If you are planning on moving to Arizona and have many questions in mind, you don’t need to worry, as we have put everything on a single page to help you get the answer to “Should I Move to Arizona“? Read on as we discuss the pros and cons and how life in Arizona is!
Arizona is a well-known state of the US situated in the southwest part of the country. The state is also known by its nickname “The Grand Canyon State.” If you are planning to move to Arizona, you can get some valuable information here. Compared to the other states in the US, the cost of living in Arizona is very lesser.
There are some nice job opportunities in Arizona state with a satisfactory salary. Here you get information on some common job availability in the state along with their approximate average salary. The taxes in the state are bifurcated into four categories as per the income. The tax slabs are framed friendly for the businesses so that they can explore new opportunities here.
The economy of Arizona is showing steady growth, which is encouraging many businesses here. Some wonderful recreational activities in Arizona can make your stay very pleasant. There are many beautiful places which are visited by many tourists here. Go through the guide given below that can help you get better insights about Arizona state.
Cost of Living
According to worldpopulationreview, Arizona’s cost of living index is 97. It is comparatively lower than the united states index average of 100.
Arizona, as a whole, is cheaper to live in than the rest of the country. Arizona’s cost of living is 3.5% more affordable than they are nationally on average, says a Bureau of Economic Analysis report. Arizona ranks 25th among all states in terms of its overall cost of living.
A person’s living expenses are often more expensive in dense, urban metro areas than they are in more rural areas. There are seven metropolises in Arizona. Flagstaff is 1.5% cheaper than the national average and 2.0% more expensive than the state average compared to the national average.
| Arizona | US | |
| Median Home Value | $209,600.00 | $204,900.00 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,009.00 | $1,023.00 |
| Average Car Insurance | $1,688.00 | $1,517.00 |
| Healthcare cost for Single Adult | $5,983.00 | $4,266.00 |
| Healthcare cost for family of four | $18,065.00 | $12,950.00 |
| Food cost for Single Adult | $3,083.00 | $3,240.00 |
| Food cost for family of four | $8,903.00 | $9,354.00 |
| Annual Child care cost | $8,439.00 | $8,903.00 |
| Annual Taxes | $6,084.00 | $6,542.00 |
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Job Market Trends
According to U.S. News, Arizona ranks 27th in the nation for employment. In Arizona, the average household income is $77,221, While the median household income is $56,213. The most wanted job in Arizona is Nurse practitioner, With an average annual salary of $110,750
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, Arizona’s current unemployment rate in February 2021 was 6.9 %, which is higher than the 6.2% average Unemployment Rate in the United States.
The most common jobs held by residents of Arizona, by the number of employees, are Customer service representatives, Other managers and Drivers/sales workers & truck drivers. It is 5.5x more common for a worker in Arizona to be a Respite Worker than all U.S. workers.
The Most Common Jobs in Arizona
| Rank | Job | Local Jobs. | Mean Local Salary. |
| 1 | Retail salespersons | 70,210 | $23,214 |
| 2 | Cashiers | 59,210 | $18,406 |
| 3 | Customer service representatives | 58,600 | $25,890 |
| 4 | Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food | 43,110 | $14,554 |
| 5 | Waiters and waitresses | 42,710 | $14,442 |
| 6 | Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 41,290 | $20,234 |
| 7 | Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 32,150 | $18,488 |
| 8 | Elementary school teachers, except for special education | 31,360 | $35,803 |
| 9 | Carpenters | 30,720 | $33,874 |
| 10 | Executive secretaries and administrative assistants | 29,010 | $30,986 |
Highest paying jobs
| Rank | Occupation | Annual Salary |
| 1 | Anesthesiologists | $208,000+ |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physicians | $208,000+ |
| 3 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $208,000+ |
| 4 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $208,000+ |
| 5 | Psychiatrists | $208,000+ |
| 6 | Surgeons, Except Ophthalmologists | $208,000+ |
| 7 | Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $206,000 |
| 8 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $205,500 |
| 9 | Dentists, All Other Specialists | $173,900 |
| 10 | Dentists, General | $173,400 |
Top employers in Arizona
| # | Employer | City |
| 1 | University of Arizona | Tucson |
| 2 | Raytheon Missile Systems | Tucson |
| 3 | Arizona State University | Tempe |
| 4 | Mesa Public Schools | Mesa |
| 5 | Raytheon Missile Systems | Oro Valley |
| 6 | General Dynamics Mission Systs | Scottsdale |
| 7 | Honorhealth Scottsdale Shea MD | Scottsdale |
| 8 | Home Smart | Mesa |
| 9 | Intermodal Division | Phoenix |
| 10 | Luke US Air Force Base | Glendale |
Tax Rates and Rankings – Income and Sales Tax
Low taxes may have drawn people to Arizona recently, as it has become one of the fastest-growing states. Arizona has the 4th lowest gas taxes in the nation and has lower income and property taxes than the national average.
The Grand Canyon State’s sales tax rate is the 11th-highest in the country when both statewide and local values are considered. Arizona’s tax system has a wide range of effects depending on your specific financial standing.
Arizona Income Tax: Arizona state applicable to dividends and interest income. Arizona State has a progressive tax structure. Arizona state tax is divided into 4 brackets with tax rates of 2.59%-8% applicable on income range of $27,272-$163,633.
Arizona Sales Tax: Arizona State is ranked 28th nationwide. In Arizona, the state sales tax is 5.60% and the average local tax rate is 2.80%.
Arizona Property Tax: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Arizona state’s median property tax is $ 1,356, with an effective property tax rate of 0.64%.
Arizona Gas Tax: Arizona State has a $0.19 / gallon gasoline tax and $0.27 / gallon diesel tax.
Arizona Cigarettes Tax: Arizona State ranks 19th out of 50 states in the cigarette tax. In Arizona, the cigarette tax per pack of 20 is $2.00.
Economy Trends
Arizona is currently ranked 10th for its economic outlook and 13th for economic performance rank. Arizona is the 5th largest state in the US by population, with a population of 7,278,717 and annual population growth of 1.6% over the next five years. The state of Arizona has the 31st highest economic exposure to COVID-19.
1,584,000 Arizona employees are employed in sectors that are highly or moderately exposed to COVID-19, amounting to 47% of all employees in Arizona. Gross state product (GSP) in Arizona reached $321.4 billion in 2019, with a 3.3% growth over the last five years.
Healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and professional, scientific, and technical services are the top three employment sectors in the state, while the overall unemployment rate for the State of Arizona was 5.3% in March 2020.
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Education
According to U.S. News, Arizona is ranked 46th overall in the United States education system, 33rd for higher education, and 47th for Pre-K-12. Arizona is ranked 50th for quality of education in public schools among all 50 states by WalletHub.
Arizona schools spend $8,239 per pupil for a total of $7.6 billion annually. That’s the equivalent of 2.5% of taxpayer income. 115,530 college students graduate annually in Arizona.
The cost of the average community college in Arizona is $2,220 for In-state tuition and $8,310 for out-of-state tuition. In Arizona, public university costs $23,798, which is more than the national average of $21,216.
| Education Rank of Arizona | 13 |
| State | Arizona |
| In-State Total | $23,798 |
| In-State Tuition & Fees | $10,986 |
| Room & Board | $12,812 |
| Out-Of-State Tuition & Fees | $27,174 |
Top Online Colleges in Arizona
- Northern Arizona University
- Prescott College
- Arizona State University-Tempe
- University of Arizona
- Arizona State University-Skysong
- Ottawa University-Phoenix
2021 Best Colleges in Arizona
- Arizona State University – Tempe, AZ
- University of Arizona – Tempe, AZ
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott, AZ
- Arizona State University – Downtown Phoenix Campus – Phoenix, AZ
- Arizona State University – West Campus – Glendale, AZ
- Arizona State University – Polytechnic Campus – Mesa, AZ
- Northern Arizona University – Flagstaff, AZ
- Grand Canyon University – Phoenix, AZ
- University of Advancing Technology – Tempe, AZ
- Arizona Christian University – Glendale, AZ
Housing prices in Arizona
In Arizona, you’ll find wonderful weather, but you’ll need to take care of the lawn. The xeriscaping technique, which uses rocks, succulents, and cacti, is a common way of decorating your yard here due to the hot, dry desert.
Phoenix has a median home value of $269,175. The Phoenix, Mesa, and Scottsdale area has a median home value of $294,161. According to Zillow, home values in Phoenix increased 9.6% from last June, the largest increase across the 50 largest metro areas of the U.S.
Cheapest places to live in Arizona:
- Queen Creek
- Douglas
- Litchfield Park
- Bullhead City
- Avondale
- Coolidge
- Glendale
- Yuma
- Goodyear
- Tucson
- Mesa
- Florence
Expensive neighborhoods in Arizona
- Desert View.
- Queen Creek
- Gilbert
- Ahwatukee Foothills
- Scottsdale
- Paradise Valley.
- Marana
- North Gateway.
- Fountain Hills
- Goodyear
Weather
There are pockets of continental and alpine climates in Arizona’s northern highlands, but the majority of the state is desert. In the southwestern part of the United States, it is one of the Mountain states.
It is extremely hot and dry in Arizona during the summer, with temperatures between 90oF and 120oF. The weather is milder in the spring and autumn, and generally, conditions are comfortable.
Arizona receives 13″ of rain every year on average, with the majority falling during the summer. The average Arizonan gets about 3500 hours a year of sunshine. Yuma sits on the list of major cities with the sunniest days, while Flagstaff has the least. Snow hardly falls in southern regions of the country.
Winters are rarely frost-free in the northwest mountains, but more than three freeze-free months are expected in the lower valleys. The lowest temperature recorded at Hawley Lake was -40°F (- 40°C) on January 7, 2019. On June 29, 1994, the highest temperature was attained at Lake Havasu City at 128°F (53.3°C).
Weather hazards
Spring and summer are considered the most challenging seasons in Arizona for thunderstorms, flooding, and tornadoes, while winters bring blizzards. During July and August, thunderstorms are frequent and often cause large floods, which cause considerable local damage. Severe storms can generate winds as high as 100 miles per hour. On average, four tornadoes occur every year from May to August.
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Pros and Cons of Living in Arizona
Pros
- Excellent Outdoors
Arizona never fails to impress visitors with its majestic mountains, Grand Canyon, valleys, lush forests, and natural beauty.
- Reasonable cost of living
Arizona enjoys a higher standard of living as compared to other states in the country. It offers affordable housing at just $249,300.
- The job market is strong.
This state boasts the largest emerging industrial markets in the US and offers numerous blue-collar jobs. The average worker in Phoenix earns around $50,000 per year.
- Outstanding golf locations
Arizona enjoys high summer temperatures and thus renders excellent golfing opportunities. You can enjoy golfing in over 200 locations in the state.
- Hub of outdoor activities
The state of Arizona hosts a myriad of outdoor activities such as biking, skiing, hiking, rock climbing, off-roading, boating, horseriding, and a lot more.
- Unique culture
Arizona enjoys a unique heritage and combines the Native American and Hispanic cultures with a southwestern touch.
- It is a young state
The state is actually going younger as time goes by. Unlike other states in the country, the median age of people living in Arizona is around 33 years.
Cons
- Much of the state is barren.
The southern part of the state is almost barren, and it is not suitable for those who are more into nature.
- The summer months are brutal.
The average temperature in the months of July and August hovers around 106°F, which makes Arizona one of the hottest states in the country.
- Harsh politics
The people of Arizona lean towards conservative values from a political viewpoint. Also, gun ownership is also strong here.
- Lack of water sources
Many parts of the state don’t feature a good water supply because of the least water sources.
- Heavy traffic
The roads in Arizona are usually packed with vehicles throughout the year. However, the situation gets worsens during the winter months.
- Full of creepy creatures
Arizona is home to numerous creepy creatures like a giant lizard, rattlesnakes, scorpions, black widows, and tarantulas. You can get have a panic attack in the early days; therefore, get prepared for the same.
Fun and Unique Things to See in Arizona
- Musical Instrument Museum
- Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Antelope Canyon
- Taliesin West
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- Grand Canyon South Rim
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Tonto National Forest
- Bell Rock
- Cathedral Rock
- Horseshoe Bend
- Desert Botanical Garden
- Usery Mountain Regional Park
- Superstition Mountains
- Havasu Falls
- Grand Canyon Railway
- Mill Avenue District
- Watson Lake
- Lower Antelope Canyon
- Commemorative Air Force Museum
Moving to Arizona – The Bottom Line
The above information can definitely help you when you are moving to Arizona state. As the cost of living is lower in the state, it is very easier for the people to stay here. There are better job opportunities in the city areas like Phoenix, Tucson, etc. The average salaries are also better.
The income tax rates are drafted fairly with nice bifurcation in four slabs as per the income. The wonderful education system in the state is better with some nice high schools and colleges.
The wonderful housing rates can help you to get the houses more easily here. The weather in Arizona state is very nice, where you can experience very hot during the summer season and mild winters during the winter season. Although some areas are covered with deserts, a good transportation network can help you move easily from one location to another.
Living in the state can make you feel better with some of the amazing recreational activities. You can get all the required basic facilities available here. The information can surely help you to make the necessary preparation while moving to Arizona. Come to Arizona to have a better living standard along with a comfortable stay here.
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