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 2026.
To produce this list, we looked at the latest FBI and Census data for 39 cities with 12,000 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 2026
What’s the best place to retire in Arizona for 2026? 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 2026
/10
Population: 14,574
Median Income: $74,015
Median Home Price: $271,557
Median Rent: $896
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Somerton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 25,570
Median Income: $79,644
Median Home Price: $333,592
Median Rent: $1,302
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Florence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,981
Median Income: $42,019
Median Home Price: $173,569
Median Rent: $772
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Douglas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,521
Median Income: $69,203
Median Home Price: $431,371
Median Rent: $1,059
Distance to Closest Airport: 78 miles
More on Camp Verde: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 47,400
Median Income: $70,874
Median Home Price: $605,543
Median Rent: $1,395
Distance to Closest Airport: 82 miles
More on Prescott: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,602
Median Income: $61,237
Median Home Price: $500,150
Median Rent: $1,248
Distance to Closest Airport: 92 miles
More on Chino Valley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,580
Median Income: $48,448
Median Home Price: $397,513
Median Rent: $1,120
Distance to Closest Airport: 218 miles
More on Cottonwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 16,622
Median Income: $67,710
Median Home Price: $446,819
Median Rent: $1,345
Distance to Closest Airport: 68 miles
More on Payson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 19,841
Median Income: $43,214
Median Home Price: $220,631
Median Rent: $737
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Nogales: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 34,375
Median Income: $61,792
Median Home Price: $273,782
Median Rent: $1,058
Distance to Closest Airport: 30 miles
More on Kingman: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Grand Canyon State for 2026
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 12,000 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Florence, Douglas, Camp Verde, Prescott, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, Payson, Nogales, and Kingman.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Flagstaff
- El Mirage
- Avondale
For more Arizona reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Arizona
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerton | 14,574 | $74,015 | $271,557 | $896 |
| 2 | Florence | 25,570 | $79,644 | $333,592 | $1,302 |
| 3 | Douglas | 15,981 | $42,019 | $173,569 | $772 |
| 4 | Camp Verde | 12,521 | $69,203 | $431,371 | $1,059 |
| 5 | Prescott | 47,400 | $70,874 | $605,543 | $1,395 |
| 6 | Chino Valley | 13,602 | $61,237 | $500,150 | $1,248 |
| 7 | Cottonwood | 12,580 | $48,448 | $397,513 | $1,120 |
| 8 | Payson | 16,622 | $67,710 | $446,819 | $1,345 |
| 9 | Nogales | 19,841 | $43,214 | $220,631 | $737 |
| 10 | Kingman | 34,375 | $61,792 | $273,782 | $1,058 |