Which U.S. cities are setting the gold standard for quality of life? And how do Arizona communities rank among 2025’s top cities for quality of life?
LawnStarter examined 50 metrics covering health, safety, education, affordability, and environmental factors across 13 categories for America’s 500 largest cities to identify 2025’s Leading Cities for Quality of Life.
A sneak peek? California lands 37 of the top 100 cities, while Texas claims 30 of the bottom 100.
- Unemployment in Plymouth, Minnesota (No. 3) is just 2%, and every paycheck stretches around 54% farther than the average city in our study.
- In Massachusetts, Newton and Cambridge are among the most educated cities in the nation, with nearly 8 in 10 residents holding a bachelor’s degree.
- The top-ranked city, Newton, Massachusetts, is safer than 62% of U.S. cities, more than 4x the ranking average.
LOCAL NEWS: 100 best places to work and live in Arizona for 2025
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here
How Arizona cities rank on the 2025 list
| Overall Rank (1=Best) | City | State | Overall Score | Economic Stability Rank | Healthcare Access Rank | Education Rank | Safety Rank | Environment Rank | Air and Water Quality Rank | Housing Affordability Rank | Housing and Infrastructure Rank | Physical Health Rank | Mental Health Rank | Employment Protections Rank | Recreational Facilities Rank | Social and Personal Freedoms Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Scottsdale | AZ | 62.61 | 43 | 83 | 36 | 238 | 2 | 435 | 30 | 301 | 101 | 213 | 242 | 8 | 198 |
| 112 | Gilbert | AZ | 58.63 | 34 | 153 | 139 | 27 | 51 | 435 | 286 | 334 | 124 | 252 | 242 | 268 | 271 |
| 137 | Chandler | AZ | 57.61 | 62 | 215 | 116 | 115 | 14 | 435 | 252 | 265 | 167 | 250 | 242 | 286 | 239 |
| 193 | Buckeye | AZ | 55.32 | 13 | 281 | 379 | 38 | 129 | 435 | 325 | 76 | 279 | 328 | 242 | 262 | 278 |
| 221 | Goodyear | AZ | 54.40 | 45 | 254 | 268 | 129 | 128 | 435 | 349 | 61 | 210 | 296 | 242 | 352 | 278 |
| 232 | Surprise | AZ | 54.00 | 105 | 192 | 248 | 92 | 80 | 435 | 440 | 59 | 193 | 302 | 242 | 348 | 278 |
| 243 | Peoria | AZ | 53.62 | 67 | 226 | 198 | 84 | 69 | 434 | 298 | 337 | 233 | 454 | 242 | 326 | 292 |
| 258 | Tempe | AZ | 53.04 | 303 | 351 | 128 | 380 | 6 | 435 | 367 | 151 | 197 | 273 | 242 | 344 | 198 |
| 270 | Flagstaff | AZ | 52.69 | 395 | 311 | 97 | 302 | 40 | 266 | 264 | 390 | 236 | 484 | 242 | 13 | 232 |
| 274 | Mesa | AZ | 52.59 | 211 | 370 | 315 | 183 | 24 | 435 | 291 | 261 | 257 | 337 | 242 | 264 | 220 |
| 296 | Phoenix | AZ | 52.04 | 223 | 424 | 302 | 436 | 1 | 435 | 267 | 223 | 305 | 327 | 242 | 179 | 198 |
| 352 | Tucson | AZ | 49.87 | 428 | 432 | 357 | 441 | 4 | 374 | 179 | 240 | 374 | 482 | 242 | 9 | 198 |
| 391 | Glendale | AZ | 47.76 | 338 | 454 | 420 | 412 | 21 | 435 | 359 | 254 | 341 | 357 | 242 | 383 | 249 |
| 392 | Avondale | AZ | 47.69 | 212 | 421 | 380 | 273 | 146 | 435 | 464 | 81 | 317 | 320 | 242 | 463 | 291 |
| 403 | Yuma | AZ | 47.21 | 416 | 387 | 424 | 161 | 126 |
