The Top 10 Worst Arizona Cities for Retirees

Arizona is a popular choice for retirees seeking a warm and sunny place to live. However, not every spot in the Grand Canyon State is ideal. 

Whether you plan to retire early or later in life, some Arizona cities might not be the best fit for your golden years. 

Here are a few cities you may want to think twice about and why they might not make the best place to call home.

Phoenix can be a great option if you're looking for a big city, but it also comes with the negatives of living in a metropolis.

The crime rate is higher in Phoenix than in other Arizona cities, and housing can be expensive.

According to the American Lung Association, the air quality in Phoenix places it among the top 10 most polluted U.S. cities. The city's desert location also makes it prone to dust storms, so you might want to factor that in if you have breathing issues.

It also can be crowded in the winter months, as other retirees flock to Phoenix during that season.

Scottsdale is a beautiful town with plenty of resorts and activities for retirees. For example, you can enjoy a round of golf or venture out into nature.

However, Scottsdale also has a high cost of living that could quickly eat up your retirement savings.

According to the real estate website Redfin, the median sale price for a home in Scottsdale was $855,000 in December 2024. That makes it an expensive option.

Like Scottsdale, Glendale is outside of Phoenix but still close enough that you can drive to the city to enjoy events or entertainment.

On the other hand, Glendale is also home to State Farm Stadium, where the NFL's Arizona Cardinals play. Traffic can be bad on normal days but even worse on game days, so make sure you have a car if you move to the city.

Glendale also has a relatively high crime rate, and you will need a car because Glendale is not very walkable.

Tucson might be appealing because of its lower housing cost. The median sale price for homes in December was $322,000, which was lower than the sale price for the entire state of Arizona, which was $451,400 for the same period.

However, if you move here, you will have to compete with other snowbirds during winter months, as well as students at the University of Arizona.

You might think a city with an inviting name like Green Valley would be a great place to call home, but do your research before you go.

Green Valley is noted for sometimes having poor air quality due to its proximity to Tucson. Dust can also sweep in from the desert.

The city's high temperature can also hover around 100 degrees in the summer, causing you to spend a lot of your fixed income on high air conditioning bills.

Coolidge is southeast of Phoenix and has an affordable housing market. According to Redfin, homes sold for a median price of $284,000 in December.

However, the city also has some knocks against it, such as its crime rate, which is higher than other places in Arizona.

The city is also prone to flash floods or desert sand storms due to its location, which may be a problem for some retirees.

Tempe's housing prices are slightly above the median price for the entire state. A home in Tempe would have cost you a median of $485,000 in December, compared to $451,400 for the entire state.

Tempe is not a very walkable city. Even where you can walk, it will be scorching in the summer, a fact of life in many cities in Arizona.

It sounds cool, but don't be fooled: Snowflake's temperature can still get hot during the summer.

Even if you like the appeal of a small town — the population is just over 6,500 — be aware that Snowflake might be too isolated for what you want in a retirement community. The closest big city is Phoenix, which is almost three hours away.

Sedona might be a good option if you want to live in Arizona but without the added heat. Due to its higher elevation, it's a bit cooler here.

However, there are other aspects of the city that work against it, with the cost of housing being one of the biggest issues. 

According to Redfin, the median sale price for a home in Sedona was $1,200,000 million in July. That price represents a 5.7% decrease from a year earlier.

Flagstaff will also set you back if you want to buy a home but live on a fixed income. The median home price in December was a hefty $670,000, marking a 1.5% decrease compared to a year earlier.

However, traffic can be an issue in the city, which is a major tourist destination throughout the year.

Flagstaff is also almost 7,000 feet above sea level, which might make it difficult to live if you have breathing issues.

Like other cities on this list, you might want to grab one of the best travel credit cards and book a trip to this city before deciding whether it's the right place to call your new home.

Arizona can be a good destination for retirees, but some cities might not be great places to spend your golden years.

Instead, lower your financial stress by looking for places that match your lifestyle and aren't too expensive.