Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012)

This article, the fifteenth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Arizona based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Arizona, sixteen are either edge cities, suburbs, or outer exurbs of Phoenix, and four are suburbs or outer exurbs of Tucson. By county, thirteen of the best places to live in Arizona are located in or partially in Maricopa County, three in Pima County, two in or partially in Coconino County, one in Cochise County, three partially in Yavapai County, and one partially in Pinal County.

After reading "Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in Arizona (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."

This article will be updated as new data becomes available.

1. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Paradise Valley, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 14,378

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $141,535
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 15.98

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 13 miles SW
Tucson, AZ: 120 miles SSE

2. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Carefree, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 3,814

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $111,018
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 59.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 12.69*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 34 miles SSW
Tucson, AZ: 143 miles SSE

3. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Oro Valley, AZ (Pima County)

Population: 42,331

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $77,519
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 48.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.46

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 112 miles NW
Tucson, AZ: 15 miles S

4. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Scottsdale, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 237,834

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $72,731
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 50.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.87

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 12 miles WSW
Tucson, AZ: 118 miles SE

5. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Cave Creek, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 5,194

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $93,770
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 52.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 12.69*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 32 miles S
Tucson, AZ: 144 miles SSE

6. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Sahuarita, AZ (Pima County)

Population: 19,809

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $83,936
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 33.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.69

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 133 miles NW
Tucson, AZ: 23 miles N

7. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Gilbert, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 222,092

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $85,204
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 37.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.32

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 22 miles WNW
Tucson, AZ: 105 miles SSE

8. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Litchfield Park, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 4,943

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $103,983
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 42.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 12.69*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 21 miles E
Tucson, AZ: 136 miles SE

9. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Chandler, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 249,515

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $75,389
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 38.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 7.26

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 22 miles NW
Tucson, AZ: 99 miles SSE

10. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Marana, AZ (Pima County)

Population: 32,070

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $73,547
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 34.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.05

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 96 miles NW
Tucson, AZ: 23 miles SE

11. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Sedona, AZ (Coconino and Yavapai)

Population: 11,405

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $48,496
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 44.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.87

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 117 miles S
Tucson, AZ: 232 miles SSE

12. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Fountain Hills, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 24,795

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $81,321
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 41.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 12.69*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 33 miles SW
Tucson, AZ: 135 miles SSE

13. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Flagstaff, AZ (Coconino County)

Population: 59,280

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $48,265
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 39.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.44

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 147 miles S
Tucson, AZ: 262 miles S

14. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Sierra Vista, AZ (Cochise County)

Population: 42,384

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $62,472
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 27.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.41

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 188 miles NW
Tucson, AZ: 74 miles NW

15. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Surprise, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 87,488

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $64,702
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 25.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.68

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 20 miles SE
Tucson, AZ: 137 miles SE

16. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Queen Creek, AZ (Maricopa and Pinal Counties)

Population: 20,584

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $88,077
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 25.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 12.69*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 38 miles NE
Tucson, AZ: 95 miles SE

17. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Prescott, AZ (Yavapai County)

Population: 41,730

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $47,075
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 33.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.79

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 101 miles S
Tucson, AZ: 216 miles SSE

18. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Peoria, AZ (Maricopa and Yavapai Counties)

Population: 162,809

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $69,947
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 25.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 9.55

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 14 miles SE
Tucson, AZ: 130 miles SE

19. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Tempe, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 178,526

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $52,312
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 38.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 12.92

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 12 miles WNW
Tucson, AZ: 112 miles SE

20. Best Places to Live in Arizona (2012) - Goodyear, AZ (Maricopa County)

Population: 53,654

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $80,183
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 28.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 18.36

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Phoenix, AZ: 19 miles E
Tucson, AZ: 134 miles SE

*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from county or contiguous municipality data.

Source(s):

"All Cities in Arizona," City-Data.com
"American Community Survey," U.S. Census Bureau
"American Fact Finder," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports," Federal Bureau of Investigation