Last Updated on: 13th May 2025, 08:39 am
Are you thinking about moving to Phoenix? The spectacular city of Phoenix AZ is known for its premium resorts, incredible desert landscapes, professional-level golf courses, and warm weather year-round. People living in Phoenix call it their desert paradise and love the many amenities it has to offer.
Originally settled in 1867, Phoenix was incorporated as a city in February 1881. It’s grown rapidly from its humble beginnings and is now a leading destination for retirees and families alike.
Lovingly known by nicknames such as Silicon Desert, Valley of the Sun, or simply “The Valley,” Phoenix is surrounded by mountains on all sides. This complete Phoenix moving guide covers everything you want to know about this beautiful desert metropolis.
Table of Contents
Is Phoenix a Good Place to Live?
Phoenix Arizona is a fantastic place to live if you appreciate year-round sunshine, a growing economy, and a mix of urban and outdoor lifestyles. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., Phoenix offers a diverse job market, especially in industries like healthcare, tech, and education. Its warm desert climate and picturesque desert and mountain landscapes are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, biking, and exploring natural wonders like Camelback Mountain or nearby destinations like Sedona and the Grand Canyon. The city also features vibrant arts, sports, and dining scenes, with everything from world-class museums to authentic Southwestern cuisine. While summers can be intensely hot and housing prices have risen in recent years, Phoenix’s lower cost of living compared to other major metros and its blend of cultural amenities make it an appealing choice for singles, families, and retirees alike.
Where Is Phoenix?
Located about halfway between Tucson to the southeast and Flagstaff to the north, Phoenix is the state capital of Arizona in the heart of Maricopa County in central Arizona. It’s in the Sonoran Desert, one of the lushest and most striking deserts in the Americas. The Phoenix Mountains dominate central Phoenix, with Camelback Mountain standing out as the highest point in the mountain range at an elevation of 2,546 feet. The nearby Salt River and Gila River provide water recreation like kayaking and tubing.
The Phoenix metropolitan area is called the Valley of the Sun. It’s the largest metropolitan area in the Southwestern U.S. The Phoenix Valley includes all of Maricopa and Pinal counties and other major cities including Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, and Chandler. Urban sprawl is a growing concern in the Phoenix area. The low-density sprawl of the Valley metro area puts strain on the region’s water supply and conservation efforts.
Cities near Phoenix Arizona include:
- Scottsdale to the east (12 miles to downtown Scottsdale)
- Tempe to the east
- Glendale to the west
- Chandler to the southeast
Explore our guide to the best Phoenix suburbs to learn more about the area!
Moving to Phoenix? The Phoenix movers at Mentors Moving & Storage are here to help! Our Phoenix moving company serves the Valley metro area from our nearby location in Tempe.
Phoenix Arizona Information
- Phoenix county: Maricopa
- Area: 517 square miles
- Phoenix zip codes: 85001 to 85024, 85026 to 85046, 85048, 85050, 85051, 85053, 85054, 85060 to 85076, 85078 to 85080, 85082, 85083, and 85085 to 85087
- Phoenix area codes: 602 (Central), 480 (East), and 623 (West)
- Elevation: 1,086 feet
- Time zone: Mountain Time Zone (UTC -6 and -7)
- Closest airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), 3.7 miles from Downtown Phoenix
Phoenix Transportation – Public Transit, Highways & Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
The average commute time in Phoenix is about 25.7 minutes in either direction. While most people living in Phoenix Arizona own a vehicle, and it’s considered a car-dependent city, the Phoenix public transportation system is more robust than many metropolitan areas. Phoenix is served by Valley Metro, which provides bus and light rail service in the region.
Rideshare programs are also readily available as an alternative form of transportation in Phoenix. You have the choice between using either Uber or Lyft, both of which have a strong presence in the metropolitan area. You can even take advantage of local bike share programs like Grid if you don’t need to go all that far.
While living in Phoenix, you will be served by two commercial airports: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, just minutes from downtown, and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, about 20 miles away in Mesa.
View this post on Instagram
How Many People Live in Phoenix?
The Phoenix population is 1,608,139 according to the 2020 Census. It’s the fifth-largest city in the U.S. The population of Phoenix has grown rapidly, with an average of 210,000 people moving to Phoenix Arizona every decade since the 1960s.
Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. The metro area grew by 45% from 1990 to 2000 and added another 652,000 people over the next decade.
The Phoenix metro population is 4,845,832. The Greater Phoenix area is one of the country’s major metropolitan areas, ranking 11th in the U.S. It’s the anchor of the Arizona Sun Belt megaregion, which includes the Tucson area and is home to 85% of the population of Arizona.
Phoenix demographics:
- Median age: 34.9 years (metro: 38)
- Senior population 65 and older: 12% (metro: 17%)
- Sex ratio: 50% female to 50% male
- Median household income: $79,664 (metro: $85,700)
- Educational attainment: 33.5% bachelor’s degree or higher (metro: 35.5%)
- Foreign-born population: 19.6% (metro: 14.2%)
- Veteran population: 4.9% (metro: 6.5%)
- Marital status: 43% married (metro: 49%)
- Homeownership rate: 56% (metro: 67%)
- Racial and ethnic composition: 42.2% White, 42.6% Hispanic, 7.1% Black or African American, 3.9% Asian, and 3.4% two or more races.
Famous people from Phoenix include:
- Singers Stevie Nicks and Chester Bennington
- Actors Dick Van Dyke and Emma Stone
- Comic book creator and author Todd McFarlane
What Is the Cost of Living in Phoenix Arizona?
The Phoenix cost of living index is just 101.7, or 1.7% above the U.S. average. It’s one of the most affordable large cities in the country!
The relatively low cost of living compared to the U.S. average is one of the many advantages of living in Phoenix. You can expect to pay about 4-5% more for groceries and transportation and 11% more for housing. However, the affordable cost of living in Phoenix Arizona means utilities, healthcare, and most goods and services are below average.
The average monthly cost of living in Phoenix is about $3,967 for a family of four or $1,137 for a single person without rent. The average household bills are $2,395 per month, according to Doxo.
Phoenix Typical Living Expenses
According to Numbeo, here are common expenses you can expect while living in Phoenix:
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $20
- Meal for 2 people at a mid-range restaurant, $80
- Milk (1 gallon): $3.32
- Loaf of white bread: $3.49
- White rice (1 pound): $2.17
- Eggs (1 dozen): $3.78
- Chicken filets (1 pound): $4.58
- Beef round (1 pound): $5.80
- Basic monthly utilities for an apartment: $253
- Internet: $76
What Is the Average Home Price in Phoenix?
Planning to buy a house in Phoenix? Housing costs make up the largest share of the cost of living, so it’s important to know what to expect. The average home price in Phoenix is $450,000 or $281 per square foot. The Phoenix housing market is somewhat competitive, with only some homes receiving multiple offers and hot homes selling in 28 days compared to the median of 54 days.
Explore Phoenix real estate for sale on Redfin to see what you can get within your budget.
What Is the Average Rent in Phoenix Arizona?
Planning to rent while living in Phoenix? The average rent in Phoenix is $1,507 for an average apartment size of 811 square feet, according to Rentcafe. That’s lower than the U.S. average!
The most expensive neighborhoods for renters are downtown ($1,986) and Desert View ($1,857). More affordable communities include Ahwatukee Foothills ($1,632), Encanto Village ($1,602), North Gateway ($1,552), Camelback East ($1,496), Paradise Valley Village ($1,479), and Deer Valley Village ($1,373).
Income, Sales, & Property Taxes in Phoenix
- Arizona income tax rate: 2.59% to 4.5%
- Phoenix sales tax rate: 8.6%
- Maricopa County property tax rate: $1.3531 per $100 of assessed valuation (2025)
- City of Phoenix primary property tax rate: $1.2658 per $100 of assessed valuation (2025)
- City of Phoenix secondary property tax rate: $0.8141 per $100 of assessed valuation (2025)
Maricopa County publishes property tax levies and rates by city and tax district.
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Phoenix?
Before moving to Phoenix, one of the most important things to decide is which community you’ll live in. The city offers many great neighborhoods to fit any lifestyle. Here are just some of the best places to live in Phoenix!
Downtown Phoenix
One of the best Phoenix neighborhoods for young professionals, downtown offers hip living in a bustling, walkable area. The Roosevelt Row Arts District in downtown is home to a thriving arts scene with galleries, street art, and a fun nightlife. Downtown is also home to an ASU campus with a large student population.
Paradise Valley
Known for its golf courses like the Stone Creek Golf Club, Paradise Valley is the perfect place to live for golf enthusiasts, active seniors, and young adults who love outdoor recreation and nightlife. The area has great schools, lots of attractions, and great access to the Phoenix Mountains.
Camelback East (Arcadia)
This central neighborhood is just ten miles from downtown, close to shopping, and next to Camelback Mountain. You’ll find great shopping at Gaslight Square and the Camelback Village Center, plus upscale restaurants and trendy wine bars.
Ahwatukee Foothills
One of the most highly-rated neighborhoods in Phoenix by residents, Ahwatukee Foothills boasts a low crime rate, excellent schools, beautiful mountain views, and family-friendly amenities. It’s popular with young professionals and families.
What Climate Zone Is Phoenix?
Living up to its nickname “Valley of the Sun,” the city of Phoenix is well-known for its hot desert climate (Köppen classification BWh) and warm weather year-round. Many people living in Phoenix AZ joke that the city only has two seasons: summer and something in between autumn and winter. This is due to the extreme summer heat experienced during a few summer months and the long spread of cool, mild temperatures the rest of the year.
Year-round, the temperature usually ranges from 45°F to 107°F. The average temperature in Phoenix reaches a high of 100°F or more during many summer days from late May to mid-September. In 2024, the city shattered extreme heat records with 70 days of highs at or above 100°F. The Phoenix climate brings short and mild winters. The winter months of December to February bring temperatures as low as the mid-40s.
Phoenix is a city of near-constant sunshine with sunny weather 300 days per year on average or 85% of the time. It’s one of the world’s sunniest regions.
In addition to dangerous heat waves, Phoenix also experiences occasional dust storms which can bring massive walls of dust across the Valley.
The best time to visit Phoenix is during the spring or the fall because of the comfortable temperatures and many fun things to do. But if you can take the heat, summer remains one of the most popular times of the year for many activities around Phoenix as well.
Annual climate in Phoenix:
- Number of sunny days in Phoenix: On average, Phoenix has about 300 days of sunshine per year, making it the sunniest metropolitan area in the entire United States.
- Annual rainfall in Phoenix: The city of Phoenix only gets about 9 inches of annual rain, which is significantly lower than the United States average of 38 inches per year.
- Annual snowfall in Phoenix: You will basically never see it snow in Phoenix. The last time there was any significant snowfall in the Phoenix metro area was on December 6, 1998.
Things to Do in Phoenix
While living in Phoenix, you’ll enjoy seemingly endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, unique landmarks, exciting destinations, and world-class entertainment venues, golf courses, and museums. Here are just some of the best things to do in Phoenix Arizona.
View this post on Instagram
Phoenix Parks & Outdoor Attractions
The Phoenix Parks and Rec department manages 41,000 acres of mountain preserves and desert parks, 200 miles of trails, 187 parks in Phoenix, 33 community and rec centers, 29 pools, and eight golf courses. The city is known for its great outdoor activities year-round. There are also three national parks near Phoenix: Saguaro National Park (110 miles), Petrified Forest National Park (212 miles), and Grand Canyon National Park (224 miles)
- Desert Botanical Garden – As the most beloved park in Phoenix, this garden boasts over 50,000 plants that cover an area of more than 140 acres.
- Phoenix Mountains Preserve – Enjoy the beauty of the desert at this massive and enjoyable park.
- Phoenix Zoo – Covering more than 125 acres of land, this incredible Phoenix attraction is home to hundreds of animals, including lions, elephants, reptiles, birds, and many others.
- South Mountain Park and Preserve – One of the most spectacular places to visit, with its hiking trails, scenic views, and unique wildlife, all spanning about 16,000 acres.
- Hole in the Rock – This sandstone landmark is a popular hiking spot with its numerous caves and great views of the surrounding city.
- Papago Park – Encompassing the Phoenix Zoo within its borders, Papago Park is one of the top picnicking spots and remains one of the top places to visit in Phoenix.
- Margaret T. Hance Park – Have a picnic, goof off on the playground, or enjoy the Japanese Friendship Garden at this local Phoenix park.
- Hurricane Harbor Phoenix – One of the best water parks in Phoenix, this massive water park is the largest in the state, with seven water slides and 35 acres of attractions.
Entertainment & Arts
- The Phoenix Theatre Company – Catch live performances, including Broadway-style shows and concerts, while enjoying good food and refreshing drinks.
- Herberger Theater Center – With its three stages, this fun venue can hold up to 800 guests per room as you enjoy art galleries and live shows.
- Celebrity Theatre – The innovative revolving stage at this fun Phoenix theatre gives all visitors the best view in the house.
- Orpheum Theatre Phoenix – Seating more than 1,300 people, this large theatre holds everything from live concerts to skits and full-blown plays.
- Symphony Hall Phoenix – Home to the Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, and the Phoenix Symphony.
Museums in Phoenix
- Phoenix Art Museum – With both temporary and permanent exhibits, you’ll find collections that go from modern times all the way back to the Renaissance era.
- Pueblo Grande Museum – This large outdoor museum in Phoenix gives you a special look at how the local Hohokam tribe people once lived.
- Children’s Museum of Phoenix – Among the list of top activities in Phoenix for kids, this huge museum offers more than 300 ways for children to interact with experiments and other fun tasks.
- Arizona Science Center – Housing a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and rotating exhibits, you can always find something new at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix.
- Heard Museum – From art to historical artifacts, learn more about Native American civilizations at Phoenix’s Heard Museum.
- Musical Instrument Museum – If you’re a fan of music, you’ll love the hundreds of instruments layering the walls within this Phoenix museum’s amazing collection.
Map of Things to Do in Phoenix Arizona
Sports in Phoenix
The city of Phoenix is home to sports franchises within all four of the professional major sports leagues. There are only 13 other cities in the United States that also have teams in all four of these sports.
Sports teams in Phoenix include:
- Arizona Coyotes (NHL): The Coyotes have made the playoffs nine times and won a Division title once.
- Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB): The D’Backs won the World Series in 2001.
- Phoenix Suns (NBA): The Suns played in the 1976 and 1993 NBA Finals.
- Arizona Cardinals (NFL): The Cardinals played against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII back in 2008.
Along with these professional sports teams, Phoenix also hosts the massively popular Waste Management Open golf tournament every year. This event consistently attracts as many as 500,000 spectators, more than any other stop on the PGA Tour.
Phoenix is also the most recognized spot for Major League Baseball’s spring training games, with 15 teams participating in the Cactus League events every February to March.
Best Restaurants in Phoenix
Residents living in Phoenix enjoy a vast array of amazing places to eat located all over the city. Whether you want Italian food, Mexican cuisine, Thai food, sushi, or something else, there are more than enough delicious Phoenix restaurants to choose from. Here are just a few of the top Phoenix restaurants to try.
- Steak 44. An upscale steakhouse boasting a menu filled with crab, lobster, oysters, poke, shrimp, salmon, sea bass, pork chops, and of course, steak. 5101 N 44th St, Phoenix, AZ 85018 (602) 271-4400
- Chelsea’s Kitchen. With its menu of American comfort food, this industrial-chic restaurant in Phoenix offers guests soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, platters, and burgers. 5040 N 40th St, Phoenix, AZ 85018 (602) 957-2555
- The Stockyards Steakhouse. Known for its huge variety of beef dishes, this steakhouse also provides diners with lobster tails, elk, pork, burgers, prime rib, and seafood. 5009 E Washington St UNIT 115, Phoenix, AZ 85034 (602) 273-7378
View this post on Instagram
Is Phoenix Safe?
Like most large cities, the Phoenix Arizona crime rate is higher than the national average. The Phoenix crime rate is 3,727 crimes per 100,000 people, with 825 violent crimes per 100,000 people living in Phoenix. That’s 60% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 123% above the U.S. average.
This Phoenix crime map from the City of Phoenix lets you explore crime by neighborhood.
Despite the high crime rate, there are many safe neighborhoods in Phoenix where crime is well below the state and U.S. average. The safest neighborhoods include:
- Desert View
- North Gateway
- Ahwatukee Foothills
- Paradise Valley
- Deer Valley
Economy & Jobs in Phoenix
While Phoenix currently has an unemployment rate of about 5.9%, the area continues to see huge economic growth year after year. The state of Arizona’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 3.1% from 2018 to 2019, reaching an incredible all-time high of $265 billion. The Valley has a thriving job market with diverse job opportunities.
Ahead of moving to Phoenix AZ, you can explore career opportunities at some of the city’s largest companies. Major employers in Phoenix include:
- City of Phoenix (jobs)
- Avnet (electronics distributor)
- PetSmart
- Banner Health Phoenix
- ON Semiconductor
- Freeport-McMoRan (mining)
- Republic Services (waste hauling)
- Honeywell’s Aerospace division
- Intel
- Apollo Group (parent company of the University of Phoenix)
- Southwest Airlines
- Mesa Air Group (regional airline)
- Best Western
- U-Haul International
The top industries that make the most significant impact on the economy in Phoenix are:
- Real Estate ($41.96 billion)
- Government ($23.37 billion)
- Manufacturing ($19.91 billion)
- Health Care ($19.78 billion)
- Finance & Insurance ($19.71 billion)
- Retail ($18.64 billion)
About 10.5% of people working and living in Phoenix had government jobs thanks to the city’s status as the state capital and county seat.
As the economy in Arizona improves, the more Phoenix jobs you’ll be able to find around town. The average salary in Phoenix is $78,000 or $21 per hour.
Some of the top jobs in Phoenix come in the medical field, including registered nurses, certified nurse assistants, and medical assistants.
Best Places to Work in Phoenix
- Banner Health
- Knight Transportation
- Dignity Health
- ON Semiconductor
- SRP
- HonorHealth
- Chase
- APS
- Intel
- Amazon
Phoenix Healthcare
People living in Phoenix are served by nearly 60 hospitals and medical centers conveniently spread across the city. A few of the most highly-rated medical institutions in Phoenix include:
- Mayo Clinic (ranked #16 in U.S. News Best Hospitals Honor Roll and #1 Hospital in the state of Arizona)
- Banner University Medical Center (largest hospital in the state of Arizona with 712 beds)
- Phoenix Children’s Hospital (ranked among the top 20 hospitals in the U.S. for neonatal care and among the top 35 for pediatric cancer)
- St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center (Dignity Health, a nationally recognized center for premier medical education and research)
- HonorHealth Hospitals
Schools in Phoenix
Some of the best schools in the entire country can be found right here in the Phoenix Valley. From grade school all the way up to university, families living in Phoenix have great opportunities to get a quality education.
There are about 294,000 children between the ages of 5 and 17 years old living in Phoenix, about 18% of the city’s population. Students attend one of 33 school districts in Phoenix, including 21 elementary school districts (215+ schools), four high school districts (31 high schools), and four unified K-12 districts.
There are also more than 100 charter schools in the city. BASIS Charter Schools Inc. is a top-performing charter school district with the top seven high schools in the Phoenix metropolitan area. BASIS Ahwatukee and BASIS Phoenix are ranked among the top five in the region and the state and among the top 50 best high schools in the U.S.
Phoenix Union High School District is the largest high school district in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix Union Bioscience High School is the district’s best high school, and it’s ranked #15 in Arizona. Other top-rated schools include Arizona School for the Arts (#17 in AZ) and Horizon Honors Secondary School (#22 in AZ).
Universities & Colleges in Phoenix
Whether teenagers are looking for the next step on their educational journey or adults are interested in taking college courses, there are some great universities in Phoenix to choose from. The best secondary schools around the city are:
- Grand Canyon University
- University of Phoenix
- The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
- Arizona State University (nearby in Tempe)
Moving to Phoenix AZ: Setting up Utilities & Driver’s License Change of Address
Ahead of living in Phoenix, you’ll want to make sure you have utilities set up at your new home. Here are the main providers of Phoenix utilities.
- City of Phoenix Water Department
- City of Phoenix Public Works: trash collection
- SRP (Salt River Project): Electricity and water utility
- APS (Arizona Public Service): Electricity
- Southwest Gas
- SRP: Irrigation services
After settling in, another important step is changing your address in Phoenix with USPS and the MVD. This way you’ll get all of your bills and other mail at the new home or apartment. Arizona state law requires that you update your address with the MVD within 10 days of relocating to Phoenix.
Is Living in Phoenix Right for You? Get a Free Moving Quote Today
Does making Phoenix your new home sound like a great move for your family? At Mentors Moving & Storage, we’re ready to make moving to Phoenix AZ, as easy and stress-free as possible. Our professional Phoenix movers are ready to assist with every stage of your relocation. Call us today at (480) 376-1009 for a free moving estimate!
