(Stacker) – The population of U.S. counties grew last year, according to the latest statistics. Census DataThis is even as pandemic-related travel trends begin to normalize.

Southern counties continue to see population growth, especially in Florida, where 96% of the 67 counties saw new residents. Polk County, Florida, outside Orlando, saw the largest population growth, with 26,000 people moving in by 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at a slower rate than last year. The largest population losses were in large urban counties, such as Cook County, Illinois (home to Chicago), and the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.

Many counties experience growth due to job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Other counties are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns and access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Arizona, ranked as follows: In the right place. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors, including public schools, education standards, cost of living and housing.

To see if your county is on the list, keep reading.

#12. Yuma County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: Unranked
• Population: 204,374
• Median household income: $56,439
• Median home price: $173,500 (69% owned)
• Average rent: $950 (31% of rent)
• Top Public Schools: Desert View Academy (Grade A-minus), PFC James D. Price Elementary School (Grade B+), Gowan Science Academy (Grade B).
• Top private schools: Yuma Catholic High School (Grade A), Southwestern Christian School (Grade A+), Yuma Lutheran School (Grade Unknown).
• Top rankings: Yuma (Grade B-minus), Fortuna Foothills (Grade C+), Summerton (Grade C+).

#11. Yavapai County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: Unranked
• Population: 237,830
• Median household income: $62,430
• Median home price: $354,300 (73% owned)
• Average rent: $1,128 (27% of rent)
• Top Public Schools: BASIS Prescott (Grade A+), Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center – Prescott Valley (Grade A), Ash Fork Middle School (Grade A).
• Top Private Schools: Verde Valley School (Grade A+), Ohm School (Grade A+), Trinity Christian School (Grade C+)
• Top picks: Sedona (Grade B), Prescott (Grade B), Williamson (Grade B minus).

#10. Pinal County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: Unranked
• Population: 433,338
• Median household income: $73,313
• Median home price: $268,900 (80% owned)
• Average rent: $1,317 (20% of rent)
• Top Public Schools: ASU Preparatory Academy – Casa Grande High School (Grade A+), Mary C. O'Brien Elementary School (Grade A), Legacy Traditional School – Queen Creek (Grade A).
• Top private schools: St. Peter Indian Mission School (unknown), St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School (unknown), Logos Academy (unknown)
• Top locations: Maricopa (Grade B minus), San Tan Valley (Grade B minus), Apache Junction (Grade B minus).

#9. Apache County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: Unranked
• Population: 66,054
• Median household income: $37,483
• Median home price: $62,400 (80% owned)
• Average rent: $635 (20% of rent)
• Top Public Schools: Alpine Elementary School (Grade A), St. John's Middle School (Grade A), Coronado Elementary School (Grade A)
• Top private schools: St. Michael Indian School (Grade A minus), Immanuel Mission School (Grade unknown), Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission School (Grade unknown)
• Top of the list: St. John's (Grade A minus), Eager (Grade B), Springerville (Grade B).

#8. La Paz County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: Unranked
• Population: 16,681
• Median household income: $46,634
• Median home price: $117,500 (68% owned)
• Average rent: $691 (32% of rent)
• Top public schools: Bowes Primary School (Grade A), Blake Primary School (Grade B+), Salome High School (Grade B+)
• Top Private Schools:
• Top grades: Parker (Grade B), Quartzsite (Grade C+), Ehrenberg (Grade C-minus).

#7. Navajo County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: Unranked
• Population: 107,110
• Median household income: $50,335
• Median home price: $165,600 (72% owned)
• Average rent: $800 (28% of rent)
• Top public schools: Capps Elementary School (Grade A minus), Joseph City High School (Grade A minus), Joseph City Elementary School (Grade A minus)
• Top private schools: Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School (Grade C minus), East Fork Lutheran Grade School (Grade unknown), St. Anthony School (Grade unknown).
• Top finishers: Taylor (Grade B), Show Low (Grade B), Holbrook (Grade B).

#6. Santa Cruz County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: Unranked
• Population: 47,838
• Median household income: $51,885
• Median home price: $196,700 (67% owned)
• Average rent: $741 (33% of rent)
• Top public schools: Elgin Elementary School (Grade A-minus), Mexicayotl Academy (Grade B+), Nogales High School (Grade B).
• Top private schools: Lourdes Catholic School (Grade A-minus), Sacred Heart Catholic School (Grade Unknown), Sunshine Christian School (Grade Unknown).
• Top rankings: Rio Rico (Grade C+), Nogales (Grade C), Patagonia (Grade B).

#5. Coconino County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: 1,358
• Population: 144,705
• Median household income: $67,266
• Median home price: $379,400 (59% owned)
• Average rent: $1,353 (41% rent)
• Top public schools: Haven Montessori Charter School (Grade A+), BASIS Flagstaff (Grade A+), Mountain School (Grade A).
• Top private schools: San Francisco de Asis Catholic School (unknown performance), Flagstaff Christian School (unknown performance), Mount Calvary Lutheran School (unknown performance).
• Top rankings: Flagstaff (Grade B+), Kachina Village (Grade B), Page (Grade B-minus).

#4. Cochise County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: 639
• Population: 125,504
• Median household income: $58,421
• Median home price: $183,000 (70% owned)
• Average rent: $893 (30% of rent)
• Top Public Schools: General Meyer Elementary School (Grade A), Colonel Smith Middle School (Grade A), Leman Academy of Excellence Sierra Vista (Grade A)
• Top private schools: Veritas Christian Community School (Grade A-minus), Loretto Catholic School (Grade Unknown), First Baptist Christian Academy (Grade Unknown).
• Top rankings: Sierra Vista (Grade A minus), Benson (Grade B), Bisbee (Grade B minus).

#3. Maricopa County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: 631
• Population: 4,430,871
• Median household income: $80,675
• Median home price: $371,400 (64% owned)
• Average rent: $1,437 (36% of rent)
• Top Public Schools: BASIS Phoenix (Grade A+), BASIS Scottsdale (Grade A+), BASIS Mesa (Grade A+)
• Top Private Schools: Phoenix Country Day School (Grade A+), Rancho Solano Preparatory School (Grade A+), Brophy College Preparatory (Grade A+)
• Top locations: Ahwatukee Foothills (Grade A), Gilbert (Grade A), Paradise Valley (Grade A).

#2. Pima County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: 435
• Population: 1,042,393
• Median household income: $64,323
• Median home price: $258,300 (64% owned)
• Average rent: $1,071 (36% of rent)
• Top Public Schools: BASIS Tucson North (Grade A+), University High School (Grade A+), BASIS Oro Valley (Grade A+)
• Top Private Schools: Gregory School (Grade A+), Salpointe Catholic High School (Grade A), Green Fields School (Grade A).
• Top locations: Catalina Foothills (Grade A+), Udall Park (Grade A+), Sam Hughes (Grade A+).

#1. Greenlee County, Arizona

• Overall ranking: 332
• Population: 9,483
• Median household income: $73,756
• Median home price: $93,900 (56% owned)
• Average rent: $532 (44% of rent)
• Top public schools: Metcalf Elementary School (Grade A-), Fairbanks Middle School (Grade B+), Duncan High School (Grade B+).
• Top Private Schools:
• Top rankings: Clifton (Grade A minus), Duncan (Grade B), York (Grade B minus).

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series on leveraging data automation across the 50 states.

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