What it's like to live in Casa Grande
Casa Grande is a smaller city in Arizona with 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. Casa Grande deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, college degree attainment below the national average, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Extreme summer heat
How Casa Grande compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Casa Grande
Based on Casa Grande's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,772
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,440 a year
- 51% of Casa Grande renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$60,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,390
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,386/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,386 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $303,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $303,900 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 32% above US
434 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1125/100k · Casa Grande Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 10% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 106°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 40°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 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 40% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
26 public schools inside the boundary
There are 26 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (15 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Casa Grande's strongest point is a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,386/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Casa Grande
All Arizona guides →Moving to Coolidge →
14 mi away · pop. 16,636
Rent $1,314/mo · Income $67,023
Compare with Casa Grande →Moving to Maricopa →
17 mi away · pop. 67,163
Rent $1,998/mo · Income $96,391
Compare with Casa Grande →Moving to Sun Lakes →
22 mi away · pop. 13,924
Rent $1,938/mo · Income $67,853
Compare with Casa Grande →Not sure Casa Grande is the one?
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