We know why Arizona is one of the best states to retire in America. It has some of the best places to spend your golden years in America.
Arizona’s median age is one of the oldest in the country. Whether you’re looking to join Arizona’s Parrot Heads, love the sun, or want to learn how to Shag, Arizona has you covered.
And HomeSnacks has you covered, too. We’ve created a list of the best places to retire in Arizona for 2025.
To produce this list, we looked at the latest FBI and Census data for 39 cities with 11,000 residents. We looked at important factors like safety, affordability, rent, and how close a place is to an international airport.
We discovered many people come to Arizona as snowbirds and never leave. That’s because the best places to retire in The Grand Canyon State are some of the safest, most affordable places with great amenities. You can hike Camelback Mountain just outside of Phoenix and ski Flagstaff’s black diamonds in the same day.
You’ll be living like retired royalty in the following places.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Arizona For 2025
What’s the best place to retire in Arizona for 2025? The best place to retire in Arizona is Somerton.
Put that RV in park, grab a hot cup of Sanka, and read on as we uncover the best places to retire in Arizona.
Why did Somerton take the top spot? And where are Phoenix and Tucson?
For more Arizona state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Arizona
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arizona
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arizona
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Arizona For 2025
/10
Population: 14,383
Median Income: $71,825
Median Home Price: $206,100
Median Rent: $909
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Somerton: Data
/10
Population: 46,744
Median Income: $69,151
Median Home Price: $528,500
Median Rent: $1,304
Distance to Closest Airport: 82 miles
More on Prescott: Data
/10
Population: 25,961
Median Income: $76,259
Median Home Price: $322,600
Median Rent: $1,163
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Florence: Data
/10
Population: 16,118
Median Income: $39,350
Median Home Price: $138,200
Median Rent: $755
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Douglas: Data
/10
Population: 12,282
Median Income: $58,383
Median Home Price: $286,700
Median Rent: $1,026
Distance to Closest Airport: 78 miles
More on Camp Verde: Data
/10
Population: 12,547
Median Income: $47,162
Median Home Price: $286,000
Median Rent: $1,080
Distance to Closest Airport: 218 miles
More on Cottonwood: Data
/10
Population: 19,753
Median Income: $40,745
Median Home Price: $172,800
Median Rent: $691
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Nogales: Data
/10
Population: 13,372
Median Income: $59,733
Median Home Price: $352,100
Median Rent: $1,178
Distance to Closest Airport: 92 miles
More on Chino Valley: Data
/10
Population: 16,494
Median Income: $65,175
Median Home Price: $343,200
Median Rent: $1,355
Distance to Closest Airport: 68 miles
More on Payson: Data
/10
Population: 33,850
Median Income: $60,418
Median Home Price: $242,700
Median Rent: $990
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Kingman: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Grand Canyon State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Arizona to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Grand Canyon State — 435 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 11,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 39 places from across the state.
For these 39, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 39, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Somerton, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Arizona.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Arizona Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Arizona goes to Somerton.
The best places to retire in Arizona are Somerton, Prescott, Florence, Douglas, Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Nogales, Chino Valley, Payson, and Kingman.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Flagstaff
- Avondale
- El Mirage
For more Arizona reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Arizona
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerton | 14,383 | $71,825 | $206,100 | $909 |
| 2 | Prescott | 46,744 | $69,151 | $528,500 | $1,304 |
| 3 | Florence | 25,961 | $76,259 | $322,600 | $1,163 |
| 4 | Douglas | 16,118 | $39,350 | $138,200 | $755 |
| 5 | Camp Verde | 12,282 | $58,383 | $286,700 | $1,026 |
| 6 | Cottonwood | 12,547 | $47,162 | $286,000 | $1,080 |
| 7 | Nogales | 19,753 | $40,745 | $172,800 | $691 |
| 8 | Chino Valley | 13,372 | $59,733 | $352,100 | $1,178 |
| 9 | Payson | 16,494 | $65,175 | $343,200 | $1,355 |
| 10 | Kingman | 33,850 | $60,418 | $242,700 | $990 |