adventures
  • Arizona Falls
  • Epic Escape Game
  • Hole In The Rock
  • Phoenix Ghost Tours

• Phoenix has a unique and vibrant coffee scene

  Often addressed as the 'Coffee Capital of the Southwest', Phoenix has 20 independent coffee shops and kiosks in its 2 square miles downtown. Starbucks alone has 9 stores in the area and more are coming up. In addition, there are 13 restaurants and bakeries with full coffee bars.

  Some of the best coffee shops to explore in greater Phoenix area are:

  • Giant Coffee
  • Peixoto Coffee Roasters
  • Maverick Coffee
  • King Coffee
  • Cartel Coffee Lab
  • Fillmore Coffee
  • Royal Coffee Bar
  • Lola Coffee Bar

Here are the pros and cons of living in Phoenix, AZ:

Median Home Prices in Phoenix, AZ

Moving to Phoenix could mean buying a home in the city. If you're interested in Phoenix real estate market, we've collated the key metrics (using data from Zillow) you'll like to see about the market before making up your mind.

• The median home value in Phoenix is $269,175
• The median list price per square foot in Phoenix is $176
• The median price of homes currently listed in Phoenix is $289,900
• The median price of homes that sold is $254,700
• The median rent price in Phoenix is $1,475
• In Phoenix 0.4 homes are foreclosed (per 10,000). The U.S. value is 1.2
• The percent of delinquent mortgages in Phoenix is 0.6. The U.S. value is 1.1%

Average Rental Prices in Phoenix, AZ

Renting a home after moving to Phoenix, AZ is a great idea. About 40.1% of Phoenix residents are renters. Up to 3.2% of homes and apartments in Phoenix are still open to rent. This means getting a rental home in Phoenix is fairly easy.

Here's a summary of the various average rental prices in Phoenix according to Best Places:

• The average rental price in Phoenix, AZ is $ $1,554. The U.S. average is $1,470
• Studio apartment is $ $793. The U.S. average is $821
• A 1-bedroom apartment is $928. The U.S. average is $930.
• A 2-bedroom apartment is $1147. The U.S. average is $1,148
• A 3-bedroom apartment is $1659. The U.S. average is $1,537
• A 4-bedroom apartment is $ 1,900. The U.S. average is $1,791

An amount that is higher than 100 indicates that the cost of living is higher than the U.S. An amount that is lower than 100 means the cost of living in the city is less expensive than the U.S. average.

What's the Average Salary & Income in Phoenix, AZ?

How much are you likely to earn if you move to Phoenix, AZ and get a job?

We've collated a simple summary of the salary, income and job market of Phoenix, AZ using data from the Census Bureau and Best Places:

• The median household income in Phoenix is $54, 765. The U.S. average is $60,293
• The unemployment rate in Phoenix is 4.2%. The U.S. average is 3.9%
• The Per capita income of Phoenix residents is $27,870. The U.S. average is $32,621
• Persons in poverty in Phoenix are 19.4%. The U.S. average is 11.8%
• Phoenix has seen a job market growth of 3.3% over the last year
• Future job growth over the next 10 years is projected to hit 48.2%