7 Arizona Cities Rank Among 250 Best Cities to Live

Arizona secured seven spots on the U.S. News & World Report 2025–2026 Best Places to Live in the U.S. list. The rankings, based on value, desirability, job market, and quality of life, included:

East Valley cities continue to shine, with Gilbert ranking #4 among the nation’s fastest-growing cities, and Queen Creek, Gilbert, and Chandler ranking among Arizona’s top 35 cities for small businesses.

For the 2025–2026 rankings, U.S. News expanded its evaluation to over 850 cities (up from 150) and slightly increased the weight of the job market due to economic uncertainty. The rankings provide a detailed look at life at the community level, using data from public surveys, internal sources, and federal agencies. Notably, Mesa ranked #9 among the top 10 Best Big Cities to Live.


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