The 85635 zip code in Sierra Vista tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Arizona.
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To determine the most affordable places to live in Arizona, we looked at 191 zip codes in the state, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in Arizona
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Vista | 100 | $262,579 | $1,298 |
| 2 | Douglas | 99.5 | $165,619 | $1,873 |
| 3 | Globe | 96.6 | $225,580 | $1,873 |
| 4 | Sahuarita | 92.1 | $350,620 | $2,005 |
| 5 | Safford | 89.7 | $252,053 | $1,873 |
| 6 | Winslow | 89.0 | $191,517 | $1,873 |
| 7 | Tucson | 87.3 | $374,859 | $2,008 |
| 8 | Yuma | 86.3 | $257,870 | $1,222 |
| 9 | Vail | 85.2 | $417,855 | $2,058 |
| 10 | Rio Rico | 84.6 | $260,674 | $1,873 |
1. Sierra Vista
Here’s why the 85635 zip code in Sierra Vista is ranked No. 1 among the most affordable places to live in Arizona.
Key data about Sierra Vista
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $262,579 | No. 14 | -$198,537.93 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.2 | No. 12 | -1.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 52.1% | No. 12 | -12.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.2% | No. 2 | -1.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,298 | No. 8 | -$575 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.09% | No. 45 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $62,167 | No. 134 | -$16,286 |
| Property taxes | $1,302 | No. 48 | -$561 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 94 | $0.00 |
Sierra Vista’s 85635 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Arizona, leading the 191 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $262,579, making it the 14th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a -0.2% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,298 per month, which is the 45th cheapest amount in Arizona.
The median property tax for homeowners in Sierra Vista is $1,302 per household, the No. 48 ranked market in Arizona.
Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 94 among Arizona markets.
2. Douglas
The 85607 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Arizona.
Key data about Douglas
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 99.5 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $165,619 | No. 1 | -$295,498.15 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.0 | No. 5 | -1.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 32.9% | No. 1 | -32.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.2% | No. 2 | -1.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,873 | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $41,369 | No. 188 | -$37,084 |
| Property taxes | $925[13] | No. 11 | -$938 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 94 | $0.00 |
Douglas’s 85607 zip code has a median home value of $165,619, which is the 2nd-cheapest housing market in Arizona. You can rent for an average of $1,873 per month. That’s the 85th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is $41,369, which ranks 188th-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Douglas pay a median property tax of $925 per year, making it the 11th-most affordable market in Arizona.
Douglas ranks No. 94 among Arizona energy markets. You’ll pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
3. Globe
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in Arizona is Globe’s 85501 zip code.
Key data about Globe
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 96.6 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $225,580 | No. 4 | -$235,537.04 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.5 | No. 2 | -2.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 54.8% | No. 22 | -10.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.0% | No. 46 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,873 | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $64,447 | No. 124 | -$14,006 |
| Property taxes | $1,013 | No. 17 | -$850 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 94 | $0.00 |
The No. 4 cheapest housing in Arizona is Globe’s 85501 zip code, with a median home value of $225,580. Rents in the market average $1,873 per month, making it the 85th-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Globe is $1,013, which makes it the 17th-cheapest place in Arizona. Globe ranks No. 94 among Arizona markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
4. Sahuarita
The 85629 zip code in Sahuarita comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Arizona.
Key data about Sahuarita
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.1 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $350,620 | No. 45 | -$110,496.97 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.4 | No. 1 | -2.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 56.6% | No. 32 | -8.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6% | No. 13 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $2,005 | No. 130 | $132 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.95% | No. 27 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $102,872 | No. 36 | $24,419 |
| Property taxes | $2,334 | No. 140 | $471 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 14 | $0.00 |
The No. 45 cheapest housing market in Arizona is Sahuarita’s 85629 zip code, where the median home value is $350,620. Renters here pay an average of $2,005 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Sahuarita ranks 14th among Arizona markets. Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $2,334, which makes it the 140th-cheapest market in Arizona.
5. Safford
The 85546 zip code in Safford ranks No. 5 among Arizona’s most affordable places to live.
Key data about Safford
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 89.7 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $252,053 | No. 9 | -$209,063.43 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.1 | No. 6 | -1.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 51.2% | No. 8 | -13.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.3% | No. 1 | -1.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,873 | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $61,627 | No. 139 | -$16,826 |
| Property taxes | $970 | No. 14 | -$893 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 42 | $0.00 |
Safford’s 85546 zip code has a median home value of $252,053, the 9th-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a -0.3% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Safford is $970. It’s the 14th-cheapest market by tax rate in Arizona.
6. Winslow
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in Arizona is the 86047 zip code.
Key data about Winslow
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 89.0 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $191,517 | No. 2 | -$269,599.78 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.2 | No. 10 | -1.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 59.4% | No. 48 | -5.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.1% | No. 58 | 0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,873 | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $45,842 | No. 182 | -$32,611 |
| Property taxes | $674 | No. 1 | -$1,189 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 94 | $0.00 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Winslow’s 86047 zip code, which has the 2nd-cheapest home values in Arizona. The median home value is $191,517. Rents average $1,873 per month, making it the 85th-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity. It’s the 94th-cheapest energy market.
7. Tucson
Tucson’s 85747 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Arizona.
Key data about Tucson
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 87.3 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $374,859 | No. 60 | -$86,257.78 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.6 | No. 3 | -2.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 58.8% | No. 45 | -6.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6% | No. 13 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $2,008 | No. 131 | $134 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.91% | No. 23 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $104,855 | No. 35 | $26,402 |
| Property taxes | $2,640 | No. 158 | $777 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 14 | $0.00 |
You’ll find the 60th-cheapest home values in Arizona in Tucson’s 85747 zip code. The median value: $374,859. Renters in Tucson pay an average of $2,008 per month.
Homeowners in Tucson pay a median property tax of $2,640 per year, which is Arizona’s 158th-most affordable market.
The average household income is $104,855, which ranks 35th-highest in the state.
8. Yuma
The 8th-cheapest place to live in Arizona is Yuma’s 85364 zip code.
Key data about Yuma
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 86.3 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $257,870 | No. 10 | -$203,247.17 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.8 | No. 31 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 71.7% | No. 162 | 6.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.4% | No. 186 | 0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,222 | No. 5 | -$651 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.27% | No. 64 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $53,877 | No. 164 | -$24,576 |
| Property taxes | $1,294 | No. 45 | -$569 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 94 | $0.00 |
The 10th-cheapest housing market in Arizona is Yuma’s 85364 zip code, with a median home value of $257,870. Renters pay an average of $1,222 per month, the No. 5 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Yuma is $1,294, which makes it the 45th-cheapest place in Arizona. The average household income of $53,877 ranks 164th.
9. Vail
Vail’s 85641 zip code sneaks into the top ten of Arizona’s most affordable places to live.
Key data about Vail
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 85.2 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $417,855 | No. 91 | -$43,261.42 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.7 | No. 4 | -2.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 50.3% | No. 5 | -14.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6% | No. 13 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $2,058 | No. 138 | $185 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.80% | No. 9 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $114,201 | No. 20 | $35,748 |
| Property taxes | $2,865 | No. 168 | $1,002 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh | No. 14 | $0.00 |
The 91st-cheapest housing market in Arizona is Vail’s 85641 zip code, where the median home value is $417,855. Renters pay an average of $2,058 per month. It’s the state’s 138th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $2,865, which makes it the 168th-cheapest property tax rate in Arizona.
10. Rio Rico
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Arizona goes to the 85648 zip code in Rio Rico.
Key data about Rio Rico
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 84.6 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $260,674 | No. 12 | -$200,443.27 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.2 | No. 9 | -1.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 69.3% | No. 153 | 4.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.3% | No. 177 | 0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,873 | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $62,461 | No. 133 | -$15,992 |
| Property taxes | $1,303 | No. 49 | -$560 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh | No. 1 | -$0.02 |
The 12th-most affordable market in Arizona is Rio Rico’s 85648 zip code. The median home value is $260,674. Rent in the market costs $1,873 per month on average, making it the 85th-most affordable rental market in Arizona.
The median property tax for households in Rio Rico is $1,303, which is the 49th-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Rio Rico ranks No. 1 among Arizona markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.12 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in Arizona
We evaluated 191 zip codes in Arizona with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
