Phoenix
America’s Best Places Rank: 49th
Population: 1,536,632
Mayor: Phil Gordon
Why it’s ranked: Arizona’s sprawling capital hits an average temperature of 95 degrees in the summer and stays warm in the winter. Despite the hard-hit real estate market, the weather (not to mention the more than 200 golf courses in the area) still draws many snowbirds during the winter. The city ranked lower due to a high foreclosure rate and low percentage of people with bachelor’s degrees. The area has a high number of great restaurants, four professional sports teams, and more parks than the average.
How it ranked:
Percent with bachelor's degrees: 24
Percent under poverty level: 18.2
Median household income: $48,881
Violent crime rate: 546.5
Property crime rate: 4,107.7
School score: 69.41
Pro sports teams: 4*
Foreclosure rate: .0313
Percent Unemployment: 9.9
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 32
Bars: 233
Restaurants: 2,188
Museums: 69
Colleges: 22
Libraries: 44
Air Quality Index: 103
* Includes the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, and Arizona
Cardinals.
Population: 1,536,632
Mayor: Phil Gordon
Why it’s ranked: Arizona’s sprawling capital hits an average temperature of 95 degrees in the summer and stays warm in the winter. Despite the hard-hit real estate market, the weather (not to mention the more than 200 golf courses in the area) still draws many snowbirds during the winter. The city ranked lower due to a high foreclosure rate and low percentage of people with bachelor’s degrees. The area has a high number of great restaurants, four professional sports teams, and more parks than the average.
How it ranked:
Percent with bachelor's degrees: 24
Percent under poverty level: 18.2
Median household income: $48,881
Violent crime rate: 546.5
Property crime rate: 4,107.7
School score: 69.41
Pro sports teams: 4*
Foreclosure rate: .0313
Percent Unemployment: 9.9
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 32
Bars: 233
Restaurants: 2,188
Museums: 69
Colleges: 22
Libraries: 44
Air Quality Index: 103
* Includes the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, and Arizona
Cardinals.
