The 10 Best Small Towns In Arizona For 2026


The best small towns in Arizona are Fort Valley and Rio Verde for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Arizona. Best sururbs in Arizona. Best counties in Arizona.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Grand Canyon State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Arizona based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Arizona ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Arizona For 2026

  1. Fort Valley
  2. Rio Verde
  3. Kachina Village
  4. St. Johns
  5. Tubac
  6. Morenci
  7. Wagon Wheel
  8. Carefree
  9. Desert Hills
  10. Mountainaire
  11. Centennial Park
  12. Parks
  13. Cornville
  14. Eagar
  15. Clifton

Best Small Towns To Live In Arizona Map

What’s the best small town in Arizona? Fort Valley is the best small town in Arizona based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Fort Valley, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Grand Canyon State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Arizona For 2026

1. Fort Valley

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,761
Median Income: $125,625 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $971,029 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6%

2. Rio Verde

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,261
Median Income: $131,723 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $843,247 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

3. Kachina Village

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,212
Median Income: $90,375 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $443,718 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

4. St. Johns

St. Johns, AZ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,395
Median Income: $131,968 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $234,883 (45th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

5. Tubac

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,294
Median Income: $73,359 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $503,137 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

6. Morenci

Morenci, AZ

Source: Wikipedia User | None
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,673
Median Income: $69,583 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $0 (97th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

7. Wagon Wheel

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,716
Median Income: $68,495 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $343,814 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%

8. Carefree

Carefree, AZ

Source: Wikipedia User Marine 69-71 | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,683
Median Income: $147,165 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,292,631 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%

9. Desert Hills

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,944
Median Income: $62,361 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $302,179 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

10. Mountainaire

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,103
Median Income: $111,891 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $531,711 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%

11. Centennial Park

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,839
Median Income: $167,872 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $600,388 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

12. Parks

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,706
Median Income: $78,333 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $624,732 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

13. Cornville

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,618
Median Income: $72,596 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $528,168 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 8.0%

14. Eagar

Eagar, AZ

Source: Flickr User Mesa0789 | CC BY-ND 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 4,416
Median Income: $82,839 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $295,899 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

15. Clifton

Clifton, AZ

Source: Wikipedia User Ron Reiring | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,822
Median Income: $78,480 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $70,823 (83rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Arizona

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Arizona possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 99 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 99, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Arizona. Top of that list — Fort Valley.

This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Arizona.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Arizona are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Arizona are Fort Valley, Rio Verde, Kachina Village, St. Johns, Tubac, Morenci, Wagon Wheel, Carefree, Desert Hills, and Mountainaire.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Arizona:

  1. Casa Blanca
  2. Cibecue
  3. Lukachukai

For more Arizona reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Arizona

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Fort Valley, AZ 1,761 $125,625 0.6%
2 Rio Verde, AZ 2,261 $131,723 0.0%
3 Kachina Village, AZ 3,212 $90,375 1.7%
4 St. Johns, AZ 3,395 $131,968 0.0%
5 Tubac, AZ 1,294 $73,359 0.0%
6 Morenci, AZ 1,673 $69,583 4.0%
7 Wagon Wheel, AZ 1,716 $68,495 5.8%
8 Carefree, AZ 3,683 $147,165 3.8%
9 Desert Hills, AZ 2,944 $62,361 2.9%
10 Mountainaire, AZ 1,103 $111,891 5.7%
11 Centennial Park, AZ 1,839 $167,872 2.5%
12 Parks, AZ 1,706 $78,333 1.0%
13 Cornville, AZ 3,618 $72,596 8.0%
14 Eagar, AZ 4,416 $82,839 3.2%
15 Clifton, AZ 3,822 $78,480 0.8%
16 Pima, AZ 2,995 $97,960 4.1%
17 Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 4,101 $60,694 5.7%
18 St. David, AZ 1,098 $53,188 0.0%
19 Wellton, AZ 2,527 $58,470 0.5%
20 Pinetop Country Club, AZ 2,054 $79,719 5.9%
21 Star Valley, AZ 2,525 $65,426 0.0%
22 Parker, AZ 3,388 $66,273 7.4%
23 Clarkdale, AZ 4,758 $46,563 2.7%
24 Williams, AZ 3,369 $76,136 5.0%
25 Lake Montezuma, AZ 4,929 $64,455 2.4%
26 Dewey-Humboldt, AZ 4,501 $66,535 9.9%
27 Pine, AZ 1,740 $59,432 0.0%
28 Strawberry, AZ 1,094 $60,492 0.0%
29 Linden, AZ 2,502 $98,038 9.1%
30 Bagdad, AZ 2,814 $107,885 6.5%
31 Swift Trail Junction, AZ 2,859 $63,074 0.0%
32 Bisbee, AZ 4,977 $47,613 13.6%
33 Taylor, AZ 4,183 $90,275 3.6%
34 Mescal, AZ 1,760 $55,417 3.9%
35 Paulden, AZ 4,795 $91,741 1.5%
36 Springerville, AZ 2,008 $49,051 3.8%
37 Cordes Lakes, AZ 3,808 $61,708 4.6%
38 Beaver Dam, AZ 1,624 $72,650 6.8%
39 Oracle, AZ 3,146 $63,774 3.6%
40 Grand Canyon Village, AZ 1,599 $73,418 1.5%
41 Colorado City, AZ 2,702 $64,167 4.1%
42 Huachuca City, AZ 1,614 $50,625 3.7%
43 Kearny, AZ 2,109 $47,031 4.4%
44 Holbrook, AZ 4,858 $56,502 3.4%
45 Cienega Springs, AZ 1,958 $46,575 7.4%
46 Tombstone, AZ 1,026 $34,901 0.8%
47 Lake Of The Woods, AZ 3,250 $55,987 15.3%
48 Ajo, AZ 3,107 $53,958 6.9%
49 Superior, AZ 2,535 $45,030 6.2%
50 Golden Shores, AZ 1,555 $44,077 0.0%
51 Cactus Flats, AZ 1,508 $58,021 17.8%
52 Congress, AZ 1,491 $57,159 0.0%
53 Fredonia, AZ 1,061 $62,887 6.0%
54 St. Michaels, AZ 1,142 $65,556 12.7%
55 Tonto Basin, AZ 1,750 $50,762 0.0%
56 Heber-Overgaard, AZ 3,621 $58,542 16.4%
57 Willcox, AZ 3,222 $43,929 13.0%
58 Window Rock, AZ 2,477 $55,694 8.6%
59 Bouse, AZ 1,203 $47,691 4.5%
60 North Fork, AZ 1,463 $123,313 5.8%
61 Claypool, AZ 1,259 $57,900 12.0%
62 Valle Vista, AZ 2,369 $46,161 7.7%
63 Fort Defiance, AZ 3,351 $56,045 11.2%
64 Central Heights-Midland City, AZ 2,909 $61,400 11.9%
65 Mohave Valley, AZ 2,555 $60,134 9.3%
66 Joseph City, AZ 2,153 $75,227 7.8%
67 Gila Bend, AZ 1,363 $52,254 0.0%
68 Miami, AZ 1,405 $40,875 17.3%
69 Black Canyon City, AZ 2,181 $47,465 10.5%
70 Whetstone, AZ 2,971 $51,625 8.4%
71 Lechee, AZ 1,307 $61,731 3.3%
72 Tsaile, AZ 1,696 $48,819 6.2%
73 South Tucson, AZ 4,550 $33,598 10.6%
74 Chinle, AZ 4,147 $53,239 12.0%
75 White Mountain Lake, AZ 2,910 $50,263 4.8%
76 San Manuel, AZ 3,491 $48,314 2.4%
77 Spring Valley, AZ 1,673 $42,817 1.6%
78 Naco, AZ 1,060 $57,540 8.1%
79 Kayenta, AZ 4,927 $58,423 13.5%
80 Mammoth, AZ 1,191 $47,266 17.6%
81 First Mesa, AZ 1,459 $57,889 6.6%
82 San Carlos, AZ 4,973 $56,302 18.2%
83 Avenue B And C, AZ 4,001 $44,240 19.9%
84 Ak-Chin Village, AZ 1,132 $47,344 9.7%
85 Wilhoit, AZ 1,101 $57,708 7.5%
86 Peach Springs, AZ 1,234 $60,054 18.1%
87 Canyon Day, AZ 1,182 $36,207 8.7%
88 Pirtleville, AZ 1,939 $48,589 16.4%
89 Summit, AZ 4,896 $47,064 22.3%
90 Whiteriver, AZ 4,545 $37,440 9.7%
91 Meadview, AZ 1,517 $26,490 22.0%
92 Sacaton, AZ 3,429 $49,327 14.0%
93 Pinon, AZ 1,159 $45,563 29.8%
94 Kaibito, AZ 1,661 $46,932 10.0%
95 Dilkon, AZ 1,270 $37,656 8.7%
96 Bylas, AZ 1,551 $29,318 27.3%
97 Lukachukai, AZ 1,969 $37,011 20.5%
98 Cibecue, AZ 2,228 $25,791 13.3%
99 Casa Blanca, AZ 1,697 $30,282 10.4%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns