There are many reasons to love living in Arizona. The state is filled with natural wonders, there are four distinct seasons (depending on your elevation), and the pace of life can be as slow as a desert sunset. Hiking, skiing, and biking are popular activities as well as golf, parks, and performing arts. Plus, Arizona has no natural disasters (unless you count heat), it offers relatively low taxes, and many of the cities in the state are growing.
1. Phoenix
Look at any list of fast-growing cities and you will see Phoenix somewhere on the list. The city is one of the most popular in the country right now — fifth to be exact. Almost 1.7 million people live there, and tens of thousands more arrive every year. The Communications Manager for the City of Phoenix’s community and economic development credits that growth to affordable housing options and good job opportunities.
Ten years ago, Phoenix was centered on the service sector. Some of the biggest industries there were hospitality and retail, but that was temporary. The Great Recession caused many of those places to close shop, and bioscience moved in. The number of people working in that sector almost doubled from 2007 to 2017. The city has also been attracting healthcare, technology, and financial services companies that feature higher salaries and are less vulnerable to recession. Together, these factors are attracting new residents in droves.
2. Buckeye
Buckeye is a good bit smaller than Phoenix — it is actually a suburb in the western part of the metro area — but it is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country with a growth rate of 56.6%. Buckeye is a popular place for people who work in Phoenix to live. Median home prices start in the city around the low $100s, and there are several master-planned communities in the suburb — completely with all the amenities.
Buckeye is home to some of the top-performing public schools in the state, and there are plenty of options for people who like to play outside. The Buckeye Hills Regional Park has 4,000 acres spanning from the Sonoran Desert to the Gila River and there are more than 200 golf courses in the area.
3. Goodyear
Goodyear is also expanding rapidly. The city, which has been ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S., grew by 33.1% last year, bringing the population to 86,840. Goodyear is further west of Phoenix than Buckeye, by about 17 miles to be precise. However, this distance brings with it a happy medium for many residents — they are close enough to commute, but far away enough to escape traffic and enjoy outdoor living. Crime rates are low and natural beauty is high. Even the schools are good. The job market in Goodyear is robust. Amazon and REI have locations there.
Why Would You Want to Live in a Fast-Growing City?
New residents mean the city will have more tax revenue, and that usually means better schools, stronger public transportation, and more. While growth on its own doesn’t mean a city has a higher quality of life, it doesn’t hurt! Growth implies that a city is desirable — people like it — and that news tends to encourage even further growth. Fast-growing cities are good opportunities for people looking to build new careers. Real estate agents can do well because there are so many people relocating, but all that growth can mean important career prospects in a variety of industries.