Best places to raise a family in Arizona
Choosing a place to raise children can be a daunting task for any family. If it takes a village to raise a child, that may just extend all the way to your next-door neighbor, fifth-grade teacher, or volunteer soccer coach. While all parents are looking for a great place to raise their kids, oftentimes this decision means balancing—and prioritizing—certain community resources and costs.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to raise a family in Arizona using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Keep reading to see if where you grew up or currently live made the list.
You may also like: Best counties to raise a family in Arizona
#25. Sierra Vista
– Population: 43,398
– Median home value: $172,600 (57% own)
– Median rent: $938 (43% rent)
– Median household income: $59,585
– Top public schools: General Myer Elementary School (A-), Leman Academy of Excellence Sierra Vista (A-), Colonel Smith Middle School (B+)
– Top private schools: Veritas Christian Community School (B+), First Baptist Christian Academy (unavailable), Childtime of Sierra Vista (unavailable)
– Pictured: 2385 Isla Bonita Dr, Sierra Vista ($574,000, 4 bedrooms)
#24. South Tucson
– Population: 5,667
– Median home value: $84,200 (34% own)
– Median rent: $630 (66% rent)
– Median household income: $24,967
– Top public schools: University High School (A+), Ida Flood Dodge Traditional Middle Magnet School (B+), Tucson Magnet High School (B)
– Pictured: 449 W 30th St, Tucson ($205,000, 3 bedrooms)
#23. Mesa
– Population: 499,720
– Median home value: $226,500 (61% own)
– Median rent: $1,044 (39% rent)
– Median household income: $58,181
– Top public schools: Gilbert Classical Academy High School (A+), BASIS Mesa (A+), Self Development Academy (A+)
– Top private schools: Faith Christian School (B+), Redeemer Christian School (A), Christ the King Catholic School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 3452 E Jaeger Cir, Mesa ($3.3 million, 4 bedrooms)
#22. Clifton
– Population: 3,703
– Median home value: $48,500 (24% own)
– Median rent: $465 (76% rent)
– Median household income: $69,472
– Top public schools: Metcalf Elementary School (B+), Fairbanks Middle School (B+), Morenci High School (B)
– Pictured: 629 Turner Ave, Clifton ($110,000, 3 bedrooms)
#21. Tempe
– Population: 187,454
– Median home value: $272,900 (41% own)
– Median rent: $1,164 (59% rent)
– Median household income: $57,994
– Top public schools: Tempe Preparatory Academy (A+), ASU Preparatory Academy – Polytechnic High School (A+), Pueblo Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (unavailable), Bethany Christian School (unavailable), Grace Community Christian School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 1758 E Carver Rd, Tempe ($1.9 million, 6 bedrooms)
You may also like: Airports using biometric facial recognition in Arizona
#20. Goodyear
– Population: 80,371
– Median home value: $290,800 (77% own)
– Median rent: $1,375 (23% rent)
– Median household income: $83,866
– Top public schools: BASIS Goodyear Primary (A+), University High School (A), BASIS Goodyear (A)
– Top private schools: St. John Vianney Catholic School (unavailable), West Valley Christian School (unavailable), Montessori in the Park (unavailable)
– Pictured: 7520 S Estrella Pkwy, Goodyear ($1.3 million, 4 bedrooms)
#19. Catalina
– Population: 7,910
– Median home value: $167,900 (79% own)
– Median rent: $902 (21% rent)
– Median household income: $56,250
– Top public schools: Painted Sky Elementary School (A-), Ironwood Ridge High School (B+), Coronado K-8 School (B)
– Pictured: 5000 E Via Estancia Miraval Unit 1, Tucson ($2.1 million, 2 bedrooms)
#18. Sahuarita
– Population: 29,905
– Median home value: $214,100 (82% own)
– Median rent: $1,392 (18% rent)
– Median household income: $80,525
– Top public schools: Copper View Elementary School (B+), Great Expectations Academy (B+), Walden Grove High School (B+)
– Pictured: 1111 E Madera Estates Ln, Sahuarita ($774,995, 4 bedrooms)
#17. Fountain Hills
– Population: 24,729
– Median home value: $402,100 (79% own)
– Median rent: $1,259 (21% rent)
– Median household income: $85,200
– Top public schools: McDowell Mountain Elementary School (A-), Fountain Hills Middle School (A-), Coronado Elementary School (A-)
– Pictured: 13932 E Bighorn Pkwy, Fountain Hills ($3.7 million, 4 bedrooms)
#16. Thatcher
– Population: 5,047
– Median home value: $173,700 (65% own)
– Median rent: $905 (35% rent)
– Median household income: $61,106
– Top public schools: Ruth Powell Elementary School (B+), Thatcher High School (B+), Safford High School (B+)
– Pictured: 1951 N Cota Ln, Thatcher ($345,000, 4 bedrooms)
You may also like: Best amusement parks in Arizona
#15. Peoria
– Population: 168,196
– Median home value: $264,500 (74% own)
– Median rent: $1,255 (26% rent)
– Median household income: $75,323
– Top public schools: BASIS Peoria (A+), BASIS Peoria Primary (A+), Legacy Traditional School – Glendale (A+)
– Top private schools: Guidepost Montessori at Peoria (unavailable), Montessori Kingdom of Learning (unavailable), Cross of Glory Lutheran School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 8344 W Williams Rd, Peoria ($2.3 million, 6 bedrooms)
#14. Marana
– Population: 45,279
– Median home value: $252,100 (79% own)
– Median rent: $1,212 (21% rent)
– Median household income: $85,812
– Top public schools: Leman Academy of Excellence (A), J. Robert Hendricks Elementary School (A-), Robert Richardson Elementary School (A-)
– Top private schools: Redeemer Lutheran School (unavailable), Childtime of Tucson – North Thornydale (unavailable), Ina KinderCare (unavailable)
– Pictured: 14740 N Soaring Dove Pl, Marana ($3.8 million, 4 bedrooms)
#13. Casas Adobes
– Population: 70,166
– Median home value: $206,500 (64% own)
– Median rent: $1,123 (36% rent)
– Median household income: $64,224
– Top public schools: Legacy Traditional School – NW Tucson (A), Sonoran Science Academy – Tucson (A), Canyon Del Oro High School (A-)
– Top private schools: St. Andrew’s Preschool & Kindergarten (unavailable), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School (unavailable), Faith Community Academy (unavailable)
– Pictured: 9670 N Camino Del Plata, Tucson ($1.2 million, 4 bedrooms)
#12. Anthem
– Population: 22,468
– Median home value: $346,800 (79% own)
– Median rent: $1,623 (21% rent)
– Median household income: $102,719
– Top public schools: Diamond Canyon Elementary School (A-), Great Hearts Academies – Anthem Prep (A-), Canyon Springs (A-)
– Top private schools: Tutor Time of Anthem (unavailable)
– Pictured: 42413 N Olympic Fields Ct, Phoenix ($1.4 million, 6 bedrooms)
#11. Oro Valley
– Population: 44,630
– Median home value: $311,800 (75% own)
– Median rent: $1,237 (25% rent)
– Median household income: $83,341
– Top public schools: BASIS Oro Valley (A+), BASIS Oro Valley Primary (A+), Leman Academy Of Excellence-Oro Valley Arizona (A)
– Top private schools: Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (A), Casas Christian School (A+), Immaculate Heart School (A)
– Pictured: 1206 W Tortolita Mountain Cir, Oro Valley ($2.9 million, 4 bedrooms)
You may also like: Highest-rated beer in Arizona
#10. Queen Creek
– Population: 43,129
– Median home value: $348,600 (87% own)
– Median rent: $1,590 (13% rent)
– Median household income: $105,729
– Top public schools: Arizona College Prep Erie Campus (A+), Legacy Traditional School – Queen Creek (A+), Benjamin Franklin Charter School – Power (A+)
– Top private schools: Canyon State Academy (unavailable), Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy (unavailable), Tutor Time of Queen Creek (unavailable)
– Pictured: 7524 S McCormick Way, Queen Creek ($2.5 million, 6 bedrooms)
#9. Tanque Verde
– Population: 15,638
– Median home value: $386,800 (94% own)
– Median rent: $1,725 (6% rent)
– Median household income: $101,508
– Top public schools: University High School (A+), Catalina Foothills High School (A+), Hermosa Montessori School (A+)
– Pictured: 10519 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson ($2.5 million, 7 bedrooms)
#8. Scottsdale
– Population: 250,602
– Median home value: $475,300 (66% own)
– Median rent: $1,365 (34% rent)
– Median household income: $88,213
– Top public schools: BASIS Scottsdale (A+), Great Hearts Academies – Scottsdale Prep (A+), BASIS Scottsdale Primary – East Campus (A+)
– Top private schools: Notre Dame Preparatory School (A+), Thunderbird Adventist Academy (B-), Ville de Marie Academy (A-)
– Pictured: 20936 N 109th Pl, Scottsdale ($16.5 million, 6 bedrooms)
#7. Vail
– Population: 12,982
– Median home value: $237,500 (91% own)
– Median rent: $1,445 (9% rent)
– Median household income: $85,927
– Top public schools: Corona Foothills Middle School (A), Ocotillo Ridge Elementary School (A), Empire High School (A)
– Top private schools: Creation School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 6355 S Upper Valley Rd, Vail ($1.3 million, 4 bedrooms)
#6. Litchfield Park
– Population: 6,073
– Median home value: $318,000 (80% own)
– Median rent: $1,828 (20% rent)
– Median household income: $83,156
– Top public schools: Scott Libby Elementary School (A), Verrado Middle School (A), Western Sky Middle School (A)
– Top private schools: St. Peter’s Episcopal Montessori School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 18931 W Verde Ln, Litchfield Park ($1.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
You may also like: Counties receiving the most SBA loans in Arizona
#5. Paradise Valley
– Population: 14,362
– Median home value: $1,516,200 (93% own)
– Median rent: $2,547 (7% rent)
– Median household income: $211,393
– Top public schools: Phoenix Union Bioscience High School (A+), Chaparral High School (A), Pueblo Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Phoenix Country Day School (A+), Christ Church School (unavailable), Desert View Learning Center (unavailable)
– Pictured: 8100 N 68th St, Paradise Valley ($18.0 million, 5 bedrooms)
#4. Chandler
– Population: 252,692
– Median home value: $300,800 (65% own)
– Median rent: $1,312 (35% rent)
– Median household income: $82,925
– Top public schools: BASIS Chandler (A+), Arizona College Prep Erie Campus (A+), BASIS Chandler Primary – North Campus (A+)
– Top private schools: Seton Catholic Preparatory (A), Valley Christian Schools (A), Tri-City Christian Academy (B+)
– Pictured: 3800 S Clubhouse Dr Unit 7, Chandler ($2.5 million, 5 bedrooms)
#3. Corona de Tucson
– Population: 8,470
– Median home value: $228,200 (91% own)
– Median rent: $1,426 (9% rent)
– Median household income: $97,287
– Top public schools: Corona Foothills Middle School (A), Empire High School (A), Copper Ridge Elementary School (A)
– Pictured: 516 E Drawdown Trl, Vail ($469,900, 4 bedrooms)
#2. Gilbert
– Population: 243,254
– Median home value: $328,700 (74% own)
– Median rent: $1,518 (26% rent)
– Median household income: $96,857
– Top public schools: Arizona College Prep Erie Campus (A+), Gilbert Classical Academy High School (A+), Great Hearts Academies – Archway Arete (A+)
– Top private schools: Gilbert Christian Schools (A-), Christ Greenfield Lutheran School (unavailable), The Learning Curve (unavailable)
– Pictured: 2866 E Robin Ct, Gilbert ($3.2 million, 6 bedrooms)
#1. Catalina Foothills
– Population: 50,454
– Median home value: $440,100 (74% own)
– Median rent: $1,061 (26% rent)
– Median household income: $92,929
– Top public schools: University High School (A+), Catalina Foothills High School (A+), Sunrise Drive Elementary School (A+)
– Top private schools: Tucson Waldorf School (unavailable), Lamb’s Gate Christian School (unavailable), Al Huda Islamic School (unavailable)
– Pictured: 6799 N Rattlesnake Canyon Rd, Tucson ($4.9 million, 5 bedrooms)
You may also like: These 10 car insurers have the highest market share in Arizona
By Stacker
