Median Income
$72,092
household / year
Median Home Value
$340,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,322
gross / month
Cost of Living
98
national avg = 100

Is Phoenix, AZ a Good Place to Live?

Phoenix is a large city of 1,609,456 in Arizona, with a median household income of $72,092 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Phoenix stands out for solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Phoenix is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Phoenix 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: 98.4

Phoenix's overall cost of living index is 98.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Phoenix costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric Phoenix, AZ National Avg
Median Home Value $340,200 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,322 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 56.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $72,092 $74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Phoenix's violent crime rate is 799.6 per 100,000 residents — 110% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
799.6 /100k
Property Crime
2325.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Phoenix is served primarily by Paradise Valley Unified District (4241). The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Phoenix, AZ National Avg
School District Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) —
Elementary Schools 29 —
Middle Schools 6 —
High Schools 5 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 15.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 31.2% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 83.9% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Phoenix sees average highs of 65.4°F in January and 104.0°F in July, with 8.5 inches of annual precipitation and 0.2 inches of snow per year.

MetricPhoenix, AZ
Average High — January65.4°F
Average High — July104.0°F
Annual Precipitation8.5"
Annual Snowfall0.2"

Demographics

MetricPhoenix, AZNational Avg
Population1,609,456—
Median Age34.438.9
Unemployment Rate5.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time25.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)59.4%59.3%
Black or African American7.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino23.8%18.9%
Asian3.7%6.3%
Under 1824.5%22.2%
65 and over11.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Glendale, AZ 6 mi Paradise Valley, AZ 8 mi Sun City, AZ 12 mi Youngtown, AZ 12 mi Tolleson, AZ 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ is covered by 47 ZIP codes:

85085 85086 85339 85083 85042 85043 85044 85018 85050 85009 85041 85032 85254 85027 85034 85024 85008 85040 85048 85022 85029 85353 85020 85054 85016 85037 85023 85310 85021 85028 85051 85033 85035 85017 85053 85015 85007 85031 85045 85006 85014 85019 85013 85012 85004 85003 85026

Phoenix vs Other Cities

Phoenix, AZ vs Glendale, AZ Phoenix, AZ vs Paradise Valley, AZ Phoenix, AZ vs Sun City, AZ Phoenix, AZ vs Youngtown, AZ Phoenix, AZ vs Tolleson, AZ

Frequently Asked Questions

Phoenix's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Phoenix roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $340,200 and median rent is $1,322/month.
Phoenix's violent crime rate is 799.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2325.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Phoenix are operated by Paradise Valley Unified District (4241). The district has 29 elementary, 6 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 31.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Phoenix, AZ has a population of 1,609,456, a median household income of $72,092, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Phoenix averages 65.4°F in January and 104.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 8.5 inches with about 0.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Phoenix, AZ is covered by 47 ZIP codes: 85085, 85086, 85339, 85083, 85042, 85043, 85044, 85018, 85050, 85009, 85041, 85032, 85254, 85027, 85034, 85024, 85008, 85040, 85048, 85022, 85029, 85353, 85020, 85054, 85016, 85037, 85023, 85310, 85021, 85028, 85051, 85033, 85035, 85017, 85053, 85015, 85007, 85031, 85045, 85006, 85014, 85019, 85013, 85012, 85004, 85003, 85026.
The population of Phoenix, Arizona is 1,609,456 with a median age of 34.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Phoenix: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $340,200, median household income $72,092, crime index 171 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Phoenix side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.