What it's like to live in Apache Junction
Apache Junction is a small city in Arizona with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Apache Junction deals with household incomes below the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
- Extreme summer heat
How Apache Junction compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Apache Junction
Based on Apache Junction's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,292
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,840 a year
- 49% of Apache Junction renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$42,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $21,150
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 19% below US
$1,146/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,146 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $211,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $211,500 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
299 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1117/100k · Apache Junction Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.1 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 104°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 43°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 50% below US
18% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (27 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Apache Junction's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,146/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Apache Junction
All Arizona guides →Moving to Gold Canyon →
5 mi away · pop. 13,107
Rent $1,542/mo · Income $93,377
Compare with Apache Junction →Moving to Mesa →
10 mi away · pop. 511,764
Rent $1,620/mo · Income $82,752
Compare with Apache Junction →Moving to Queen Creek →
10 mi away · pop. 71,867
Rent $2,210/mo · Income $141,978
Compare with Apache Junction →Moving to Gilbert →
13 mi away · pop. 280,262
Rent $2,110/mo · Income $122,551
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