What it's like to live in Chandler
Chandler is a large city in Arizona with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Chandler deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and extreme summer heat.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Extreme summer heat
How Chandler compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Chandler
Based on Chandler's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,804
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $76,080 a year
- 44% of Chandler renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$101,560
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $50,780
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 35% above US
$1,902/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,902 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $507,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $507,800 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 62% below US
124 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1231/100k · Chandler Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 25% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 105°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 33% above US
48% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 48% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
70 public schools inside the boundary
There are 70 public schools inside the boundary and 14 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, 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 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Chandler's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,902/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (25% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Chandler
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