Best places to live in the Phoenix metro area
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Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Phoenix metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche’s methodology here.
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#25. Florence
– Niche grade: B-
– Public school grade: B-
– Population: 25,961
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#24. Buckeye
– Niche grade: B-
– Public school grade: B-
– Population: 99,844
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#23. New River
– Niche grade: B-
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 18,365
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#22. Avondale
– Niche grade: B
– Public school grade: B
– Population: 90,644
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#21. San Tan Valley
– Niche grade: B
– Public school grade: B-
– Population: 105,231
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#20. Youngtown
– Niche grade: B
– Public school grade: B+
– Population: 6,985
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#19. Sun Lakes
– Niche grade: B
– Public school grade: A+
– Population: 14,079
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#18. Glendale
– Niche grade: B
– Public school grade: B+
– Population: 250,193
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#17. Citrus Park
– Niche grade: B
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 5,136
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#16. Cave Creek
– Niche grade: B+
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 5,033
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#15. Phoenix
– Niche grade: B+
– Public school grade: B
– Population: 1,624,832
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#14. Surprise
– Niche grade: B+
– Public school grade: B+
– Population: 149,519
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#13. Carefree
– Niche grade: B+
– Public school grade: A
– Population: 3,672
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#12. Goodyear
– Niche grade: B+
– Public school grade: B+
– Population: 102,891
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#11. Fountain Hills
– Niche grade: B+
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 23,768
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#10. Mesa
– Niche grade: B+
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 507,478
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#9. Anthem
– Niche grade: A-
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 22,622
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#8. Peoria
– Niche grade: A-
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 194,338
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#7. Tempe
– Niche grade: A-
– Public school grade: B+
– Population: 186,419
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#6. Queen Creek
– Niche grade: A
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 66,369
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#5. Litchfield Park
– Niche grade: A
– Public school grade: A-
– Population: 6,871
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#4. Chandler
– Niche grade: A
– Public school grade: A+
– Population: 278,123
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#3. Paradise Valley
– Niche grade: A
– Public school grade: A
– Population: 12,621
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#2. Scottsdale
– Niche grade: A
– Public school grade: A
– Population: 242,169
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#1. Gilbert
– Niche grade: A
– Public school grade: A+
– Population: 271,118
