7 Best Places to Retire in Arizona

So close to the ocean, yet so far away, Arizona is one of the largest states in the United States and one that you can pick out for your retirement, so we’re going to take a look at the 7 best places to retire in Arizona.

First thing first, however. A big part of Arizona is known for its desert climate, just so you know what you’re signing up for. That means the summers are quite hot and the winters are mild. But that’s mostly in the southern area. Up in the northern areas of the state, you’ll find forests and some mountainous ranges, beautiful canyons, and great sights. There, the climate is a bit different, with kinder summers and winters that come with snowfalls that are more than just a thin coat over the streets.

Arizona is the home of the Grand Canyon National Park, of the Colorado Plateau and the San Francisco Mountains, in part. It is home to the famous Meteor Crater, which is one of the most well-preserved meteorite impact sites in the entire world, which is, obviously, absolutely wonderful, especially if you’re passionate about astronomy in any manner. The crater is about 1 mile wide and 570 feet deep, so it’s pretty hard to miss.

The Grand Canyon, however, is possibly the most beautiful of its natural features. The fact that it is one of the seven natural wonders of the world is reason enough to want to go visit din wonderful location carved by the Colorado River. It took millions of years for the Grand Canyon to reach the shape it is in today and it continues to change.

Arizona is home to over 6.4 million people with a median age of 36 years. Across the state, the median home price is $180,000 in case you were wondering while the average commute time is 24.63 minutes. The cost of living across the state is 102.2, so it’s not that far north of the national average while the crime rate is calculated at 46, with 1 being the safest. In Arizona, there are 226 physicians per 100,000 residents. Before we move forward, however, perhaps you’d like to read on the 6 best places to retire in Alaska.

For our list today, we gathered info for all counties in Arizona regarding the median home price, the average commute time so you know you won’t spend forever in traffic, the crime rates and the number of doctors to take care of your needs, as well as the cost of living index. Data comes from Sperling’s Best Places which mixes info from all sorts of government sources, including the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We ranked all counties for the above-mentioned criteria, handed out points and ended up with the final scores. Without further ado, here are the 7 best places to retire in Arizona.

7. Coconino

Score: 10

Median home price: $269,800

Cost of living index: 118

Average commute time: 18.38

Crime index: 52

Doctors per 100K: 244

The second largest county by land area in the contiguous Unites States (following San Bernardino, California), Coconino County spreads over 18,661 square miles, which makes it larger than nine states in the US. What’s particularly cool about Coconino, aside from its size, is the fact that it is home to the Grand Canyon National Park, the Havasupai Nation and parts of the Navajo Nation, Hualapai Nation, and Hopi Nation. This means that it is also home to some 30 percent of the Native American population.

Some 134,000 people live in this county so the population density isn’t all that high. You do have to take into consideration, however, the fact that a big part of the county is occupied by nature’s wonders. Obviously, there are plenty to do here, especially if you love being out in nature. Hiking, boating, fishing, biking, camping and so on are available to everyone.

6. Yavapai

Score: 11

Median home price: $204,700

Cost of living index: 105.3

Average commute time: 22.03

Crime index: 36

Doctors per 100K: 192

Yavapai County may not be as large as its predecessor but it’s still larger than three US states – Rhode Island, Delaware & Connecticut, and the District of Columbia – covering 8,128 square miles. The county’s geography is pretty interesting, with the Sonoran Desert at the southern border and the Coconino Plateau in the north and the Mogollon Rim in the east. The highest point in the county is the Mount Union, which reaches 7,979 feet.

There are also plenty of wilderness areas that you can visit if you enjoy the outdoors as much as the next person. If you are used to going out in nature, there are a lot of locations to visit whenever you feel like it and since there are so many options to choose from you surely won’t get bored.

5. Yuma

Score: 11

Median home price: $108,900

Cost of living index: 90.9

Average commute time: 19.09

Crime index: 54

Doctors per 100K: 120

Home to close 200,000 people, Yuma county is situated in the south-west corner of the state, bordering the Colorado river on one side, California on another, as well as Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. The county spreads over 5,519 square miles, making for a rather low population density.

A large part of the county is made out of the Sonora Desert, particularly the west and northwestern regions. There’s also the Colorado River running by the county’s border, the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert. If you’re more interested in taller geographical features, then there are a few mountain peaks to enjoy too.

Homes in the area cost close to $109,000 while the cost of living index is over 9 points below the national average, which is obviously great.

4. Apache

Score: 12

Median home price: $85,900

Cost of living index: 84.2

Average commute time: 29.01

Crime index: 60

Doctors per 100K: 53

Bordering New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, Apache County spreads over 11,218 square miles. Over 71,000 people live in this area, according to the 2010 census. The county is home to parts of the Navajo Indian Reservation and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, which shouldn’t really come as a surprise given the name. If you enjoy the outdoors, then the Petrified Forest National Park may be one of your destinations once you move there.

Houses in the area cost below $86,000 in average, which means there will likely be a lot left in your accounts if you decide on this location. The cost of living index is over 15 points below the national average, so your monthly costs should drop quite a bit, although that depends on the cost of living in your current area.

3. Cochise

Score: 12

Median home price: $116,200

Cost of living index: 91.3

Average commute time: 19.15

Crime index: 40

Doctors per 100K: 98

In the southeastern corner of Arizona sits Cochise County, home to over 131,000 people. Bordering New Mexico and Sonora, Mexico on two of its sides, the county spreads over 6,219 square miles. The climate in the area is semi-arid, so you should be prepared for everything that comes with this type of climate when moving – namely low precipitation and high temperatures. That beats shoveling up snow, however.

The median home price in the county is a bit above $116,000, while the cost of living index is 91.3, meaning you’ll pay less than the national average. The average commute time is also an acceptable 19.15 minutes while the crime index is a nice 40.

2. Greenlee

Score: 20

Median home price: $79,200

Cost of living index: 83.6

Average commute time: 15.18

Crime index: 53

Doctors per 100K: 59

One of the least populated counties in Arizona, Greenlee comes second on our list of 7 best places to retire in Arizona. The county covers 1,848 square miles and it is called home by over 8,400 people. Greenlee is situated in the eastern area of the state, bordering New Mexico.

As far as activities go, you can visit the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, where you can enjoy some time in nature or go camping, fishing or hunting. You may also check out the Coronado Trail or just enjoy walking on many trails across the county looking for semi-precious gems and minerals which can be found, in some areas, literally on the ground.

The median home price in the area is below $80,000 while the cost of living index is 83.6, well below the national average. You won’t be spending too much time in traffic either since the average commute time is a bit over 15 minutes.

1. La Paz

Score: 23

Median home price: $95,500

Cost of living index: 85.8

Average commute time: 13.12

Crime index: 40

Doctors per 100K: 63

The second least populated county in Arizona is La Paz, situated in the western area of the state, bordering California. Home to over 20,000 people, the county spreads over 4,514 square miles.

Those living here can enjoy a lot of activities, including water skiing, boating, jet skiing and the lot, as well as swimming. Those who enjoy fishing can do so here too. There are also desert-specific Activities, including hiking on various trails, visiting old mines and ghost towns.

The median home price in the county is a convenient $95,500 while the cost of living index is well below the national average, namely 85.8. The average commute time is a mere 13 minutes, so you shouldn’t really worry about being stuck in traffic. All in all, La Paz tops the list of the 7 best places to retire in Arizona.