We know why Arizona is one of the best states to retire in America. It has some of the best places to spend your golden years in America.
Arizona’s median age is one of the oldest in the country. Whether you’re looking to join Arizona’s Parrot Heads, love the sun, or want to learn how to Shag, Arizona has you covered.
And HomeSnacks has you covered, too. We’ve created a list of the best places to retire in Arizona for 2024.
To produce this list, we looked at the latest FBI and Census data for 40 cities with 10,000 residents. We looked at important factors like safety, affordability, rent, and how close a place is to an international airport.
We discovered many people come to Arizona as snowbirds and never leave. That’s because the best places to retire in The Grand Canyon State are some of the safest, most affordable places with great amenities. You can hike Camelback Mountain just outside of Phoenix and ski Flagstaff’s black diamonds in the same day.
You’ll be living like retired royalty in the following places.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Arizona For 2024
What’s the best place to retire in Arizona for 2024? The best place to retire in Arizona is Douglas.
Put that RV in park, grab a hot cup of Sanka, and read on as we uncover the best places to retire in Arizona.
Why did Douglas take the top spot? And where are Phoenix and Tucson?
For more Arizona state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Arizona
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arizona
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arizona
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Arizona For 2024
/10
Population: 16,301
Median Income: $41,594
Median Home Price: $148,672
Median Rent: $714
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Douglas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 25,783
Median Income: $74,025
Median Home Price: $358,475
Median Rent: $1,069
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Florence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,278
Median Income: $64,180
Median Home Price: $257,097
Median Rent: $951
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Somerton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 46,054
Median Income: $66,330
Median Home Price: $591,042
Median Rent: $1,085
Distance to Closest Airport: 82 miles
More on Prescott: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,132
Median Income: $50,247
Median Home Price: $408,890
Median Rent: $903
Distance to Closest Airport: 78 miles
More on Camp Verde: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 19,761
Median Income: $36,682
Median Home Price: $205,633
Median Rent: $652
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Nogales: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,120
Median Income: $55,682
Median Home Price: $477,451
Median Rent: $1,100
Distance to Closest Airport: 92 miles
More on Chino Valley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 16,363
Median Income: $60,095
Median Home Price: $432,786
Median Rent: $1,280
Distance to Closest Airport: 68 miles
More on Payson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,314
Median Income: $43,273
Median Home Price: $385,989
Median Rent: $996
Distance to Closest Airport: 218 miles
More on Cottonwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 33,052
Median Income: $56,360
Median Home Price: $265,190
Median Rent: $999
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Kingman: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Grand Canyon State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Arizona to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Grand Canyon State — 435 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 40 places from across the state.
For these 40, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 40, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Douglas, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Arizona.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Arizona Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Arizona goes to Douglas.
The best places to retire in Arizona are Douglas, Florence, Somerton, Prescott, Camp Verde, Nogales, Chino Valley, Payson, Cottonwood, and Kingman.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Flagstaff
- Avondale
- El Mirage
For more Arizona reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Arizona
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas | 16,301 | $41,594 | $148,672 | $714 |
| 2 | Florence | 25,783 | $74,025 | $358,475 | $1,069 |
| 3 | Somerton | 14,278 | $64,180 | $257,097 | $951 |
| 4 | Prescott | 46,054 | $66,330 | $591,042 | $1,085 |
| 5 | Camp Verde | 12,132 | $50,247 | $408,890 | $903 |
| 6 | Nogales | 19,761 | $36,682 | $205,633 | $652 |
| 7 | Chino Valley | 13,120 | $55,682 | $477,451 | $1,100 |
| 8 | Payson | 16,363 | $60,095 | $432,786 | $1,280 |
| 9 | Cottonwood | 12,314 | $43,273 | $385,989 | $996 |
| 10 | Kingman | 33,052 | $56,360 | $265,190 | $999 |