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Living in
Phoenix.
About
Life in Phoenix
The reality of living in Phoenix comes down to one fundamental trade-off: you're choosing extreme heat in exchange for affordability, job stability, and genuine cultural diversity. This is a sprawling metro of over 5 million people, but it doesn't feel crowded—the city covers 518 square miles with a low density that means wide streets, separated neighborhoods with distinct identities, and plenty of room to build a life. What keeps locals here, honestly, is the lifestyle outside of summer.
Phoenix at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.7%
Foreign-Born
19.0%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Phoenix: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Phoenix, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (58.5%), and 29.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.6%
of residents
65 and Older
12.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.4%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for AZ
Rent, home values, and income in Phoenix
In Phoenix, home values are 7% above the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,850
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $404,067 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below AZ average
Unemployment in Phoenix and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Phoenix is 0.5 percentage points lower than the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Phoenix Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metro area
Commute25.6 min avg
How Phoenix residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Phoenix, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Major hub25.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 111% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Phoenix runs 111% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
695.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,046
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Phoenix Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 44 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Maricopa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, the most common type is flash flood, with 44 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.9M |
| 2024 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.8M |
| 2023 | 58 | Heat | $7.8M |
| 2022 | 106 | Flash Flood | $6.8M |
| 2021 | 77 | Thunderstorm Wind | $29.5M |
| 2020 | 55 | Heat | $1.5M |
| 2019 | 90 | Heat | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 120 | Flash Flood | $4.5M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Maricopa County, county-wide
Air Quality73 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
73
Good Days
32
per year
Moderate Days
295
per year
Unhealthy Days
6
per year
Maricopa County, county-wide
Climate103°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Phoenix has hot summers (avg high 103°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
83°/57°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
103°/78°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
86°/63°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
8.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
159
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
3
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
35
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 44°F | 1.17" |
| Feb | 68°F | 46°F | 1.21" |
| Mar | 75°F | 51°F | 1.09" |
| Apr | 83°F | 57°F | 0.35" |
| May | 92°F | 65°F | 0.19" |
| Jun | 102°F | 73°F | 0.03" |
| Jul | 104°F | 81°F | 0.81" |
| Aug | 103°F | 81°F | 0.96" |
| Sep | 98°F | 75°F | 0.71" |
| Oct | 86°F | 63°F | 0.67" |
| Nov | 74°F | 51°F | 0.90" |
| Dec | 64°F | 43°F | 0.81" |
Healthcare23 hospitals, avg 3.3/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Phoenix
Phoenix has 23 hospitals, averaging 3.3 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
23
within city limits
Uninsured
14.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.3 / 5
Mayo Clinic Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Phoenix VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
St Josephs Hospital and Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: St Josephs Hospital and Medical Center · 350 West Thomas Road
- Outpatient center: Dignity Health · 4975 N Dysart Rd Ste 100, Litchfield Park
Honorhealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Aurora Behavioral Health System
Psychiatric · 5.7 mi away · Glendale
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.9 mi away · Glendale
Abrazo Arrowhead Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Glendale
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education17.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Phoenix
Phoenix's student/teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
512
within city limits
Private Schools
73
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Phoenix
Private for-profit · 4-year · 85,991 students · in-state tuition $9,552 · 33% graduate · median earnings $43,584 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 73,371 students · in-state tuition $17,900 · 44% graduate · median earnings $50,609 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 1,466 students · in-state tuition $7,570 · 56% graduate · median earnings $49,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix
Private for-profit · 4-year · 1,229 students · in-state tuition $26,733 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 712 students · 55% graduate · median earnings $37,804 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Arizona
Private for-profit · 4-year · 693 students · in-state tuition $21,655 · 74% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 385 students · in-state tuition $7,995 · 42% graduate · median earnings $44,444 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 196 students · in-state tuition $6,180
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
13.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 64,674 students · in-state tuition $12,975 · 68% graduate · median earnings $69,111 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
12.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 53,782 students · in-state tuition $11,974 · 42% graduate · median earnings $69,111 (10 yrs after entry)
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc
14.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 1,957 students · 72% graduate · median earnings $62,466 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe
13.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 1,202 students · in-state tuition $26,733 · 60% graduate · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,165 students · in-state tuition $35,348 · 48% graduate · median earnings $55,315 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Advancing Technology
14.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 855 students · in-state tuition $19,360 · 42% graduate · median earnings $55,193 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, 51 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Phoenix
Phoenix has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (51 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
51 mi awayTonto National Monument
National Monument
56 mi awayMontezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
74 mi awayTuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Phoenix
Burton Barr Central Library
1221 N Central Ave, Phoenix
Acacia Library
750 E Townley Ave, Phoenix
Agave Library
23550 N 36th Ave, Phoenix
Century Library
1750 E Highland Ave, Phoenix
Cesar Chavez Library
3635 W Baseline Rd, Phoenix
Cholla Library
10050 Metro Parkway E, Phoenix
Desert Broom Library
29710 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix
Desert Sage Library
7602 W Encanto Blvd, Phoenix
Harmon Library
1325 S 5th Ave, Phoenix
Ironwood Library
4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix
Juniper Library
1825 W Union Hills Dr, Phoenix
Mesquite Library
4525 Paradise Village Parkway N, Phoenix
Compare Phoenix
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Phoenix
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Phoenix?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Phoenix FAQ
Is Phoenix, Arizona affordable?⌄
Phoenix's median rent is $1,582/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $81,332/year. Median home value is $420,700.
Is Phoenix, Arizona safe?⌄
Phoenix's violent crime rate was 696 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2046 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Phoenix, Arizona?⌄
Phoenix has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Phoenix, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in Phoenix is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,582/month and median household income is $81,332/year. The median home value is $420,700. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Phoenix, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in Phoenix is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from