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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Arizona, 2026

Somerton is the most affordable ranked town in Arizona. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

93
Towns ranked in Arizona.
Somerton
Number 1 in Arizona. Rent is 14.5% of income. National rank 713.
21.6%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Arizona.
0
Ranked Arizona towns in the national top 100.
Cave Creek
Least affordable ranked town in Arizona. Rent is 27.9% of income. National rank 5052.

Gasoline

$5.167

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Arizona price. This is the West Coast (PADD 5) Except California price dated September 15, 2026. The weekly file does not include that series. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,480.16 a year for every ranked town in Arizona.

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Benefits and taxes in Arizona

Top 25

  1. #1 in Arizona · National #713

    Somerton

    Rent share 14.5% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.280

    Median rent is $896 a month and median income is $74,015, so rent is 14.5% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Yuma, AZ metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  2. #2 in Arizona · National #765

    San Luis

    Rent share 15.0% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.285

    Median rent is $741 a month and median income is $59,400, so rent is 15.0% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Yuma, AZ metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  3. #3 in Arizona · National #1146

    Tucson Mountains

    Rent share 12.9% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.313

    Median rent is $1,450 a month and median income is $134,474, so rent is 12.9% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  4. #4 in Arizona · National #1213

    Avra Valley

    Rent share 14.7% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.317

    Median rent is $661 a month and median income is $54,132, so rent is 14.7% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  5. #5 in Arizona · National #1235

    Benson

    Rent share 19.0% · Price level 89.2 · Score 0.319

    Median rent is $783 a month and median income is $49,346, so rent is 19.0% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro price level is 89.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  6. #6 in Arizona · National #1239

    Sierra Vista Southeast

    Rent share 18.8% · Price level 89.2 · Score 0.319

    Median rent is $1,180 a month and median income is $75,417, so rent is 18.8% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro price level is 89.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  7. #7 in Arizona · National #1288

    Tanque Verde

    Rent share 13.3% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.323

    Median rent is $1,347 a month and median income is $121,599, so rent is 13.3% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  8. #8 in Arizona · National #1472

    Sierra Vista

    Rent share 19.6% · Price level 89.2 · Score 0.335

    Median rent is $1,150 a month and median income is $70,291, so rent is 19.6% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro price level is 89.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  9. #9 in Arizona · National #1507

    Catalina Foothills

    Rent share 14.7% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.338

    Median rent is $1,412 a month and median income is $115,304, so rent is 14.7% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  10. #10 in Arizona · National #1530

    Page

    Rent share 8.8% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.339

    Median rent is $653 a month and median income is $88,826, so rent is 8.8% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Flagstaff, AZ metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  11. #11 in Arizona · National #1735

    Thatcher

    Rent share 13.6% · Price level 100.7 · Score 0.352

    Median rent is $939 a month and median income is $82,917, so rent is 13.6% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Arizona state price level is 100.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  12. #12 in Arizona · National #1843

    Globe

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 100.7 · Score 0.360

    Median rent is $858 a month and median income is $69,170, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Arizona state price level is 100.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  13. #13 in Arizona · National #1897

    Fort Mohave

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.363

    Median rent is $1,010 a month and median income is $64,815, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ metro price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  14. #14 in Arizona · National #1964

    Doney Park

    Rent share 13.9% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.368

    Median rent is $1,212 a month and median income is $104,967, so rent is 13.9% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Flagstaff, AZ metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  15. #15 in Arizona · National #2041

    Yuma

    Rent share 20.4% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.373

    Median rent is $1,114 a month and median income is $65,482, so rent is 20.4% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Yuma, AZ metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  16. #16 in Arizona · National #2050

    Douglas

    Rent share 22.0% · Price level 89.2 · Score 0.374

    Median rent is $772 a month and median income is $42,019, so rent is 22.0% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro price level is 89.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  17. #17 in Arizona · National #2105

    Williamson

    Rent share 15.3% · Price level 98.3 · Score 0.379

    Median rent is $1,142 a month and median income is $89,398, so rent is 15.3% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ metro price level is 98.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  18. #18 in Arizona · National #2169

    Picture Rocks

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.382

    Median rent is $960 a month and median income is $61,634, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  19. #19 in Arizona · National #2179

    Tuba City

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.383

    Median rent is $867 a month and median income is $61,338, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Flagstaff, AZ metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  20. #20 in Arizona · National #2246

    Vail

    Rent share 18.9% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.388

    Median rent is $2,057 a month and median income is $130,904, so rent is 18.9% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  21. #21 in Arizona · National #2284

    Oro Valley

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.390

    Median rent is $1,669 a month and median income is $107,117, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  22. #22 in Arizona · National #2368

    Kingman

    Rent share 20.5% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.394

    Median rent is $1,058 a month and median income is $61,792, so rent is 20.5% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ metro price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  23. #23 in Arizona · National #2423

    Camp Verde

    Rent share 18.4% · Price level 98.3 · Score 0.398

    Median rent is $1,059 a month and median income is $69,203, so rent is 18.4% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ metro price level is 98.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  24. #24 in Arizona · National #2440

    Marana

    Rent share 19.4% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.399

    Median rent is $1,818 a month and median income is $112,606, so rent is 19.4% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

  25. #25 in Arizona · National #2553

    Corona de Tucson

    Rent share 20.0% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.408

    Median rent is $2,213 a month and median income is $132,568, so rent is 20.0% of income, under the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Tucson, AZ metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is gasoline price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #93 in Arizona · National #5052

    Cave Creek

    Rent share 27.9% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.607

    Median rent is $2,493 a month and median income is $107,067, so rent is 27.9% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #92 in Arizona · National #5036

    Sun Lakes

    Rent share 34.3% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.606

    Median rent is $1,938 a month and median income is $67,853, so rent is 34.3% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #91 in Arizona · National #5003

    Saddlebrooke

    Rent share 37.5% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.602

    Median rent is $2,774 a month and median income is $88,686, so rent is 37.5% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #90 in Arizona · National #4935

    Sun City West

    Rent share 31.5% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.595

    Median rent is $1,672 a month and median income is $63,685, so rent is 31.5% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #89 in Arizona · National #4910

    Sun City

    Rent share 34.5% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.593

    Median rent is $1,569 a month and median income is $54,586, so rent is 34.5% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #88 in Arizona · National #4668

    Tempe

    Rent share 26.3% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.573

    Median rent is $1,743 a month and median income is $79,663, so rent is 26.3% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #87 in Arizona · National #4659

    El Mirage

    Rent share 27.8% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.572

    Median rent is $1,806 a month and median income is $78,050, so rent is 27.8% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #86 in Arizona · National #4623

    Flagstaff

    Rent share 27.6% · Price level 100.3 · Score 0.570

    Median rent is $1,645 a month and median income is $71,512, so rent is 27.6% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Flagstaff, AZ metro price level is 100.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #85 in Arizona · National #4577

    Tolleson

    Rent share 26.3% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.567

    Median rent is $1,309 a month and median income is $59,626, so rent is 26.3% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #84 in Arizona · National #4489

    San Tan Valley

    Rent share 25.9% · Price level 103.3 · Score 0.560

    Median rent is $2,085 a month and median income is $96,713, so rent is 25.9% of income, over the 21.6% median for ranked towns in Arizona. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro price level is 103.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 15.38 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $5.167 a gallon (West Coast (PADD 5) Except California). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is electricity price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Arizona in this index?

Somerton is number 1 of 93 ranked towns in Arizona. Median rent is 14.5% of median income. Its national rank is 713.

How many towns in Arizona were ranked?

93 towns in Arizona have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Arizona?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.