What's It Like to Live in Phoenix?
Phoenix, Arizona is a great place to live, work, and play! The capital of Arizona, Phoenix is the sixth-most populated city in the U.S. with an estimated 4.5 million residents. Situated in both Maricopa and Pinal counties, Greater Phoenix ranks as one of the largest and fastest-growing metro areas in the country. Phoenix and surrounding areas are often referred to as Metro Phoenix and Salt River Valley. Located in the Sonoran Desert, the warmest desert in North America, the region offers year-round warm weather and is widely known as the Valley of the Sun. Boasting exciting local culture and attractions, world-class shopping destinations, an eclectic array of local and international cuisine, popular annual events and festivals, an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, over 200 golf courses, 4 major sports teams, and Cactus League spring training baseball, it's easy to see why so many people are choosing to move to the Phoenix area each year from other parts of the country.
Finding a Home in Greater Phoenix
Metro Phoenix offers a wide variety of residential choices from urban condos situated in the heart things to single-family homes in friendly neighborhoods and gated subdivisions to gorgeous homes tucked away in golf course and waterfront communities to sprawling, multi-million dollar luxury estates with breathtaking views. On our easy-to-use website, you’ll be able to search the MLS for the most accurate and up-to-date listings for Phoenix real estate. You can view photos of available Phoenix homes for sale, find detailed real estate information, create a free account, save your search, receive notifications of new listings that match your specific home criteria delivered directly to your email, and access current market data. Be sure to scroll down below to learn more about what it's like to live in Phoenix:
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If you would like more information about any of the above listings or would like to schedule a private showing, please contact Cathy Carter, a luxury home specialist and highly-rated Phoenix REALTOR®, with over 25 years of local experience.
Current Phoenix Metropolitan Real Estate Market Update
Cathy has the knowledge and resources to help you explore your options and make the best home purchase decision. Narrow down your home search by having Cathy put together a list of available homes in the neighborhoods you want to live in that are the best fit. Get started on your home search today by contacting Cathy directly at (480) 459-8488 or you can get in touch here.
Where To Live
In recent years, the Downtown Phoenix area has experienced a major renaissance. Restaurants, art galleries, retail shops, and all types of businesses have moved in, which has spurred a series of new developments ranging from apartment complexes to new hotels and high-rises. If you prefer the comforts of suburban living, the metro Phoenix area’s Southeast Valley offers proximity to the city along with exceptional community amenities - making it one of the best places to live in the Phoenix area. Buyers will want to explore Phoenix homes for sale in the Southeast Valley communities of Scottsdale, Chandler, Sun Lakes, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Mesa, Tempe, and Ahwatukee - all within easy commuting distance of the city.
Cost of Living
Living in Phoenix is significantly more affordable than places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Overall, the cost of living in Phoenix is 5% lower than the national average, according to Payscale. For retirees who live on a fixed income, the greater Phoenix area is an ideal choice due to the region’s warm-dry climate, affordability, and numerous amenities. Property taxes are also low compared to other large metro areas.
Jobs in Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix
The greater Phoenix area is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic regions in the country for technology and software companies. With operational costs 42% less than California according to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the Phoenix area has become a hub of commercial activity as more and more businesses are choosing to relocate here from other parts of the country. Technology and bioscience are major economic drivers in the region with health care, manufacturing, and financial services solidly growing industries. Fortune 500/1000 companies based or having major operations in the area include Avnet, Freeport-McMoRan, Republic Services, PetSmart, Apollo Group, Insight Enterprises, ON Semiconductor, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, Amkor Technology, Swift Transportation, and First Solar, just to name a few.
Schools and Education
For parents with school-age children, Phoenix is home to 325 public schools in 30 school districts along with more than 200 charter and private schools. Use the links below to find additional information on school locations, districts, websites, and attendance boundary maps:
School Districts A - Z
School Districts - High
School Districts - Unified
School Districts By Council District
Schools A - Z
The Phoenix metro area's Southeast Valley has several nationally-recognized school districts filled with top-rated schools, including Chandler Unified School District, Gilbert Unified School District, Kyrene School District, Higley Unified School District, Tempe Union High School District, and Mesa Unified School District, which is the largest district in Arizona. Under Arizona’s open-enrollment law, children can attend other schools within the district or in another district by applying to that school, so families can be confident their child is receiving the best possible education. There are also plenty of higher education opportunities throughout Metro Phoenix. Arizona State University has campuses in Glendale, Mesa, Downtown Phoenix, and its main campus in Tempe. Downtown Phoenix is also home to The University of Arizona College of Medicine.
Art & Culture
Phoenix Art Museum
Greater Phoenix offers an abundance of art and culture. The downtown Phoenix art scene has seen major development over the past decade, and dozens of museums span the valley including the Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona Capitol Museum, Arizona Military Museum, Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum, the Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park, Children's Museum of Phoenix, Arizona Science Center, and the Heard Museum. Popular performing arts venues include the Phoenix Symphony Hall, Arizona Opera, and Ballet Arizona, Orpheum Theatre, Dorrance Theater, and Herberger Theater Center. Concerts can be attended at Talking Stick Resort Arena and Comerica Theatre in downtown Phoenix, and Gammage Auditorium in Tempe (the last public building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright). The Mesa Arts Center in Mesa supports regular independent musical and theater performances.
Shopping & Dining
Shopping opportunities in Greater Phoenix include chic boutiques, high-end shopping malls, outdoor lifestyle centers, and designer outlet malls. Some of the most popular shopping destinations include Uptown Plaza (Central Phoenix), Biltmore Fashion Park and Kierland Commons (Phoenix); Scottsdale Fashion Square (Scottsdale), Chandler Fashion Center mall and Phoenix Premium Outlets (Chandler); the outdoor Santan Village lifestyle center (Gilbert); and Tempe Marketplace and Arizona Mills Outlet Mall (Tempe). "Foodies" will discover exceptional dining options in Phoenix and the East Valley from classic comfort food to ethnic cuisine to five-star restaurants too numerous to count.
Outdoor Recreation
Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area
The Phoenix metro area offers an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities for all age groups. Hiking, biking, climbing, horseback riding, and golfing are among the most popular activities, which can all be enjoyed year-round. McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers spectacular views and features more than 21,000 acres of pristine desert, with miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. South Mountain Park & Preserve, the largest municipal park in the country, includes over 51 miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking for all ability levels. Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area is a local landmark and a popular hiking destination that offers spectacular city and desert views. Salt River also provides plenty of recreational fun with bike paths and picnic areas that surround the lake.
Sports
Phoenix Raceway - NASCAR
Sports fans have the opportunity to watch professional basketball, football, hockey, and baseball teams, as well as offseason spring training games held in the Phoenix metro area. Phoenix is one of the few cities to have professional sports teams in all major sports: Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Phoenix Suns (NBA), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), Arizona Coyotes (NHL), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), and Phoenix Rising (USL). Phoenix is also the only city in the nation to host an entire spring-training league for MLB - the Cactus League. Other major sporting teams/events in the Phoenix metro area include PGA and LPGA golf, NASCAR and NHRA racing, and major marathons.
Golfing
Troon North Golf Club
One of the top destinations for golf in the country, the Phoenix area is home to 200 golf courses. Top-rated Phoenix-area courses such as Troon North and We-Ko-Pa occupy desert landscapes while Raven Golf Club features more than 6,000 mature pine trees along its lush fairways. Other great golf clubs like Arizona Biltmore, Boulders, and Gainey Ranch are part of opulent resorts where golfers can indulge themselves with a post-round spa treatment. Check out this list of the top 35 golf courses located in Greater Phoenix, including the level of difficulty, awe factor, value/bang for your buck, course layout, service, and proximity to restaurants and activities. Phoenix is also home to some of the biggest golf tours and events in the country such as the annual Waste Management Phoenix Open, also known as the "people's open," and the "greatest show on grass.”
Transportation
Public transportation in Greater Phoenix is provided by Valley Metro, which includes trains, buses, and a rideshare program. The Valley Metro Rail is a 20-mile light rail that runs through north-central Phoenix, downtown, and eastward through Tempe and Mesa. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport serves more than 100 cities with non-stop flights and over 1000 flights per day.
Partner with Phoenix REALTOR® - Cathy Carter for Unmatched Expertise in Phoenix Area Buying and Selling
Whether you are interested in greater Phoenix homes for sale or it’s time to list your current property, experience matters most in a changing market. Serving the area for over two decades, Cathy provides the kind of knowledge, skills, dedication, and personalized service you need and deserve. For buyers, Cathy is an expert at matching her client’s lifestyle needs with the perfect home and has access to the most up-to-date MLS listings for homes across the valley.
For sellers, Cathy has the experience and skills necessary to handle the marketing of your home and get it sold for the highest market price in the least amount of time possible. Cathy employs the latest technology to give your property massive exposure that drives maximum response from qualified buyers. She also partners with the most talented home stagers to make sure your home is thoughtfully staged to showcase its features and amenities.
If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling Greater Phoenix real estate, please contact Cathy Carter today at (480) 459-8488 or you can reach her here.
CATHY CARTER, ABR, CRS, CDPE
RE/MAX Alliance Group
725 W. Elliot Rd., Suite 111
Gilbert, AZ. 85233
Cell: 480-459-8488
Toll-Free: 800-519-5578
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