What it's like to live in Chino Valley
Chino Valley is a small city in Arizona with rent below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Chino Valley deals with household incomes below the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Chino Valley compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Chino Valley
Based on Chino Valley's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,496
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $49,920 a year
- 31% of Chino Valley renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$78,940
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,470
- Homes cost 6.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 12% below US
$1,248/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,248 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $394,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $394,700 · 31% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Yavapai County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Yavapai County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 66% below US
113 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 510/100k · Chino Valley Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 22% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.6 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 33% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary. 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 Tuzigoot National Monument (22 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Chino Valley's strongest points are rent below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,248/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Chino Valley
All Arizona guides →Moving to Prescott →
12 mi away · pop. 47,400
Rent $1,395/mo · Income $70,874
Compare with Chino Valley →Moving to Prescott Valley →
12 mi away · pop. 49,179
Rent $1,580/mo · Income $74,569
Compare with Chino Valley →Moving to Cottonwood →
24 mi away · pop. 12,580
Rent $1,120/mo · Income $48,448
Compare with Chino Valley →Moving to Verde Village →
25 mi away · pop. 11,930
Rent $1,173/mo · Income $69,331
Compare with Chino Valley →Not sure Chino Valley is the one?
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