Arizona Living Report — July 25, 2026

Arizona has long been a magnetic destination for those seeking sunshine, space, and a lower cost of living than the coasts, and the numbers back up the appeal. With a population of roughly 7.2 million spread across 67 cities tracked by Finklick, the state offers a strikingly diverse range of living environments — from the sprawling Sonoran Desert suburbs of Phoenix to the ponderosa-pine towns of Flagstaff. That variety helps explain why, year after year, new residents arrive in search of a fresh start.

On the cost front, Arizona remains comparatively affordable, though prices have climbed in recent years. The median household income sits at about $72,581 per year, while the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,308 a month. That works out to an annual rent cost of roughly $15,696, or about 21.6 percent of median household income — well below the 30 percent threshold that housing experts consider cost-burdened. For would-be homeowners, the median home value is $321,400, a figure that has risen sharply over the past decade but still undercuts major coastal metros. Of course, prices vary dramatically by

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Data: US Census Bureau ACS 2022, BLS. Updated July 25, 2026.

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