It seems like there is a new "best places to live and retire" study released each week, and many of them have a different take on the Grand Canyon State, which can make picking a place to call home a little tougher.
The Arizona Republic rounded up all the cities that were included on these lists and what made them the top city, according to sources like WalletHub, U.S. News and World Report, Travel + Leisure and more.
So, without further ado, here is the definitive list of all the Arizona cities named the best place to live in 2026. Some of these might seem a bit unexpected and others continue to pop up again and again.
Best places to live in 2026
U.S. News and World Report released its list of all the best places in the U.S. to live in 2026-2027, and a few Arizona cities
made the list.
Arizona earned recognition in the rankings, with multiple cities appearing on the national list thanks to their growing economies, outdoor lifestyles, and expanding housing markets. Here is where they ranked:
- 57: Gilbert.
- 78: Chandler.
- 103: Queen Creek.
- 111: Marana.
- 135: Sierra Vista.
- 146: Peoria.
- 149: Scottsdale.
- 223: Surprise.
- 245: Goodyear.
Top 10 places to live in Arizona, Travel+Leisure says
Real Estate experts from Travel+Leisure made a list of the top 10 places in Arizona to live, with some of the state's biggest cities and some smaller towns being included.
- Sedona
- Phoenix
- Scottsdale
- Tucson
- Strawberry
- Sierra Vista
- Prescott
- Flagstaff
- Gold Canyon
- Mesa
Arizona cities named top spots for renters
Scottsdale was named Arizona's best city for renters, and the nation's seventh-best, in RentCafe's 2026 ranking. It was also named the top spot for renters by WalletHub.
The city primarily stood out for its quality of life, ranking fifth in the nation in that category. For that ranking, RentCafe evaluated factors including average school quality, commute times, public transit, walkability, air quality and social association rates.
Scottsdale also ranked ninth nationally for its local economy, a category that considered factors such as the unemployment rate, renter income growth and job growth.
Gilbert was also named the 13th best U.S. city for renters.
Arizona's best real estate market
Gilbert was ranked No. 13 nationally out of 300 cities, and was Arizona's top city for real estate, in a recent Wallethub study.
The small town scored 63.41 out of 100 and ranked 33rd in the real estate market category and seventh in the affordability and economic environment rank.
Best cities in the America
A study by Resonance ranked Phoenix No. 19 out of 100 American cities, standing out in categories like nature, restaurants, family friendly attractions and prosperity.
Resonance also noted Phoenix's rapid growth, considering Arizona is the youngest state on the top 20 list. Phoenix ranks No. 18 in prosperity due to its innovation and growth. According to Resonance, Phoenix also secured the largest foreign investment in U.S. history with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
Most affordable places for homebuying
A recent WalletHub study has named 11 Arizona cities as some of the most affordable places to buy a home in the U.S.
According to WalletHub, Surprise is Arizona's most affordable city to buy a home in and ranked No. 3 nationally for affordability.
Ten other Arizona cities ranked in the top 300 nationally for most affordable cities to buy a home, including Yuma (No. 4), Mesa (No. 15), Peoria (No. 22) and Gilbert (No. 32).
Alternatively, Flagstaff was named Arizona's least affordable housing market and the 43rd least affordable housing market nationally. This comes as no surprise for most Arizonans as the ski town is known for its expensive and exclusive housing market.
Fastest-growing suburb in Arizona
Buckeye came in at No. 20 out of 50 on the list of fastest-growing suburbs in the United States, making it the highest-ranked Arizona city on the list, according to MoneyLion.
Here are the statistics contributing to Buckeye's growth as a suburb:
- Total population growth from 2019 to 2024: 35,179 people, a 50.4% increase
- Median household income: $99,486
- Average home value: $396,581
- Total cost of living annually: $52,615
Arizona's hottest ZIP code
According to MovingPlace, Surprise ZIP code 85387 has the most moves per capita in Arizona and was ranked 6th nationally for most moves per capita for the first half of 2026.
In May, The Arizona Republic reported that MovingPlaces had ranked that same Surprise ZIP code as the fifth highest moves per capita nationally in March.
Arizona's happiest city
Once again, Scottsdale has been named one of the happiest cities in America, according to a new WalletHub ranking.
In WalletHub's study, Scottsdale was in the top five for one of the happiest cities in America, out of 182 cities, based on 29 metrics.
Scottsdale is ranked the third happiest city in America, largely due to more than 88% of adults in Scottsdale reporting good or better health, the third-highest percentage in the country, according to WalletHub. This placed the metro Phoenix city No. 11 for emotional and physical well-being of all the cities studied.
Arizona's most welcoming town
World Atlas chose Bisbee as Arizona's most welcoming town because of the strong sense of community that developed after its mining industry declined. Newcomers helped restore parts of the historic town and contributed to the growth of its tourism and arts economy.
Another reason Bisbee stands out is its concentrated and walkable downtown. Old Bisbee has narrow streets, historic buildings, stairways, galleries, restaurants and shops tucked into unusual spaces. This layout encourages people to explore the town on foot and interact with the local community. Although the steep streets can be challenging for some visitors, the compact historic district helps create the feeling of a close-knit neighborhood rather than simply a tourist destination.
Arizona's prettiest town
Rather than trying to name one single prettiest place in the entire country, Architectural Digest chose one standout town in each state, focusing especially on places that are not only beautiful but also rich in culture, character, architecture and natural surroundings.
Architectural Digest highlighted Sedona and its famous energy vortices, dramatic orange and red boulders, and its Old West–like, walkable Main Street District.
11 Arizona spots named among US' favorite to visit
Arizona has no shortage of memorable small towns, but according to the World Atlas, a popular online geography resource and educational website, these 11 Arizona towns were ranked among the United States' favorites in 2026.
- Sedona.
- Jerome.
- Cottonwood.
- Prescott.
- Williams.
- Payson.
- Globe.
- Tombstone.
- Bisbee.
- Patagonia.
- Tubac.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: These Arizona cities were named top places to live in 2026. See why
