Moving to Phoenix, AZ in 2023? Comprehensive Relocation Guide

This is a complete guide for Moving to Phoenix, AZ.
Get all the information you need to know about moving to Phoenix, AZ.

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.

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moving to phoenix

Quick Facts to know about Phoenix, AZ

Learn some facts about Phoenix, AZ before moving to the city to help you decide if it's the right place for you.

What's the Population of Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix is home to 1,703,078 people, making it the 5th most populated city in the United States. It is the largest city and capital of the state of Arizona. Here's a simple summary of Phoenix population:

  • The median age of Phoenix residents is 33.5
  • Residents average 32.9 years for males, and 34.2 years for females.
  • For every 100 females in Phoenix, there are 99.2 males in the city
  • Phoenix has a population density of 3,290 people per square mile
  • Phoenix is the 10th most populated metro area in the U.S.

How Fast Can You Commute in Phoenix, AZ?

Longer commute time can cause high blood pressure, increased irritability, depression, and susceptibility to heart attack. Thankfully, commuting in Phoenix, AZ is faster than the national average.

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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

Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Phoenix, AZ, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

How Is the Weather Like in Phoenix?

Phoenix is a sunny city! The city experiences 299 sunny days per year. The national average is 205 sunny days.

Here's a summary of the weather in Phoenix using data from Best Places and Weather Spark:

  • On average, Phoenix gets 9 inches of rain per year. The U.S. average is 38 inches
  • Phoenix temperature often varies from 45℉ to 107℉ over the course of the year
  • Phoenix temperature often varies from 45℉ to 107℉ over the course of the year
  • The best times of year to visit Phoenix for hot-weather events are from late May to early July and from late August to early October.
moving to phoenix

Top 10 Reasons To Move To Phoenix, AZ

For the fourth year in a row, more people are moving to Phoenix, AZ more than any other city in the United States. If you're wondering why, here 10 reasons for moving to Phoenix, AZ:

  • 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
pros and cons of phoenix

Pros & Cons of Living in Phoenix, AZ

Similar to living in any other city, living in Phoenix has some upsides and downsides. Understanding both can help you make the right decision about moving to Phoenix or not.

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

The pros The cons
The city has the best Mexican food north of TijuanaYou need a car to get around
Phoenix Is An Entrepreneur's Dream CityHigh crime rates
It's always sunny in phoenix
Phoenix Is Coyote Central
Phoenix Is A Cultural Center
Phoenix has a thriving tech scene.
The Mexican food will blow your mind.
Phoenix has impressive museums.
Don't skip the Grand Canyon.

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in Phoenix, AZ.

hosing market of phoenix

How is the housing market of Phoenix?

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
cost of living of phoenix

Cost of Living in Phoenix, Arizona

The cost of living in Phoenix, AZ is 103.7 according to Best Places. The cost of living in Phoenix, AZ is slightly higher than the U.S. average of 100.

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%
places to live in phoenix

10 Best Neighborhoods in Phoenix, AZ

We've collated data about the best neighborhoods to live in Phoenix, AZ. Here are the 10 best neighborhoods to live in the city using data from Home Snacks:

Neighborhoods Place Population Median Home Value Median Income
Desert View50,657$358,674$101,587
Ahwatukee Foothills79,838$298,053$95,258
North Gateway17,226$260,769$92,782
Paradise Valley178,412$252,702$252,702
Deer Valley170,028$167,384$62,353
New Village5,653$172,650$96,497
Camelback East144,021$247,059$56,425
Encanto54,597$186,183$47,479
Laveen55,112$178,000$68,008
North Mountain169,088$138,865$50,524
things to do in phoenix

What Are the Best Things to Do in Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix is a lively city with lots of exciting outdoor spots and activities to enjoy. If you're mulling over moving to Phoenix, AZ here are the best things you're more likely to do in the city:

  • Explore the Camelback Mountain

    Just a 20-minute drive away from downtown Phoenix, Camelback Mountain is a popular recreation destination for hiking and rock climbing. The mountain got its name from its shape, which resembles the hump and head of a kneeling camel. Two difficult trails ascend 1,420 feet to a summit, from where you will get 360-degree views of the surrounding city.

  • Visit the Orpheum Theater

    The 1364-seat Orpheum Theater hosts concerts, Broadway musicals, and performances. Originally used for vaudeville acts as part of the nationwide Orpheum Circuit, the theater was opened in 1029 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Ride the breathtaking Castles N' Coasters

    A family amusement park and center in Phoenix spread over 10 acres, Castles N' Coasters has four outdoor 18-hole miniature golf courses, several rides, and an indoor video game arcade. The entertainment options also include go-kart track, bumper cars, bumper boats, 2 roller coasters, thrill rides including Magic Carpet, Sea Dragon, Free Fall, and SkyDiver drop rides, and a log flume called Splashdown.

  • Tour the Arizona Museum of Natural History

    The only natural history museum in the greater Phoenix area, the 80,000 square-foot Arizona Museum of Natural History offers a trip to the Southwest's prehistoric and more recent past. The museum has 60,000 objects, 10,000 historic photos, and a range of exhibits and activities that cover archaeology, paleontology, geology, art, and other disciplines on display.

  • Visit the Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park

    At the center of the modern-day Phoenix, Pueblo Grande Ruin and Irrigation Sites are pre-Columbian archaeological sites and ruins that are preserved to raise public awareness about Native American people and inhabitants of the Southwest. The 1,500-year-old sites have a canal system, ballcourts, and a platform mound.

  • Tour the Arizona Science Center

    Arizona Science Center is a science museum with over 350 permanent hands-on exhibits. The museum with an annual footfall of 400,000 also hosts demonstrations and shows for visitors of all ages.

  • Take your kids to the Children's Museum of Phoenix

    Do not miss the Children's Museum of Phoenix, which boasts of more than 300 play experiences across three floors. The range of exhibits focusing on children up to 10 years old includes a miniature market, a noodle forest, a child-sized cafe, and a fort-building area, among other activities.

  • Tour the Goldfield Ghost Town

    A reconstructed 1890s gold-mining town, the Goldfield Ghost Town has interesting exhibits on the history of the area, which include the Lost Dutchman gold mine; perhaps the most famous mine in the country. The tour includes horseback and carriage riding and there are also many gift shops and restaurants in the town.

  • Visit the Phoenix Zoo

    The largest privately-owned zoo in the US, Phoenix Zoo is spread over 125 acres and has over 1,400 animals on display. There is also a 2.5 walking trail divided into 4 themes - the Arizona Trail, the Africa Trail, the Tropics Trail, and the Children's Trail - where the flora and fauna of each region are displayed.

  • Explore the Phoenix Art Museum

    The 285,000 square feet visual art museum is the largest in the southwest US displays international exhibitions alongside its comprehensive collection of more than 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The museum also hosts festivals, live performances, independent films, and educational programs year-round.

  • Explore the Tovrea Castle

    A historic structure and landmark of Phoenix, Tovrea Castle is built with pinewood and has a strong resemblance to a traditional wedding cake. The castle has visible influences of European architecture including parapets surrounding the roofline of its three tiers.

  • Visit the Papago Park

    A 1,200-acre desert park, Papago Park is notable for its many distinctive geological formations and its wide variety of typical desert plants, including the giant saguaro cactus. A hiking and trailing destination with many cycle paths, the park also has baseball and softball fields. The Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo are situated in Papago Park. In addition, there are also golf courses, many small lakes, and Hunt's Tomb.

  • See the Hole-in-the-Rock

    A natural rock formation in Papago Park first formed some 6-15 million years ago from the accumulation of materials eroding from a Precambrian granite is worth visiting for its royal charm. There is an open, shelter-like chamber in the face of the formation from which it got its name 'Hole in the Rock'. There is another hole in the "ceiling" of the chamber.

  • Tour the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)

    The world's largest museum dedicated to musical instruments, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) has 15,000 musical instruments from 200 countries on display. The two-floor and 200,000 square feet museum also has a 299-seat theater for concerts.

how safe is phoenix

How Safe Is Phoenix, AZ?

Crime rates are often on the radar of anyone mulling over moving to a new city. Phoenix, AZ has a crime rate of 42 per 1000 residents.

The city's crime rates are ranked among the highest in the entire country, according to Neighborhood Scout. But over 87% of the communities in the state of Arizona have lower crime rates than Phoenix, AZ.

If you move here, your chances of becoming a victim of either property or violent crime is 1 in 24. Using data from Area Vibes, here are the crime stats of Phoenix, AZ:

  • Crime rates in Phoenix, AZ are 64% higher than the U.S. average
  • Violent crime rates in Phoenix are 92% higher than the U.S. average
  • Phoenix is safer than 7% of the cities across the United States
  • The year over year crime in Phoenix has dropped by 3%

Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

schools in phoenix

What Are the Top Schools in the Phoenix Area AZ?

Here are the top 5 colleges schools in Phoenix, AZ as ranked by Great Schools from elementary to universities and colleges.

Top 5 Public Middle Schools in Phoenix, AZ

  • Alhambra Traditional School
    Alhambra Elementary District,Public, K-8 | 710 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

  • Adams Traditional Academy
    Choice Academies Inc.,Charter, K-9 | 646 students

  • Madison Traditional Academy
    Madison Elementary District, Public, K-8 | 804 students

Top 5 Public Elementary Schools in Phoenix, AZ

  • Alhambra Traditional School
    Alhambra Elementary District, Public, K-8 | 710 students

  • Desert Trails Elementary School
    Paradise Valley Unified District, Public, PK-6 | 576 students

  • Kyrene de la Sierra School
    Kyrene Elementary School District, Public, PK-5 | 547 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 Public High Schools in Phoenix

  • Phoenix Union Bioscience High School
    Phoenix Union High School District, Public, 9-12 | 345 students

  • BASIS Phoenix
    Basis School Inc., Charter, 6-12 | 787 students

  • Arizona School for the Arts
    Arizona School For The Arts, Charter, 5-12 | 840 students

  • Horizon Honors Secondary School
    Horizon Community Learning Center Inc., Charter, K-12 | 670 students

  • Great Hearts Academies - Veritas Prep
    Veritas Preparatory Academy, Charter, 6-12 | 712 students

Top Colleges and Universities in Phoenix

  • Arizona State University

  • Grand Canyon University

  • University of Advancing Technology

  • Arizona Christian University

  • Bryan University

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