Very AffordableSafer than AverageLake Havasu Unified District (4368)
London Bridge, Lake Havasu City - 2011 (Aerial Photo) · S. Winkvist / CC0London Bridge Lake Havasu, aerial view 1973, Film0 A 6-11-b · Uli Elch / CC BY-SA 4.0Lake Havasu City London Bridge · Original uploader was RTC at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Lake Havasu City AZ · Milonica / CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Havasu City is a mid-sized city of 57,294 in Arizona, with a median household income of $64,027
and a 5.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lake Havasu City stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lake Havasu City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lake Havasu City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.9
Lake Havasu City's overall cost of living index is 89.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lake Havasu City costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lake Havasu City, AZ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$363,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,163
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,027
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Lake Havasu City's violent crime rate is 355.6 per 100,000 residents
— 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
355.6 /100k
Property Crime
1394.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lake Havasu City is served primarily by Lake Havasu Unified District (4368).
The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.3:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lake Havasu City, AZ
National Avg
School District
Lake Havasu Unified District (4368)
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lake Havasu City sees average highs of 65.2°F in January
and 109.3°F in July,
with 6.0 inches of annual precipitation
.
Lake Havasu City's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lake Havasu City roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $363,300 and median rent is $1,163/month.
Lake Havasu City's violent crime rate is 355.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1394.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lake Havasu City are operated by Lake Havasu Unified District (4368).
The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.3:1. 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lake Havasu City, AZ has a population of 57,294, a median household income of $64,027, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lake Havasu City averages 65.2°F in January and 109.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 6.0 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lake Havasu City, AZ is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 86404, 86406, 86403.
The population of Lake Havasu City, Arizona is 57,294 with a median age of 54.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lake Havasu City: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $363,300, median household income $64,027, crime index 83 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake Havasu City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)
