Best small towns to live in Arizona

1. 1
   Clifton, AZ Score 78/100

   3,822 people · typical home $66k · household income $78k · schools in the top 37% of AZ · 1.0% unemployment · 29 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Swift Trail Junction, AZ Score 76/100

   2,859 people · typical home $208k · household income $63k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 43% of AZ · 1.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Safford, AZ Score 76/100

   10,239 people · typical home $200k · household income $66k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 42% of AZ · 5.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Morenci, AZ Score 72/100

   1,673 people · typical home $159k · household income $70k · schools in the top 37% of AZ · 4.0% unemployment · 29 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Thatcher, AZ Score 72/100

   5,439 people · typical home $286k · household income $83k · 13 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 41% of AZ · 5.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Eagar, AZ Score 69/100

   4,416 people · typical home $248k · household income $83k · schools in the top 47% of AZ · 4.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Bellemont, AZ Score 69/100

   1,701 people · typical home $534k · household income $120k · 120 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 43% of AZ · 1.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Taylor, AZ Score 69/100

   4,183 people · typical home $308k · household income $90k · 207 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 27% of AZ · 4.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Pima, AZ Score 68/100

   2,995 people · typical home $267k · household income $98k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 59% of AZ · 5.0% unemployment · 20 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Mescal, AZ Score 67/100

    1,760 people · typical home $191k · household income $55k · 151 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 38% of AZ · 5.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Benson, AZ Score 65/100

    5,417 people · typical home $149k · household income $49k · 151 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 38% of AZ · 9.0% unemployment · 18 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Snowflake, AZ Score 64/100

    6,444 people · typical home $272k · household income $76k · 207 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 27% of AZ · 3.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Tuba City, AZ Score 64/100

    7,960 people · typical home $66k · household income $61k · 120 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 71% of AZ · 7.0% unemployment · 38 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    LeChee, AZ Score 64/100

    1,307 people · typical home $86k · household income $62k · 120 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 85% of AZ · 4.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    White Mountain Lake, AZ Score 64/100

    2,910 people · typical home $173k · household income $50k · 207 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 36% of AZ · 5.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    First Mesa, AZ Score 62/100

    1,459 people · typical home $48k · household income $58k · 207 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 54% of AZ · 7.0% unemployment · 47 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Red Lake, AZ Score 61/100

    1,676 people · typical home $323k · household income $101k · 120 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 64% of AZ · 4.0% unemployment · 23 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Golden Shores, AZ Score 61/100

    1,555 people · typical home $210k · household income $51k · 268 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 36% of AZ · 2.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Tombstone, AZ Score 60/100

    1,026 people · typical home $183k · household income $47k · 177 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 52% of AZ · 3.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Springerville, AZ Score 59/100

    2,008 people · typical home $202k · household income $49k · schools in the top 47% of AZ · 5.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    North Fork, AZ Score 58/100

    1,463 people · typical home $105k · household income $123k · 207 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 64% of AZ · 7.0% unemployment · 21 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Holbrook, AZ Score 58/100

    4,858 people · typical home $164k · household income $57k · 207 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 76% of AZ · 4.0% unemployment · 32 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Clarkdale, AZ Score 57/100

    4,758 people · typical home $374k · household income $58k · 122 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 58% of AZ · 3.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Joseph City, AZ Score 57/100

    2,153 people · typical home $177k · household income $75k · 207 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 53% of AZ · 8.0% unemployment · 22 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Fredonia, AZ Score 56/100

    1,061 people · typical home $266k · household income $63k · 73 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 58% of AZ · 6.0% unemployment · 22 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Arizona with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Arizona on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Arizona districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Arizona →