2020 Best Places to Raise a Family in the Phoenix AreaAbout this List

Gilbert

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 1,064 reviews

Current Resident: The Gilbert School District is a highly-esteemed school district that provides numerous opportunities to help its students excel academically. The school district also responds to the needs and interests of students and parents. For students, a variety of fascinating and educational field-trips, programs, and after-school activities are offered. For parents, a wide-range of classes and workshops are available to inform them of such issues as cyber-bullying and anxiety in children and adolescents.
The Gilbert community is well-protected by neighborhood watch programs, frequent police checks, and low speed limits near schools. It's a booming town with new housing communities, restaurants, shopping stores, and medical offices. If you live in Gilbert, you probably won't have to drive far to get to your child's school, the grocery store, the dry cleaners, your doctor's office, or a restaurant!
Read 1,064 Reviews

• A

• A

• A

• 237,484 Population

Ahwatukee Foothills

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ
• 56 reviews

Current Resident: My husband and I absolutely LOVE Ahwatukee! We moved here from Orange County, CA, and will not be moving back to CA anytime soon. We have everything we need within 5 minutes driving. Plus, we are just 15 minutes from downtown Phoenix. There are tons of restaurants, bars, stores and services around here. The area is clean and safe, and everyone is super nice! If you are considering moving to the Phoenix Area, we highly recommend Ahwatukee.
Read 56 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 77,094 Population

Chandler

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 932 reviews

Nearby Resident: There are many fun things to do in Chandler. There are museums and malls and resturants. You could spend a whole day there and still not be able to get to see everything Chandler, Arizona has to offer. The good thing is if you were to plan to take a visit, commute time would be little to nothing! This is because there is rarely ever traffic there. Do you have kids? If yes, there is Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center, Airworx Trampoline Center, Xtreme Air Park, Makutu's Island. (These are just to name a few). If you are a bit older and all that doesn't excite you anymore there are Movie Theatres, Bowling, Hiking, Swim Amusement Park, Painting Classes, and of course many more! Overall, my experiences in Chandler are always amazing and never disappoints!
Read 932 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 248,631 Population

Desert View

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

• A

• A-

• A

• 43,951 Population

Paradise Valley

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 8 reviews

Current Resident: My husband and I love where we live in Paradise Valley. Great schools , community, very family friendly. If you are looking for more of a party scene you should look else where. Uber rides can be taken central location not much to walk to aside from restaurants around PV Mall.
Read 8 Reviews

• A

• A

• A

• 14,215 Population

Litchfield Park

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 61 reviews

Current Resident: Litchfield Park has been my home since the age of 4. In my time here I have noticed that most neighborhoods are close to one another and there are several grocery stores and fast food restaurants nearby- which makes everything you could ever want very easy to access. In general, the civilians here are kind and helpful and the city overall is an easygoing place to be. I recommend people to move here because of the positive atmosphere with lots of parks for family friendly fun!
Read 61 Reviews

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• A

• A

• 5,899 Population

Scottsdale

• City in Arizona
• 295 reviews

Current Resident: Scottsdale, Arizona boasts a wide variety of entertainment from world-class dining & nightlife to family-friendly fun such as waterparks, museums, and the Phoenix Zoo - the largest privately owned, non-profit zoo in the United States and home to over 3,000 animals including 30 threatened or endangered species. Scottsdale is also great if you seek outdoor adventure such as hiking Camelback Mountain or just want to relax at one of the numerous spas in the area. Oh and did I mention, we have some pretty awesome sunsets too!
Read 295 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 246,026 Population

Paradise Valley

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ
• 9 reviews

Current Resident: Paradise Valley is located in the perfect location, in between North Scottsdale and Old Town. It is a beautiful area with well cared for homes. Although in a major city, it has a small town feel with our own police and fire departments. The best part is its quiet and safe! I wouldn't change a thing.
Read 9 Reviews

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• A-

• A-

• 167,261 Population

North Gateway

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ
• 2 reviews

Current Resident: Great area to live or be a snowbird. Easy access to hiking trails, bike, parks, Lake Pleasant, shopping, restaurants, and a few bar & grills to watch fights or games. A lot within walking distance. Nice schools from what I hear too. Friendly people who seem to generally be from all over the country as well as some AZ natives. Professionals, singles, and families. Commute to work is easy. Am a permanent resident but still feel like I’m on vacation👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Read 2 Reviews

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• A-

• A-

• 16,369 Population

Anthem

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 90 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Anthem for almost 10 years now and from what I’ve seen this close-knit community is a great place to live. In comparison to other cities around, Anthem is by far the best. It is filled with a variety of grocery stores such as Fry’s, Walmart and Safeway for maximum consumer benefit. This community also has many schools at different levels such as; Preparatory schools, Public school, a charter school, and even different preschools and daycares to choose from. Each school has its own unique and secure campuses and because of the size of this community the fire department can arrive in record time as it was strategically placed in the center of town. Not only is the town as a whole a great place but there are also seasonal events! Such as, the fall and spring carnival, farmers markets, annual Independence Day celebrations with free fireworks and much more!
Read 90 Reviews

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• B+

• A-

• 22,570 Population

Queen Creek

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 187 reviews

Nearby Resident: Queen Creek has been developing very rapidly; each new establishment offering up entertainment and positive change for the community. One of my favorite parts that the town of Queen Creek does, is hold Food Truck Friday every Friday night. They offer many varieties and have benches so that you can enjoy food with your family or friends. Even though Queen Creek continues to grow, it still maintains that "homey" feel. They always hold events for the community and have plenty of clean and safe parks that involve: skateparks, big fields, playgrounds, basketball courts, and tons more. I myself live a town over, San Tan Valley, but try to stay in Queen Creek as much as I can, due to the many opportunities the town offers so I can have fun with my friends. The only downfall is the varied diversity, religiously and racially. If anyone has a chance to come down to Queen Creek, I highly recommend it!
Read 187 Reviews

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• B+

• A-

• 36,053 Population

Deer Valley

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ
• 13 reviews

Current Resident: A wonderful Community! Very Friendly and inviting. Many hiking trails and parks. Schools are great and plenty of shopping nearby.
Read 13 Reviews

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• B+

• A-

• 165,091 Population

Peoria

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 567 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here for 11 years and it is a great place to live! The Peoria Unified School District is amazing and I have enjoyed the educational opportunities and assistance I have gotten from them. There is also a lot of events to attend such as car shows, farmers markets, and community gatherings in parks. It is also a very diverse place to live with rural and urban communities right next to one another.
Read 567 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• A-

• 164,572 Population

Fountain Hills

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 47 reviews

Works Here: Rated one of the safest communities in all of Maricopa County, Fountain Hills is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and a great place to raise a family. Close proximity to world-class hiking and mountain bike trails, located in the center of the Sonoran Golf Trail with 6 of the best public courses in AZ, fantastic parks and community amenities, plus fantastic schools! Really impressed with the number of awesome restaurants, quality events and... a great brew pub!
Read 47 Reviews

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• A-

• B+

• 24,490 Population

Goodyear

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 281 reviews

Current Resident: As a resident of Goodyear over the past ten years, I have fallen in love with the sense of community and friendliness that everyone has for each other. I have grown up with people who have set good examples to me and my family. Everyone just wants each other to succeed, and will sacrifice their time to help others achieve their goals. I have gone through my teen years in Goodyear, and have had teachers, coaches, and other adults whom I have gotten help and advice from. The people in Goodyear, are by far my favorite part about living here. On the other hand, there is some separation between some of the people because of location. Goodyear is separated between residents of Estrella Mountain Ranch, and those who live outside of it. I wish that our communities were closer to each other so that we could be around and interact with one another more often. I also wish that certain stores and restaurants were closer to both communities as well. Despite this, I love being here!
Read 281 Reviews

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• A-

• B+

• 77,476 Population

Tempe

• City in Arizona
• 821 reviews

Current Resident: Although the city of Temp provides late-night activities and scenery that is just unbeatable, especially for the college students that live nearby, there is usually always construction. Now, while this isn't a huge problem, it can get in the way of having a beautiful looking city. Once the construction is finished however, the city will be one of the best looking in Arizona!
Read 821 Reviews

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• B+

• B+

• 183,652 Population

North Mountain

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ
• 6 reviews

Current Resident: The location is perfect! Easy access to all major freeways, shops all around but isn't too noisy. Safe people and a great area for children!
Read 6 Reviews

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• B+

• B+

• 161,526 Population

Mesa

• City in Arizona
• 1,418 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Mesa for most of my life and I still live there to this day! Mesa is a fun and interactive place with many things to do for people who like to be in a relaxed environment in which they can move at their own pace. The only thing that I would be interested in seeing changed would be an increase in nightlife and night activities. Other than that, Mesa is a safe and quiet place to live in with a broad diversity in cultures and experiences!
Read 1,418 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• B+

• 491,194 Population

Phoenix

• City in Arizona
• 1,420 reviews

Current Resident: I love that there is always something to do! So many weekend events and monthly opportunities like First Friday. I love the amount of volunteer opportunities available here too because we do have such great weather, which allows you to actually go out. I guess the only thing I wish we had less of is traffic. Even with one new freeway we still have traffic issues especially these last 3 years I'd say. I know they are adding and fixing the current freeway system but man I wish they would fix one at a time that way the commutr to work or whatever wouldbt be so bad. But hey what do I know..
Read 1,420 Reviews

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• B

• B+

• 1,610,071 Population

Cave Creek

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 28 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet, friendly town. Excellent restaurants and entertainment venues. Easy access to downtown Phoenix and other cities via make freeway, yet enough out of town to be quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Lots of community events to get to know neighbors and great family friendly events. Spacious lots which afford families great place to raise children. Outdoor venues well appointed and taken care of for safe fun outside.
Read 28 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• B+

• 5,569 Population

Camelback East

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ
• 4 reviews

Visitor: There are always things to do. You are surrounded by wildlife and the weather is perfect! There are so many food options, (Sushiholic is amazing!) I’ve visited here many times and it never fails to disappoint!
Read 4 Reviews

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• B-

• B

• 134,942 Population

Glendale

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ
• 734 reviews

Current Resident: The downtown area is lovely with its small businesses and events. You’ll find cute shops and nice dining places downtown! There are a few mountains to hike around/near Glendale! There are also many parks to have fun and relax at. It’s close to Phoenix so it’s a quick drive to the theatre, museums, and so much more!
Read 734 Reviews

• B+

• B+

• B

• 245,514 Population

Rio Vista

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

• B+

• B+

• B

• 4,672 Population

Laveen

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ
• 74 reviews

Current Resident: I really liked the safe environment that it brings to everyone! Sure there are parts that can be in the gray area, but an overall great area to live in. I think that security needs to change, everything else is superb! :)
Read 74 Reviews

• B+

• B-

• B

• 47,972 Population

Encanto

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ
• 2 reviews

Current Resident: The Encanto neighborhood is an amazing place to grow up as a kid. With many schools nears by, parks to play in, and kids living all over the neighborhood. The houses are elegant and timeless, but also have the luxuries of modern homes! It very rarely feels unsafe, if ever and people are friendly! It is very centrally located and close to Downtown and Central Phoenix! It is a great place for people all ages to live!
Read 2 Reviews

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• C+

• B

• 54,600 Population