FREE Search for Phoenix Apartments and Homes

Phoenix is the United States' fifth-largest city with a population of nearly 1.3 million (the greater Phoenix area has a population of 3.2 million and covers 2,000 square miles). But don't let the size scare you.Phoenix may be a vast, growing metropolis, but its residents maintain a casual personality, with friendly and welcoming attitudes the norm. Despite its size, Phoenix is a well-organized place; it's been honored with titles including "Best-Run City in the World" and "Best Managed City."

Quality of Life
With 325 sunny days per year, the weather is hot but gorgeous, a perfect environment for enjoying the natural beauty of the city and its surrounding area. Residents appreciate the rugged mountain ranges, towering Saguaro cacti and spectacular sunsets. If you like pro sports, you'll like Phoenix, as sports ranks high on many locals. lists of priorities. You can watch the Phoenix Suns basketball team play at the huge America West Arena; the Arizona Cardinals football team play at Sun Devil Stadium in nearby Tempe; and the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team play in the Bank One Ballpark, a great-looking stadium that is only a few years old.

Where the Jobs Are
One of Phoenix's newest major industries is high-tech manufacturing, including the production of semiconductors, aerospace products and electronic equipment. Other major employers include services (including those related to tourism, which is on the rise), retail and health care. One of the most visible industries is construction; it seems like new buildings, homes and apartments are springing up everywhere, and there is plenty of work for contractors, builders and laborers.

Cost of Living & Apartment Prices
Phoenix's favorable financial situation benefits everything from apartment rentals to utilities to taxes. Phoenix's overall cost of living is 13% below the national average, and Arizona's personal income tax structure is among the lowest in the nation, ranging from 3.3-5%. There is a huge selection of apartments for rent, and they tend to be affordable. One factor to keep in mind is that unlike in most big cities, rents outside Phoenix tend to be higher than those inside the city limits. Average rent for apartments in the city is $650, while in Tempe it's $725 and in Scottsdale it's $840. There are some exceptions, as in the suburb of Glendale, where apartments for rent are going for an average of $635 per month.

Neighborhoods to Explore
Downtown Phoenix has never been a better place to live. It's undergoing an ambitious development plan, which includes increasing the number of residential units and installing a light rail mass transit system. If you choose to live and work in downtown, you can enjoy a great urban experience at a much lower cost of living than you would find in most of the nation's other big cities. To the north and east of the city center lie affluent residential areas where you'll find some nice apartment rentals to explore. For lower-income options, take a look at the western and southern parts of the city. As in most big cities, a lot of the residents commute into the city for work and go home to the suburbs, such as Avondale, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Scottsdale and Tempe. If you're coming to Phoenix to retire, consider the huge planned retirement communities of Sun City and Leisure World.