Phoenix

Many retirees move to Phoenix to escape the harsh winters, and it's easy to see why.

“The Greater Phoenix area is an ideal place for retirement for several reasons, including our distinctive mild climate with more than 300 days of sunshine per year. This provides retirees with wonderful opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities such as golfing, hiking, pickleball and stargazing almost year-round,” Doyle said.

Phoenix is ​​also known for its golf courses, with over 200 in the area, but that's not all the “Valley of the Sun” has to offer.

Papago Park is a beautiful park dotted with sweeping sandstone hills that is a popular spot for visitors and residents alike, offering hiking, mountain biking, fishing, archery and golfing, as well as being home to some of Phoenix's most popular attractions, including the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden.

The average home price in Phoenix is ​​about $622,730 ($576,725 if you include the entire Phoenix metropolitan area), according to Bridget Berry, real estate agent and luxury real estate specialist with Coldwell Banker Realty in Phoenix/Paradise Valley.

That's higher than the national average of $420,800 (Q1 2024), but it doesn't deter retirees from choosing Phoenix, although many are opting for a condo in the city instead of a larger home in the suburbs. “Downtown Phoenix offers great condo options and vibrant city living with arts, theater, markets and dining,” Berry said.

Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley, a charming suburb of Phoenix, is also a popular place for retirees in Arizona.[It] “It's an incredibly beautiful location, with stunning views of the Sonoran Desert, mountain backdrops and lush golf courses,” says Doyle. The community offers residents a laid-back, country atmosphere with easy access to big-city amenities (Phoenix is ​​just 25 minutes away).

Prices for new construction start at $899,000, with homes starting at around $1.5 million, according to Zillow Real estate in Paradise Valley isn't cheap, but residents are attracted to the quiet, laid-back lifestyle and natural beauty of the area.

Tempeh

Tempe is a vibrant college town welcoming residents of all ages. Tempe is one of three cities in the state of Arizona. AARP's Age-Friendly States and Communities Network.[The city has] We have now taken the next step of developing and implementing an action plan to address the challenges affecting older people. [to] “It has to be senior-friendly,” said Rodney Harrell, AARP's vice president for families, homes and communities.

Tempe is a vibrant city with a relaxed atmosphere. Downtown Tempe is home to locally owned restaurants, shops and theaters, while Tempe Town Lake offers an abundance of water activities, including kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing.

For sports enthusiasts, Tempe benefits from its proximity to a variety of teams and stadiums, including college football at Arizona State University's Mountain America Stadium and Los Angeles Angels baseball spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns play in Phoenix, and the Arizona Cardinals play in Glendale, both within a 30-minute drive of Tempe.

Scottsdale

Scottsdale ranks high on many lists as the best place to retire in Arizona. It's known for its vibrant arts scene, upscale shopping, and dining.

Scottsdale is a foodie's paradise with over 800 restaurants, and for nightlife, Old Town Scottsdale is the place to be, with a variety of bars, lounges, nightclubs and even a high-tech bowling alley.

Arts and culture are a priority in Scottsdale, and every Thursday night the city hosts the Scottsdale ArtWalk, a free event where you can stroll through the historic arts district and enjoy galleries, shops, restaurants, public art and live performances.

Outdoor recreation options in Scottsdale are abundant and diverse, including hiking, biking, rafting, horseback riding and, of course, golf. There are more than 200 golf courses in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area, including the Gold Course at the Wigwam, one of the best in the state, and TPC Scottsdale, home of the WM Phoenix Open.

The city isn't late to the pickleball trend: Pure Pickleball, the state's largest pickleball facility (and one of the largest in the world), is scheduled to open in Scottsdale in fall 2024.

Tucson

Tucson has a hot, dry climate, making it perfect for those coming from colder climates.

Tucson is the perfect location for convenient access to Saguaro National Park and Saguaro National Park West, home to more than 2 million iconic saguaro cacti. Another outdoor treasure, Coronado National Forest, is also easily accessible from Tucson. Located within the park are the Santa Catalina Mountains, which offer residents and visitors great spots for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, bird watching and camping.

Tucson is also a fantastic place to enjoy the vast night sky. “With outdoor lighting regulations in place to maintain visibility of the night sky and support local astronomy, it's perfect for stargazing,” said Cathy Wolfson, 2024 president of the Tucson Association of Realtors.

Another strength of Tucson is its affordable housing: “The median home sales price in the Tucson area was $380,000, below the national average in May. [2024] “It's $419,300,” said Kevin Kaplan, chief operating officer of Long Realty in Tucson.

The area also offers a variety of housing options. “The Tucson area has a number of retirement communities with age restrictions of 55 and older,” Kaplan said. Travel + Leisure.

“Tucson's attractive climate, affordable cost of living, abundant outdoor activities, accessible health care, rich cultural scene and welcoming retirement communities make it an ideal destination for retirees looking for a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle,” Kaplan said.

Sun City

Sun City, Arizona is a 55+ community for active adults looking for a laid-back lifestyle.

Doyle explained that these types of communities are thriving across the state: “Currently, the Sun City community and its sister community, Sun City West, are home to approximately 60,000 retirees.”

The community is close to larger cities like Phoenix and Scottsdale, but is designed to have the basics covered: medical clinics, shopping, restaurants, churches, and even hotels for visiting friends and family are all located right in Sun City, so residents never have to leave unless they want to.

Even with Sun City's many benefits, it still enjoys low assessments ($575 per property per year as of Jan. 1, 2024). Sun City Recreation Centers (RCSC) “currently offers the most amenities with the lowest annual property assessments of any retirement community in the U.S.,” says Doyle. Amenities such as eight recreation centers, eight golf courses, two bowling centers, an outdoor amphitheater, and a 33-acre man-made lake make Sun City a popular destination for retirees.

Sun City is actually an unincorporated area of ​​Maricopa County, so there is no sales tax. There are no schools, so there are no school taxes. There are property taxes that go towards funding things like the fire department, but these taxes are low, averaging between $300 and $1,300 a year.

Flagstaff

Retirees who prefer four distinct seasons should consider Flagstaff, Arizona. At an elevation of 7,000 feet, this mountain town not only sees an average of 108 inches of snowfall per year, but also enjoys an average of 266 days of sunshine per year.

With summer temperatures in the low 80s Fahrenheit, Flagstaff doesn't experience the harsh summer weather that many other Arizona cities experience, so outdoor activities are plentiful. Hiking and biking are especially popular, and the area has a variety of trails ranging from easy and accessible paths to more challenging routes and paths suitable for horseback riding and e-bikes.

Flagstaff is one of the snowiest cities in the country, so it's no surprise that skiing is a popular winter activity. Just 12 miles from Flagstaff, Arizona Snowbowl is one of the oldest continuously operating ski areas in the country. It has 55 runs and eight lifts, including the state's first high-speed lift, the Grand Canyon Express, which transports six passengers to an elevation of 1,500 feet in under six minutes.

For skiers who prefer flat ground, Arizona Nordic Village offers 25 miles of cross-country ski trails and 10 miles of snowshoe trails.

Sedona

Sedona, Arizona is a must-visit destination for artists and art lovers. This small town is home to over 80 galleries showcasing works in a variety of mediums, including sculpture, jewelry, photography, ceramics and painting. This diverse artistic community is at the heart of Sedona.

Residents and visitors can enjoy First Friday in the Galleries, a free monthly event that brings the community together to enjoy food and drinks, view local art, and interact with artists.

While its arts scene is prominent, Sedona has plenty more to offer: more than 400 miles of hiking and biking trails, four nature preserves, and two state parks.

The vibrant dining scene favors fresh local ingredients and locally owned restaurants. Stop at a winery on the Verde Valley Wine Trail to sample Arizona's local wines, and there's even an annual event called Sedona WineFest, which celebrates the region's wine, food and music.

Yuma

If you're looking to retire in the sun, Yuma, Arizona is the place to be. Often cited as the sunniest place on Earth, Yuma enjoys more than 4,000 hours of sunshine per year (about 11 hours per day).

This small city located in the southwestern corner of Arizona near the borders of California and Mexico is uniquely located on the Colorado River, making it a perfect spot for all water activities, from boating, fishing and waterskiing to jet skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding and tubing.

The Yuma area is unique for another reason: it is home to three wildlife refuges (Cibola, Imperial and Kofa) covering an area of ​​more than 1,000 square miles, making it one of the largest contiguous wildlife refuges in the country.