2023 Best Places to Raise a Family in the Phoenix Area

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.48 out of 5  79 reviews

Current Resident: I moved to Ahwatukee Foothills a few years ago and I couldn't be happier with my choice. Before I bought my home here I spent time exploring other neighborhoods and areas of Phoenix but this one stood out. I particularly love its close proximity to nature which allows me to easily go hiking and mountain biking at South Mountain from my front door. There are nearby parks, shops, and family owned restaurants. There's also a large grocery store, gym, car mechanic, dentist office and a local hardware store at Foothills Center. Everything here is so convenient! The schools (elementary, middle, & high) are absolutely fantastic which is hard to find in the greater Phoenix metro area. Ahwatukee Foothills is only 10 minutes via the 202 to Chandler and 15 minutes to Tempe and the airport! Overall this neighborhood offers a safe, friendly community with access to great schools, nature, and top notch amenities.... Read 79 reviews

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• Population 78,142

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  1,226 reviews

Current Resident: My husband and I grew up here. Gilbert is a clean city with clean people. I have read comments about a lack of diversity and complaints about those that are Mormon. Gilbert is known for being a wonderful place to live. That obviously has to do with the residents! Why not get to know the people that live here instead of judging everyone? FYI, there are double the amount of Catholics in Gilbert than Mormons, and other Christian religions are a higher percentage than Mormons too. The Mormons are just actively involved in their religion and their communities. That is a great thing for a city! The reason I did not give my rating five stars is because Gilbert has changed too much! There used to be open space and beautiful farm fields. Now there are ugly apartment complexes on every corner and too many people have moved here from other states. We do not want our community inundated with Californians. The reason why Gilbert was so special is being changed by outsiders.... Read 1,226 reviews

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• Population 262,249

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

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• Population 39,198

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  1,000 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in chandler almost 14 years and I love it! Chandler is such a caring community and truly does for the people. The lifestyle, environment, and citizens in Chandler really build onto the strong city in our community. Not only are a schools A+ and #1 for Football (Go Wolves 4-Peat), but so much support and love from the community truly makes it happen. I honestly am going to live in Arizona my whole life and I wouldn't want to live in any other city than Chandler. Uptown and Downtown Chandler have some of the best hot-spots like restaurants, bars, and awesome hangout places. Chandler is such a pretty city that I love living in!... Read 1,000 reviews

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• Population 272,439

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.39 out of 5  82 reviews

Current Resident: I believe Litchfield Park provides a safe and cozy space to call home. I moved to the area with my parents in the fall of 2022 and fell in love with the warm welcoming environment of the suburb and it's beautiful scenery. Each neighborhood is carefully crafted and taken care of, looking fresh and clean at all times. It is refreshing for an Arizona suburb, Litchfield Park has so much to offer for people of all ages from easily accessible and safe walkways to parks, restaurants and cafes!... Read 82 reviews

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• Population 6,656

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Former Resident: North Gateway was one of the best places i’ve lived. The schools fall under the Deer Valley Unified School District, one of the best school districts in the North Valley. There are a multitude of walking trails and outdoor activities for the residents as well. North Gateway is still developing so in the coming years the nightlife will get more options.... Read 1 review

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• Population 10,345

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: Paradise Valley is a relatively ambiguous and diverse suburb in the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area- there is a vast array of people who live here, from the wealthiest of Arizona, to the industrial workers. Overall, living in Paradise Valley never fails to excite me, there is always a nice restaurant to go out with friends with, or a shopping mall nearby to go visit. Regardless of Arizona’s seemingly arid climate, Paradise Valley is one of the few areas in the Valley that has luscious green grass and sweet little ponds.... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 12,666

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: I admittedly live in one of the richest neighborhoods in Phoenix, Arizona. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. It’s large and full of kind people.... Read 13 reviews

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• Population 169,805

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  245 reviews

Current Resident: Queen Creek is an amazing town full of wonderful country community. This area is a great combination of rising small town businesses and old town fields and farming. It has a great access to the San Tan Mountains for hiking, but also connections to the busier towns like Gilbert and Chandler. If someone is looking for a place to settle in Arizona, Queen Creek is definitely the place to go!... Read 245 reviews

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• Population 57,728

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  103 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Anthem as it is a very family oriented and child friendly community and environment. There a lots of pocket parks easily accessible from just about any neighborhood, walking and biking trails, community center with exercise area, rock wall, pool and kids water park, splash pads in the community and a lot of local resources that make it easy to live, work and play without having to travel far. It is a well maintained community that is very aesthetically pleasing as well. We love living here!... Read 103 reviews

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• Population 22,750

• City in Arizona

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  Rating 4.47 out of 5  393 reviews

Current Resident: Scottsdale has so much to offer for everyone. We have Old Town which has fabulous shops and restaurants. Golf courses galore along with disc golf all up and down the water retention parks. There are art galleries, musical instruments museum, and baseball! There mountains in the city you can hike, ALWAYS bring water. It’s a beautiful city with stuff to do for all people. I love living here.... Read 393 reviews

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• Population 238,685

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: A wonderful Community! Very Friendly and inviting. Many hiking trails and parks. Schools are great and plenty of shopping nearby.... Read 16 reviews

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• Population 161,038

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.12 out of 5  58 reviews

Current Resident: Paradise found living in Fountain Hills! Just driving around town lifts your spirits. Beautiful scenery, walking the lake, great hiking, and the friendliest people! Away from traffic and the best shopping just a 15-minute drive away! Wish I had discovered it earlier!... Read 58 reviews

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• Population 23,639

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: I love my area. I feel way safer than the middle of phoenix. The water also tastes way better too. I live in a gated community. So it is safer that way too. But there not a lot of homeless or druggies. I would recommend this area to everyone. I always see family's doing bike rides and lots of people doing their daily walks. And very dog friendly.... Read 7 reviews

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• Population 177,174

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  657 reviews

Current Resident: Peoria is a peaceful and quiet suburb just north of Phoenix. Peoria is an excellent place to raise a family and the education in Peoria is one of the best in Arizona! Outside of that, Peoria also has a lot of things to do and amazing restaurants to try out! Some of the note worthy places to check out in Peoria would have to be Lake Pleasent and Rio Vista park, which is located just off of Thunderbird and the 101 on the West side of town. Peoria is not too far away from central Phoenix and is a great place for those to get property in a safe suburban neighborhood without being too far away from work!... Read 657 reviews

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• Population 187,733

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Camelback East! We are close to restaurants, grocery stores, and the Dreamy Draw recreation area. Camelback East is a quieter, older Phoenix neighborhood that is close enough to downtown to have easy access to Phoenix's finest restaurants, sporting arenas, and entertainment.... Read 7 reviews

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• Population 137,839

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.36 out of 5  45 reviews

Nearby Resident: I am a current resident near Cave Creek, Arizona. I have been living in the area for the past eight years and I absolutely love it! There are many activities and options to explore in town, relating to history of the location to beautiful views toward the mountains. From off-roading and horse-back riding to enjoying the sunset, this town has incredible opportunities for anyone interested in appreciating nature and the beauty of Arizona. I really have nothing to improve or complain about since I feel blessed to be living near a friendly area that incorporates the interest of every individual. It is a wonderful area to raise a family or to settle down. Needless to say, Cave Creek is the place to be!... Read 45 reviews

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• Population 4,933

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: New River is a great area with plenty of open space. It is far away from major roads, so there is not loud street noise. Neighbors are friendly but large areas of land mean that you aren't exactly close to them. The downside about living in New River is the commute. Because the area is so secluded, it is a bit of a drive to any area of significance. If you like being out of the hustle and bustle of the city and like your privacy or seclusion then New River might be right for you. As long as you can live with commuting to work, and wherever else you may need to go than living in New Rivers quite, safe and open area is perfect for you.... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 17,731

• City in Arizona

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  Rating 3.82 out of 5  1,651 reviews

Current Resident: I really love Mesa, Arizona! Everything is about a 15 minute drive from where I live which makes it very convenient. Mesa is very family friendly and there is so much to do. My favorite things to do in Mesa are going to the lake or river. It is a very cheap and fun activity to stay cool during the hot summer months. The only thing I would change about Mesa is how many drug shops there are so it can be even more family friendly.... Read 1,651 reviews

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• Population 497,752

• City in Arizona

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  952 reviews

Other: In my opinion, Tempe is a wonderful place to live! The scenery is beautiful, and the community is lively. Most of my experience is in Downtown Tempe, which is a very nice area. It is a bit of a college town, since Arizona State University - Tempe is located there, so that may not be for everyone. As a student there, however, I really like that there is almost always something going on in town, and there are lots of fun places around! The summers in Tempe can be very hot, but winters are typically mild. There are fun things to do indoors as well as outdoors, and some of my favorite places include Papago Park and Tempe Town Lake. The rent prices for apartments in the area can be a bit high, but I think that most of them are nice enough that the price is worth it. Most of the people I've come across are very kind, and I feel very safe in Tempe! It is also very accessible, even if you don't have a car. There are many transport options, from public transport to scooters, and walking!... Read 952 reviews

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• Population 178,862

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  343 reviews

Current Resident: Goodyear is a fantastic place to live! The schools are great, the neighborhoods are true communities, and there are loads of development opportunities. Goodyear is the epitome of the suburbs, but only a short drive away from the mountains and the city.... Read 343 reviews

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• Population 93,651

• Neighborhood in Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Nice historical neighborhood. Sought after location that has a variety of food, entertainment, and transportation nearby. The neighborhood is diverse in religion, race, and wealth.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 54,980

• City in Arizona

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  Rating 4.1 out of 5  1,974 reviews

Current Resident: I really like how Phoenix has beautiful mountains, cactuses, but most importantly, sun. You can get enough Vitamin D at Phoenix, for free! While there have been dust storms and flash floods(very occasionally), Phoenix doesn't have any natural disasters(touchwood). I feel like it would be nice if Phoenix could have more diverse restaurants with authentic food, as many authentic restaurants tend to be far away.... Read 1,974 reviews

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• Population 1,591,119

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: I grew up in nearby Litchfield Park in the 80's/90's and had a few friends from the Clearwater Farms neighborhood in Citrus Park. I absolutely fell in love with the area and the rural lifestyle so when it came time to buy a place of my own and raise a family this is where we laid our roots. The homes are all unique and the streets are pedestrian and horse friendly. Our neighbors are true friends, supportive and vigilant. It's more than community it's a bond, like family we really watch out for each other out here. It has been amazing to raise children and teach them to grown their own food and raise their own livestock. The irrigation makes for big trees and green grass so it just has a different feel out here. The area around us is starting to grow rapidly. Developers have bought out the farm lands and are building high density tracts that are in stark contrast to the existing area, the orchards are all but disappeared but overall my experience here has been excellent.... Read 7 reviews

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• Population 5,640

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: It's peaceful, beautiful, with a little bit of wild and natural beauty of the desert. Everything you need in close proximity, but yet still far enough where you feel like your out the "city".... Read 5 reviews

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• Population 3,642