#1Clifton
Greenlee County · 3,752 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 0.9 years of area income·Overall A+ · #2 of 139 in AZ
Clifton, #1 on this list · Photo: Ron Reiring · CC BY-SA 2.0Arizona rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in Arizona
Clifton ranks first on cost of living among Arizona’s 139 towns of 2,500+; 26 of the 139 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1A+
#2Bagdad
unincorporated, Yavapai County · 2,814 peopleCost of living grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #5 of 139 in AZ
#3Whiteriver
unincorporated, Navajo County · 4,545 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.1 years of area income·Overall D · #134 of 139 in AZ
All 139 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 10 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
139 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
2Bagdadunincorporated, Yavapai County · 2,814 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #5 of 139
3Whiteriverunincorporated, Navajo County · 4,545 peopleA+1.1 years of area income·Overall D · #134 of 139
4San Carlosunincorporated, Gila County · 4,973 peopleA+1.1 years of area income·Overall D− · #136 of 139
5San Manuelunincorporated, Pinal County · 3,491 peopleA+1.7 years of area income·Overall C · #87 of 139
6Tuba Cityunincorporated, Coconino County · 7,960 peopleA+0.9 years of area income·Overall C · #81 of 139
7Summitunincorporated, Pima County · 4,896 peopleA+2.1 years of area income·Overall C− · #116 of 139
9Avra Valleyunincorporated, Pima County · 6,277 peopleA+2.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #93 of 139
10Chinleunincorporated, Apache County · 4,147 peopleA+0.9 years of area income·Overall C− · #97 of 139
12Kayentaunincorporated, Navajo County · 4,927 peopleA0.7 years of area income·Overall C · #80 of 139
14Avenue B and Cunincorporated, Yuma County · 4,001 peopleA0.2 years of area income·Overall C · #91 of 139
15Swift Trail Junctionunincorporated, Graham County · 2,859 peopleA3.0 years of area income·Overall B− · #56 of 139
16Three Pointsunincorporated, Pima County · 5,254 peopleA4.0 years of area income·Overall D · #130 of 139
18Arizona Cityunincorporated, Pinal County · 9,543 peopleA2.8 years of area income·Overall C · #76 of 139
20Oracleunincorporated, Pinal County · 3,146 peopleA−5.8 years of area income·Overall C · #89 of 139
21Central Heights-Midland Cityunincorporated, Gila County · 2,909 peopleA−1.9 years of area income·Overall C− · #112 of 139
23Fort Defianceunincorporated, Apache County · 3,351 peopleA−0.9 years of area income·Overall C− · #99 of 139
26White Mountain Lakeunincorporated, Navajo County · 2,910 peopleA−3.2 years of area income·Overall C+ · #60 of 139
28Red Rockunincorporated, Pinal County · 3,277 peopleB+3.3 years of area income·Overall B− · #55 of 139
29New Kingman-Butlerunincorporated, Mohave County · 13,993 peopleB+2.1 years of area income·Overall D · #118 of 139
31Flowing Wellsunincorporated, Pima County · 16,559 peopleB+0.6 years of area income·Overall C+ · #66 of 139
39Picture Rocksunincorporated, Pima County · 9,448 peopleB+3.3 years of area income·Overall C · #90 of 139
42Heber-Overgaardunincorporated, Navajo County · 3,621 peopleB5.0 years of area income·Overall B− · #46 of 139
43Tucson Estatesunincorporated, Pima County · 12,136 peopleB2.9 years of area income·Overall B− · #51 of 139
49Desert Hillsunincorporated, Mohave County · 2,944 peopleB4.9 years of area income·Overall B− · #41 of 139
50Cordes Lakesunincorporated, Yavapai County · 3,808 peopleB3.2 years of area income·Overall D · #124 of 139
51Fortuna Foothillsunincorporated, Yuma County · 28,896 peopleB3.2 years of area income·Overall C · #85 of 139
54Lake of the Woodsunincorporated, Navajo County · 3,250 peopleB−5.0 years of area income·Overall C · #83 of 139
57Lindenunincorporated, Navajo County · 2,502 peopleB−7.5 years of area income·Overall B · #30 of 139
58Sun Cityunincorporated, Maricopa County · 37,486 peopleB−3.3 years of area income·Overall B− · #44 of 139
62Pauldenunincorporated, Yavapai County · 4,795 peopleB−6.3 years of area income·Overall B− · #43 of 139
63Mohave Valleyunincorporated, Mohave County · 2,555 peopleC+5.2 years of area income·Overall C− · #113 of 139
65Golden Valleyunincorporated, Mohave County · 8,567 peopleC+4.2 years of area income·Overall D− · #138 of 139
67Lake Montezumaunincorporated, Yavapai County · 4,929 peopleC+4.1 years of area income·Overall D · #117 of 139
68Drexel Heightsunincorporated, Pima County · 27,675 peopleC+3.6 years of area income·Overall C · #77 of 139
69Green Valleyunincorporated, Pima County · 22,114 peopleC+3.9 years of area income·Overall B− · #34 of 139
72Sun City Westunincorporated, Maricopa County · 27,425 peopleC+4.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #35 of 139
74Catalinaunincorporated, Pima County · 6,489 peopleC+5.7 years of area income·Overall C+ · #59 of 139
78Whetstoneunincorporated, Cochise County · 2,971 peopleC3.6 years of area income·Overall D− · #137 of 139
80San Tan Valleyunincorporated, Pinal County · 109,189 peopleC4.4 years of area income·Overall C+ · #63 of 139
82Sierra Vista Southeastunincorporated, Cochise County · 14,330 peopleC4.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #103 of 139
83Gold Canyonunincorporated, Pinal County · 13,107 peopleC5.4 years of area income·Overall C+ · #62 of 139
87Fort Mohaveunincorporated, Mohave County · 15,715 peopleC5.1 years of area income·Overall C− · #110 of 139
88Doney Parkunincorporated, Coconino County · 6,253 peopleC8.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #49 of 139
90Rio Ricounincorporated, Santa Cruz County · 22,017 peopleC4.8 years of area income·Overall D · #135 of 139
96Verde Villageunincorporated, Yavapai County · 11,930 peopleC5.1 years of area income·Overall C− · #114 of 139
97Kachina Villageunincorporated, Coconino County · 3,212 peopleC5.7 years of area income·Overall B− · #37 of 139
100Valencia Westunincorporated, Pima County · 14,728 peopleC−4.6 years of area income·Overall C− · #94 of 139
110Cornvilleunincorporated, Yavapai County · 3,618 peopleC−7.4 years of area income·Overall D · #129 of 139
T111New Riverunincorporated, Maricopa County · 18,240 peopleC−8.6 years of area income·Overall B+ · #15 of 139
115Vailunincorporated, Pima County · 16,315 peopleC−5.7 years of area income·Overall B+ · #17 of 139
118Tanque Verdeunincorporated, Pima County · 15,866 peopleC−8.6 years of area income·Overall B− · #48 of 139
120Corona de Tucsonunincorporated, Pima County · 9,566 peopleC−5.4 years of area income·Overall B · #26 of 139
122Sun Lakesunincorporated, Maricopa County · 13,924 peopleC−5.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #57 of 139
123Rincon Valleyunincorporated, Pima County · 6,512 peopleC−7.8 years of area income·Overall B+ · #16 of 139
124Williamsonunincorporated, Yavapai County · 6,310 peopleD10.5 years of area income·Overall C+ · #72 of 139
125Saddlebrookeunincorporated, Pinal County · 13,085 peopleD5.6 years of area income·Overall D · #131 of 139
126Casas Adobesunincorporated, Pima County · 72,059 peopleD4.9 years of area income·Overall B · #28 of 139
129Tucson Mountainsunincorporated, Pima County · 11,353 peopleD6.7 years of area income·Overall B− · #52 of 139
134Anthemunincorporated, Maricopa County · 22,584 peopleD6.3 years of area income·Overall A− · #7 of 139
135Catalina Foothillsunincorporated, Pima County · 52,593 peopleD9.3 years of area income·Overall B · #31 of 139
136Citrus Parkunincorporated, Maricopa County · 5,115 peopleD8.2 years of area income·Overall B · #32 of 139
138Village of Oak Creek (Big Park)unincorporated, Yavapai County · 6,356 peopleD−10.6 years of area income·Overall C− · #95 of 139
139Paradise ValleyMaricopa County · 12,251 peopleD−40.7 years of area income·Overall B+ · #14 of 139
Not ranked
1 town without a cost of living grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
- Sacaton Pinal County · 3,429 people
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in Arizona?
Clifton (Greenlee County) ranks first on cost of living among 139 towns, with an A+; Bagdad and Whiteriver follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a cost of living grade (139 in Arizona). 1 town of 2,500+ lack the figures and is listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Arizona page.
Go deeper
All Arizona rankings →More Arizona lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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