
10 Most Affordable Places in Arizona. You Won’t Believe #1!
- AZ Big Media ranked the top 10 most affordable cities in Arizona
- The study compared home values, rentals, energy costs, property taxes, and more
- The study ranked zip codes on a 0-100 scale (100 being best)
Inflation Versus Household Budgets
With the economy increasingly contracting every day, everyone is looking for ways to stretch the dollar. As we evaluate the biggest expenses in our budget, housing, energy costs, and the price of goods and services, carving out an affordable life is becoming a significant challenge.
Ranking Arizona's Most Affordable Places to Live
AZ Big Media looked at the affordability question in Arizona, comparing 191 ZIP codes across the state.
They evaluated:
- Home values
- Rental costs
- Energy rates
- Property taxes
- Compared to the median household income
- Other affordability factors
READ: 3 Arizona Cities Make Top 100 List of Best Places to Live
The study evaluated each ZIP code on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the most affordable.

Arizona's Top 10 most affordable cities are ranked as follows:
10. Rio Rico
9. Vail
8. Yuma
7. Tucson
6. Winslow
5. Safford
4. Sahuarita
3. Globe
2. Douglas
1. Sierra Vista
According to AZ Big Media, here's why Sierra Vista came out on top.
READ: Moving? Here are the 3 Most Affordable Cities to Live in Arizona
The survey calculated the home affordability ratio (median home value divided by the median household income) and ranked Sierra Vista twelfth in the state; rental costs in Sierra Vista ranked eighth; and the home value one-year forecast ranked second.
Tourism and Economic Development Director Tony Boone says, “Not only do our residents enjoy a lower cost of living, but Sierra Vista’s small-town charm, big-city amenities, and unparalleled outdoor recreation make it one of the best places to live in Arizona.”
For more information on the ranking and methodology in this article, see AZ Big Media’s “The 10 most affordable places to live in Arizona”.
Special thanks to City of Sierra Vista Public Information Officer Elizabeth Wrozek for providing the press release for the information contained in this article.
Sources: AZ Big Media | Press Release via City of Sierra Vista | Arizona Tourism
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