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The are three things that probably come to mind when out-of-staters think of Arizona: the Grand Canyon, the Wild West, and the summer heat. There’s so much more to the state than that, however, especially when it comes to offering retirees a great place to live.
The Movoto Real Estate Blog has found the best places in the Copper State for casting off the oppression of working life and enjoying yourself, led by Tucson. The full top 10 ranking of the best places to retire in Arizona looks like this:
1. City of Tucson
2. City of Nogales
3. City of Yuma
4. Town of Prescott Valley
5. City of Scottsdale
6. City of Mesa (tie)
6. Town of Florence (tie)
8. City of Prescott
9. City of Sierra Vista
10. City of Kingman (tie)
10. Town of Sahuarita (tie)
You may notice that there aren’t any really small places on this list, and some believe that such spots are better for retirement. We focused only on places with at least 20,000 population for this list, though tiny towns such as Benson, Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Somerton, Cave Creek, Sedona, and Wickenburg are all great.
Besides population, how did we determine who made the top 10? Let’s take a look.
How We Created This Ranking
First, we made a list of places with a population of at least 20,000, which came out to 32. Then we gathered data from the 2010 U.S. Census, the FBI, the U.S. Weather Service, and business listings in five different criteria:
- Cost of living (the lower the better)
- Crime rate (the lower the better)
- Amenities (libraries, physicians, arts & entertainment, parks, restaurants, shopping, adult education)
- Weather (average summer temperature and air quality score)
- Distance to nearest international airport (the closer the better)
We added parks to amenities this time, because who doesn’t love a good relaxing stroll through a park? Plus, national parks are great places to explore, regardless of age or working status.
Once we had this info, we ranked each place from 1 to 32 in the various categories, with one being the best. Then we averaged each place’s rankings into one Big Deal Score. The lowest score was our top place.
If you want to see where other places ranked, you can check near the bottom of this article for a detailed ranking. For now, though, let’s see how each of our top 10 enjoyed their day in the sun.
1. Tucson
Tucson certainly has a lot to offer retirees. The cost of living was low, ranking fifth for that category, and the crime rank was just as low, ranking seventh. Just in case you get that wanderlust, the nearest airport is only 10 miles from the city’s center.
Of course, what you really get with a big place like this is amenities. Ranking fourth for retiree amenities per capita, this place has it all. It only gets better depending on the time of year. There’s the Tucson Rodeo in the spring, the Folk Festival in May, and the All Souls Procession Weekend in the fall.
2. Nogales
Nogales is all about having fun in the sun without roasting yourself. With a median summer low of 77 degrees, retirees still have to use sunblock, but it’s easier to find some cooling shade.
There are also lots of amenities here, with Nogales ranking seventh for that criterion. There are plenty of food and shopping options for residents and visitors and you can get some seriously authentic Mexican food at Las Vigas Steak Ranch if you’re looking for some local flavor.
The only reasons Nogales wasn’t our top place were the mediocre crime rank (13th) and the low travel ranking (25th). However, if you’re looking to go to another country, this is very much a border city, and Mexico is a very short trip away.
3. Yuma
Currently celebrating its centennial year, Yuma is a very pretty city and celebrates itself with free art festivals, movie festivals, and many more fun events.
While Yuma didn’t fare well in the crime department, ranking 23rd, it did very well for travelers. The nearest international airport is only five miles from the city center, so retirees who want to see the world can do so easily from the No. 1 ranked travel city.
This city also didwell as far as cost of living was concerned, seventh overall. The air quality was also good, so retirees can relax and breathe deep here.There are also plenty of amenities to pick from. Whether you want to hit one of the four library branches to get a good book, or grab a quick slice at the highly rated Ronnie’s Pizza, this place has you covered.
4. Prescott Valley
For those worried about trying to survive in the hot and dry Arizona climate, Prescott Valley is definitely for you. This town ranked No. 1 in weather, with the fourth best air quality and the best temperature ranking for that criterion.
On top of that, the cost of living here was the best we found, meaning that you can enjoy life without dipping too heavily into your savings. Of course, with the small town vibe, you also get a safer environment, with the No. 8 ranked crime rate on our list.
5. Scottsdale
Festivals and fun are a big focus in Scottsdale. One of our bigger cities at 217,385 people, this place is home to one of the best art festivals anywhere, as well as film festivals, fashion shows, and a whole lot of other cultural options. There are also plenty of museums to visit all year round, many with rotating exhibits.
“The West’s most western town” also had the No 1 ranking for amenities, meaning that if you want to buy something or find something to do, you probably can here. Adventurers will also be pleased to see that the nearest airport is a mere 13 miles away.
Scottsdale was the most expensive place on our entire list. However, given that you’re getting the most amenities per capita, the fifth best travel, and a whole lot fun perks, that makes sense. If you can afford it, it’s definitely worth it.
6. Mesa (tie)
Now we come to the first tie on our list. Sharing the No. 6 spot is Mesa, the second most populated city we looked at with 439,041 locals.
High population doesn’t mean this place is impossible to afford, however. Mesa ranked 10th for cost of living and has a fair amount of amenities as well. There’s always something to do, and there are plenty of museums and attractions that call this place home. Plus, beginning in 2015, locals can watch the Oakland A’s during spring training at Hohokam Stadium, former winter home of the Cubs.
6. Florence (tie)
The draw of this small town has to do mostly with your wallet, considering it will neither be emptied by expenses, nor likely stolen. The crime ranking here was the best on our list, with only 869 crimes per 100,000 people. The weather here is also good, meaning you don’t have to sweat over crime, costs, or the heat.
However, a small town means fewer amenities to choose from, and the second-to-last retiree amenities per capita ranking really dragged down Florence’s overall score. Locals do rate Mount Athos Restaurant and Cafe very highly as one of the nicer places to eat in town, though. The nearest international airport is also 59 miles away, ranking 24th on our list and making a spur of the moment vacation a little more difficult. Road trip, anyone?
8. Prescott
Not to be confused with the higher ranking Prescott Valley, this smaller city is a great exception to the usual arid Arizona weather. This place tied for best weather on our list, and had the fourth best air quality as well. We also found the second highest number of amenities per capita here.
Travel here is a mite difficult with the nearest international airport 104 miles away, so short local flights are an inevitable and often expensive reality. With weather this spectacular, though, who would want to leave?
9. Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista had the sixth best weather, the 10th best retiree amenities per capita, and a pretty decent cost of living. On top of that, it’s the hummingbird capital of the U.S., so anyone who has taken up birdwatching will find themselves surrounded by those and other species not usually found in other parts of Arizona.
The nearest airport is 68 miles away, so that wanderlust will just have to wait for a connecting flight. However, this place is full of fun things to do. During the warmer months, locals can visit the Sierra Vista Aquatic Center, also known as The Cove, and enjoy one of the many lap pools, therapy spas, or even a wave pool.
10. Kingman (tie)
We had another tie, this time at No. 10. Kingman has 28,068 residents, which might make you wonder if there are very many retiree activities. You’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty. In fact, this place ranked fourth for that criterion.
One of the main draws to this place is the famous Route 66. This year, Kingman is home to the International Route 66 Festival, a four-day event with a car show, parade, and more. The Roadrunner Cafe is just off of that historic road, and still offers delicious breakfasts to travelers and locals alike.
If you’re looking to travel, however, you’ll likely have to road trip along that route considering the nearest international airport is 102 miles away.
10. Sahuarita (tie)
Sahuarita had the No. 7 travel ranking as well as the No. 7 weather ranking, so no matter if you choose to stay and enjoy the sun or go out in search of cooler destinations, it won’t be a problem.
Sahuarita is also very safe, with the crime rate of only 1,087 crimes per 100,000 people, good enough for fourth place in that criterion. For fun, there are plenty of festivals and local attractions, including the Fiesta Sahuarita every year.
It’s an expensive place to call home, mostly because of the high standard of life this place boasts, which brought the cost of living ranking to 24th overall. The retiree amenities per capita were the lowest we found, as well.
Places That Still Need Some Enriching
Every catus has its barbs, and Arizona had a few amid these wonderful retiree havens. El Mirage ranked at the bottom, with poor scores for amenities and weather, which averages 95 degrees in the summer. Marana wasn’t far behind due to few retiree amenities per capita and a high crime rank. Avondale, while beautiful, also ranked in our bottom three because of high crime rate and very hot summer temps.
Those places aside, Arizona has a lot to offer. For those who seek some adventure or just want to relax by the pool, this state can put a little extra shine on those golden years.
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