What it's like to live in Phoenix
Phoenix is a major city in Arizona with schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Phoenix deals with home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and very hot summers.
The good
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Very hot summers
How Phoenix compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Phoenix
Based on Phoenix's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,164
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $63,280 a year
- 49% of Phoenix renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$84,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $42,070
- Homes cost 5.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 12% above US
$1,582/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,582 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $420,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $420,700 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 111% above US
696 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2046/100k · Phoenix Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 25.6 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; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 103°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 44°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
23 hospitals
There are 23 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.3 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
512 public schools inside the boundary
There are 512 public schools inside the boundary and 73 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (51 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Nothing in Phoenix's numbers stands out as a clear strength, and the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,582/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Phoenix
All Arizona guides →Not sure Phoenix is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.