What it's like to live in Prescott Valley
Prescott Valley is a small city in Arizona with commutes that run shorter than most cities 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. Prescott Valley deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Prescott Valley compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Prescott Valley
Based on Prescott Valley's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,160
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $63,200 a year
- 47% of Prescott Valley renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$82,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,320
- Homes cost 5.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 12% above US
$1,580/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,580 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 $413,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $413,200 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
306 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 694/100k · Prescott Valley Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 16% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 32% 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
20 public schools inside the boundary
There are 20 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 Tuzigoot National Monument (20 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Prescott Valley's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,580/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes.
Other places near Prescott Valley
All Arizona guides →Moving to Prescott →
7 mi away · pop. 47,400
Rent $1,395/mo · Income $70,874
Compare with Prescott Valley →Moving to Chino Valley →
12 mi away · pop. 13,602
Rent $1,248/mo · Income $61,237
Compare with Prescott Valley →Moving to Verde Village →
20 mi away · pop. 11,930
Rent $1,173/mo · Income $69,331
Compare with Prescott Valley →Moving to Cottonwood →
22 mi away · pop. 12,580
Rent $1,120/mo · Income $48,448
Compare with Prescott Valley →Not sure Prescott Valley is the one?
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