The 85635 zip code in Sierra Vista tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Arizona.
We looked at 191 zip codes in the state, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in Arizona
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Vista 🥇 | 100 | $262,579 | $1,298 |
| 2 | Douglas🥈 | 99.5 | $165,619 | $1,873 |
| 3 | Globe 🥉 | 96.6 | $225,580 | $1,873 |
| 4 | Sahuarita | 92.1 | $350,620 | $2,005 |
| 5 | Safford | 89.7 | $252,053 | $1,873 |
| 6 | Winslow | 89.0 | $191,517 | $1,873 |
| 7 | Tucson | 87.3 | $374,859 | $2,008 |
| 8 | Yuma | 86.3 | $257,870 | $1,222 |
| 9 | Vail | 85.2 | $417,855 | $2,058 |
| 10 | Rio Rico | 84.6 | $260,674 | $1,873 |
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1. Sierra Vista
Here's why the 85635 zip code in Sierra Vista is Arizona's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Sierra Vista
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $262,579[1] | No. 14 | -$198,537.93 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.2 | No. 12 | -1.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 52.1%[2] | No. 12 | -12.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.2%[3] | No. 2 | -1.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,298[4] | No. 8 | -$575 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.09% | No. 45 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $62,167[5] | No. 134 | -$16,286 |
| Property taxes | $1,302[6] | No. 48 | -$561 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[7] | No. 94 | $0.00 |
Sierra Vista's 85635 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Arizona, leading the 191 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $262,579, making it the 14th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a -0.2% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,298 per month, which is the 45th cheapest amount in Arizona.
The median property tax for homeowners in Sierra Vista is $1,302 per household, the No. 48 ranked market in Arizona.
Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 94 among Arizona markets.
2. Douglas
The 85607 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Arizona.
🔎 Key data about Douglas
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 99.5 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $165,619[8] | No. 1 | -$295,498.15 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.0 | No. 5 | -1.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 32.9%[9] | No. 1 | -32.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.2%[10] | No. 2 | -1.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,873[11] | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $41,369[12] | No. 188 | -$37,084 |
| Property taxes | $925[13] | No. 11 | -$938 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[14] | No. 94 | $0.00 |
Douglas's 85607 zip code has a median home value of $165,619, which is the 2nd-cheapest housing market in Arizona. You can rent for an average of $1,873 per month. That's the 85th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is $41,369, which ranks 188th-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Douglas pay a median property tax of $925 per year, making it the 11th-most affordable market in Arizona.
Douglas ranks No. 94 among Arizona energy markets. You'll pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
3. Globe
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in Arizona is Globe's 85501 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Globe
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 96.6 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $225,580[15] | No. 4 | -$235,537.04 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.5 | No. 2 | -2.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 54.8%[16] | No. 22 | -10.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.0%[17] | No. 46 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,873[18] | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $64,447[19] | No. 124 | -$14,006 |
| Property taxes | $1,013[20] | No. 17 | -$850 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[21] | No. 94 | $0.00 |
The No. 4 cheapest housing in Arizona is Globe's 85501 zip code, with a median home value of $225,580. Rents in the market average $1,873 per month, making it the 85th-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Globe is $1,013, which makes it the 17th-cheapest place in Arizona. Globe ranks No. 94 among Arizona markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
4. Sahuarita
The 85629 zip code in Sahuarita comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Arizona.
🔎 Key data about Sahuarita
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.1 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $350,620[22] | No. 45 | -$110,496.97 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.4 | No. 1 | -2.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 56.6%[23] | No. 32 | -8.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6%[24] | No. 13 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $2,005[25] | No. 130 | $132 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.95% | No. 27 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $102,872[26] | No. 36 | $24,419 |
| Property taxes | $2,334[27] | No. 140 | $471 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[28] | No. 14 | $0.00 |
The No. 45 cheapest housing market in Arizona is Sahuarita's 85629 zip code, where the median home value is $350,620. Renters here pay an average of $2,005 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Sahuarita ranks 14th among Arizona markets. Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $2,334, which makes it the 140th-cheapest market in Arizona.
5. Safford
The 85546 zip code in Safford ranks No. 5 among Arizona's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Safford
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 89.7 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $252,053[29] | No. 9 | -$209,063.43 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.1 | No. 6 | -1.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 51.2%[30] | No. 8 | -13.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.3%[31] | No. 1 | -1.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,873[32] | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $61,627[33] | No. 139 | -$16,826 |
| Property taxes | $970[34] | No. 14 | -$893 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[35] | No. 42 | $0.00 |
Safford's 85546 zip code has a median home value of $252,053, the 9th-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a -0.3% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Safford is $970. It's the 14th-cheapest market by tax rate in Arizona.
6. Winslow
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in Arizona is the 86047 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Winslow
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 89.0 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $191,517[36] | No. 2 | -$269,599.78 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.2 | No. 10 | -1.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 59.4%[37] | No. 48 | -5.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.1%[38] | No. 58 | 0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,873[39] | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $45,842[40] | No. 182 | -$32,611 |
| Property taxes | $674[41] | No. 1 | -$1,189 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[42] | No. 94 | $0.00 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Winslow's 86047 zip code, which has the 2nd-cheapest home values in Arizona. The median home value is $191,517. Rents average $1,873 per month, making it the 85th-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay $0.14 per kWh of electricity. It's the 94th-cheapest energy market.
7. Tucson
Tucson's 85747 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Arizona.
🔎 Key data about Tucson
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 87.3 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $374,859[43] | No. 60 | -$86,257.78 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.6 | No. 3 | -2.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 58.8%[44] | No. 45 | -6.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6%[45] | No. 13 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $2,008[46] | No. 131 | $134 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.91% | No. 23 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $104,855[47] | No. 35 | $26,402 |
| Property taxes | $2,640[48] | No. 158 | $777 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[49] | No. 14 | $0.00 |
You'll find the 60th-cheapest home values in Arizona in Tucson's 85747 zip code. The median value: $374,859. Renters in Tucson pay an average of $2,008 per month.
Homeowners in Tucson pay a median property tax of $2,640 per year, which is Arizona's 158th-most affordable market.
The average household income is $104,855, which ranks 35th-highest in the state.
8. Yuma
The 8th-cheapest place to live in Arizona is Yuma's 85364 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Yuma
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 86.3 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $257,870[50] | No. 10 | -$203,247.17 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.8 | No. 31 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 71.7%[51] | No. 162 | 6.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.4%[52] | No. 186 | 0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,222[53] | No. 5 | -$651 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.27% | No. 64 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $53,877[54] | No. 164 | -$24,576 |
| Property taxes | $1,294[55] | No. 45 | -$569 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[56] | No. 94 | $0.00 |
The 10th-cheapest housing market in Arizona is Yuma's 85364 zip code, with a median home value of $257,870. Renters pay an average of $1,222 per month, the No. 5 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Yuma is $1,294, which makes it the 45th-cheapest place in Arizona. The average household income of $53,877 ranks 164th.
9. Vail
Vail's 85641 zip code sneaks into the top ten of Arizona's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Vail
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 85.2 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $417,855[57] | No. 91 | -$43,261.42 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.7 | No. 4 | -2.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 50.3%[58] | No. 5 | -14.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6%[59] | No. 13 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $2,058[60] | No. 138 | $185 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.80% | No. 9 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $114,201[61] | No. 20 | $35,748 |
| Property taxes | $2,865[62] | No. 168 | $1,002 |
| Energy costs | $0.14 kWh[63] | No. 14 | $0.00 |
The 91st-cheapest housing market in Arizona is Vail's 85641 zip code, where the median home value is $417,855. Renters pay an average of $2,058 per month. It's the state's 138th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $2,865, which makes it the 168th-cheapest property tax rate in Arizona.
10. Rio Rico
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Arizona goes to the 85648 zip code in Rio Rico.
🔎 Key data about Rio Rico
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 191 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 84.6 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $260,674[64] | No. 12 | -$200,443.27 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.2 | No. 9 | -1.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 69.3%[65] | No. 153 | 4.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.3%[66] | No. 177 | 0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,873[67] | No. 85 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 82 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $62,461[68] | No. 133 | -$15,992 |
| Property taxes | $1,303[69] | No. 49 | -$560 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[70] | No. 1 | -$0.02 |
The 12th-most affordable market in Arizona is Rio Rico's 85648 zip code. The median home value is $260,674. Rent in the market costs $1,873 per month on average, making it the 85th-most affordable rental market in Arizona.
The median property tax for households in Rio Rico is $1,303, which is the 49th-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Rio Rico ranks No. 1 among Arizona markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.12 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in Arizona
We evaluated 191 zip codes in Arizona with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
Methodology: What is an Affordability Score?
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in Arizona, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 23.8% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 23.8% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 11.9% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 4.8% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 11.9% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the Arizona average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the Arizona average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to energy costs.
