BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? Phoenix, AZ

C
Score
53/100
Rank #128 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

For retirement, Phoenix is a specialized pick when you value typical home value alongside typical rent (2br). Overall, it’s not a top-ranked option in this set (#128 of 200), so fit matters. The biggest tradeoff is age 65+ share.

Methodology · Sources · AZ rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why Phoenix ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,493/mo (4% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $381,900 (10% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Median household income: $77,041 (2% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Age 65+ share: 12% (13% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 90% (1% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
1,624,832
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,493/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Typical home value
$381,900
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
12%
National median: 14%
Median age
35
National median: —
Median household income
$77,041
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
90%
National median: 91%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and typical home value.
66/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
26/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
90/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
87/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

16%
Less than HS
52%
HS / Some college
20%
Bachelor’s
12%
Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

12%
Age 65+
88%
Under 65

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

90%
Broadband
10%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,493/mo
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$381,900
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
12%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$77,041
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
90%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
13%

Similar cities (by score)

#126 Pembroke Pines, FL
53/100
#127 Chicago, IL
53/100
#129 McKinney, TX
53/100
#130 Tampa, FL
52/100

FAQ

›What is Phoenix’s retirement score and rank?
Phoenix, AZ scores C (53/100) and ranks #128 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Phoenix city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level retirement patterns can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Phoenix, AZ?
Population is about 1,624,832 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Phoenix, AZ?
About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).
›How affordable is housing in Phoenix, AZ?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,493/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $381,900 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in Phoenix, AZ?
Age 65+ share is 12% (national median: 14%).
›How common is broadband internet in Phoenix, AZ?
Broadband subscription is 90% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Phoenix, AZ?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 16%, HS/some college 52%, bachelor’s 20%, advanced 12%.
›Where does this data come from for Phoenix, AZ?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).