2023 Best Suburbs to Live in Arizona

• Suburb of Tucson, AZ

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  Rating 3.8 out of 5  127 reviews

Current Resident: The Santa Catalina mountain range is so lovely to look at while walking, biking or driving in the Foothills. Our neighbors are great people, always waving & stopping to chat. Love the variety of hiking trails, shopping & dining choices. The schools are top notch & as are the teachers & administrators. Sabino Canyon, Pima Canyon & Finger Rocks are favorites. The selection of houses of worship as well as the local library all serve to make the community so very special. I am glad that we found this area of Tucson to live in when relocating from California back in 1990. There is a bit more congestion now on Sunrise Drive, Craycroft & Campbell Avenue, although because of the beautiful scenery & nature, it is not a hindrance to living here.... Read 127 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 50,096

• Town in Arizona

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  Rating 3.61 out of 5  36 reviews

Current Resident: We have lived here in Corona de Tucson for over 13 years. Our children grew up in the Vail School District. We have loved it from the moment we moved here. It's a beautiful small town atmosphere nestled up against the Santa Rita mountains. The views are gorgeous! Everyday we take walks around the neighborhood there are always people waving and saying hi. When we have had sketchy activity reported the entire community informs about it on our FB community forum. The most wonderful thing I've witnessed and experienced living here is the community spirit. When someone's dog gets lost I've seen and even been the recipient of the whole community pitching in to help find and return the fur babies to their home. When someone has been in need of something like furniture or food. This community has stepped up to help them out. It's not perfect and just like any area that has a diverse population in it, there have been issues from time to time,but I would not live anywhere else in Tucson.... Read 36 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 9,627

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 3.92 out of 5  978 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 978 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 272,439

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  1,202 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 1,202 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 262,249

• City in Arizona

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  Rating 4.46 out of 5  379 reviews

Current Resident: Scottsdale has been a great place to live overall. It is well maintained and has great shopping and dining choices offering a range of cuisine. It also is pretty low on crime and feels safe wherever you go. There are also lots of opportunities to be outside with parks and green belts and lots of community members made good use of them. It is nice to see so many people out walking, running, biking, etc. and does being in a sense of community which can be harder to find nowadays. Traveling through the city is also fairly convenience as the city runs more North to South which allows people to make use of the 101 freeway fairly easily. Main arteries also run along the city to make side streets a viable option when commuting. Although they can get busy during high commute times and street lights do add delay. There are some challenges though. Compared to other areas in the greater Phoenix area, Scottsdale has expensive real estate. More diversity is also needed!... Read 379 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 238,685

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: Live here, and love the environment. Not just a desert but, an oasis. Wonderful quiet neighborhoods with great education opportunities and restaurants. A perfect town if you love to golf, are an avid spa goer, or an art connoisseur.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 12,666

• Town in Arizona

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  63 reviews

Visitor: I really love going to this town when I go to Colossal Cave, an amazing cave within this town. It's really beautiful and has a small town feel. It's super clean and everyone is friendly. It has a railway so there is always trains going through. Being from and living in Mesa/Chandler Area, I would definitely consider a move out here, considering house prices are soaring where I live and you can get a much nicer house out here. There's lots of beautiful adobe houses out here. In short, Vail is a desert town with beautiful mountains, caves, a great school system, very low crime rate, and affordable houses. I highly recommend Vail as a place to live if you want to live in Arizona.... Read 63 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 14,715

• Suburb of Tucson, AZ

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  Rating 3.53 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: I love it here! It is quiet and feels safe in every neighborhood. The thing that I love most is that it is not directly in Tucson, so there is not a lot of traffic and feels like a small town.... Read 19 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 14,946

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.36 out of 5  77 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 77 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 6,656

• Suburb of Tucson, AZ

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  Rating 3.98 out of 5  161 reviews

Current Resident: I love Oro Valley. It is a wonderful place to live and raise a family! My son and daughter have both attended elementary through high school and been very involved in extra curricular activities, community art internship, music programs, and JROTC! There is a lot to offer in this town outside of Tucson.... Read 161 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 46,515

• Suburb of Tucson, AZ

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  Rating 3.68 out of 5  112 reviews

Current Resident: This has always been my favorite neighborhood, it is close to everything, quiet, and safe. Definitely one of the more expensive neighborhoods, but you typically have about 1 acre of land with each house.... Read 112 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 70,224

• City in Arizona

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  920 reviews

Current Resident: Tempe, Arizona is a fast-paced, metropolitan city with plenty to offer. It is a very lively and youthful place filled with food and entertainment. The job market is tremendous as well with jobs ranging from business to construction to tattooing. Not to mention, Arizona State University is also in the vicinity for those looking to work towards a degree. It is a great place for young people who are getting their start in the world, and also for established adults who are just looking for a good time. Tempe, Arizona is just an all-around fun environment to be a part of!... Read 920 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 178,862

• Suburb of Tucson, AZ

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  141 reviews

Current Resident: I love Marana! It's a quieter, small city, but it isnt too far from everything you need. It has good stores, restaurants, various services, places to work, places to hike, etc nearby. It has easy access to the I-10. There are great schools, great law enforcement, good activities, and is near the amazing Saguaro National Park. I love Marana!... Read 141 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 50,834

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  236 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 236 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 57,728

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.03 out of 5  644 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 644 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 187,733

• Town in Arizona

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  Rating 3.82 out of 5  106 reviews

Current Resident: Sahuarita has been my home for as long as I can remember. We have plenty of parks, a full gym, a water park, and TONS of places to explore. It has gone a bit quiet since COVID restricts a lot of the town's recreation, but our community continues to stay strong and connected with some distanced activities, such as our growing rock-art snake!... Read 106 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 33,524

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  56 reviews

Current Resident: Fountain Hills is an absolutely splendid place to live! With soft rolling hills, stunning sunsets, and a centerpiece to behold. Located just east of Scottsdale Arizona, fountain hills is a smaller relaxed town with 15,000 inhabitants. Not only is fountain hills is a relaxing and sleepy town, but it also has stunning features such as the fountain hills park. Here you’ll find a massive fountain that rockets water more than 560 feet into the air! Surrounding the 100 million gallon lake that the fountain sits in is a lively park full of greenery. Just outside of that on Fountain Hills Boulevard you’ll find a variety of small shops, restaurants and condominiums with stunning views. At night, the park lights up and if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to catch the stunning sunset with the soft and smooth mixing of orange, purple and red hues in the sky. Fountain Hills is perfect for anyone who wants a sleepy, relaxing and overall fun and stunning place to live.... Read 56 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 23,639

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 3.89 out of 5  102 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 102 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 22,750

• Suburb of Tucson, AZ

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  Rating 3.49 out of 5  45 reviews

Current Resident: This neighborhood is pretty quiet and peaceful. The scenery in nice, being surrounded by desert is a plus. You can hear the coyotes yelling at night, and there is little light pollution, so the stars are visible!... Read 45 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 12,411

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.36 out of 5  44 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 44 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 4,933

• Suburb of Tucson, AZ

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  Rating 4 out of 5  18 reviews

Current Resident: I love Catalina I was born and raised here. It's one of those towns that you see in the movies that literally have 1 stoplight or at least used to is begin to grow now and flourish into quite the city. This is the town that my children have grown up in and have gone to school in and now as adults choose to live here themselves. Catalina as a town just big enough that not everybody knows your name, but just small enough that if you ever needed help somebody would be there. Growing up here you would literally see people ride their horses to the corner market, you don't really see that anymore and I just something that I miss. When I was a child the closest grocery store was 30 minutes away that is changed now in this town is developing into something beautiful. Catalina rests at the foothills of a beautiful mountain range, you can watch monsoon storms roll over the mountain tops, and the sunsets are to die for. Catalina though small, holds a huge piece of my heart.... Read 18 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 6,472

• City in Arizona

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  Rating 3.81 out of 5  1,608 reviews

Current Resident: Mesa is a large suburb outside the central city of Phoenix. However, unlike most suburbs it’s not just housing there is more entertainment spots than you would think. Mesa has been previously ranked as one of the most boring places to live but after living in other places like Aurora, Colorado I cannot understand that how that is true. Mesa offers a lot of nice housing, although there are some not so nice parts, for the most part it offers some really nice homes. Mesa also has multiple malls, small hikes, a water park, multiple entertainment places like fat cats, dog parks, mini-golf, and many other entertainment places to keep the city fun. Mesa also has downtown Tempe (mill avenue), downtown Scottsdale and downtown Gilbert, within a 20 minute drive. All these places offer a great night out. I believe Mesa is reasonably priced relative to other areas in Arizona, has everything you need as far as grocery stores and is more fun than most suburbs.... Read 1,608 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 497,752

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  334 reviews

Current Resident: I would say that neighborhood is important to me since I will be living in the area. I live in a wonderful neighborhood. All the neighbors are peaceful, friendly, and lively. With the many parks nearby they attract friendly people all the time and they make a great place to gather around and enjoy the air. A benefit in the Goodyear area would be the local grocery stores and supermarkets. They are nearby and it is easy for residents to stop by. The neighbors are incredibly friendly and always helping each other out. You will see kids and family outside having a great time. I can’t forget to mention how clean it is! It is very clean with beautiful sceneries. Waking up everyday to a peaceful morning and fresh air. I have never once experienced a bad situation. I enjoy living here in Goodyear rather than where I used to live. It wasn’t safe or friendly at all. The streets were always dirty and had people with bad intentions. Overall, I wouldn’t change a thing. I love where I am now!... Read 334 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 93,651

• Suburb of Phoenix, AZ

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: A quiet, cute town with lots of older people and small shops. The neighborhoods feature staggered housing because of the natural desert terrain. I think most of the town consists of snow-birds because I frequently do not see my neighbors and have not met most of them. This is a good thing if you are antisocial or need a quiet lifestyle. My neighborhood at least does not have an HOA which is good if you want your house to stand out. The sundial is a great place with restaurants such as the English Rose Tea Room. This spot constantly hosts local events that are good for families. The local post office does not deliver directly to your house and you must acquire a PO box which is why I had to take off a star.... Read 5 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 3,642

• Town in Arizona

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  Rating 3.07 out of 5  14 reviews

Nearby Resident: Benson is a family oriented town with reasonable accommodations and public services. It is the shopping center for many surrounding communities including St. David and Pomerene. It looks a little trashy, but is kept fairly clean. Surrounding areas are much more beautiful, but Benson is the “City Part”.... Read 14 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 5,252