Maricopa County has a lot to offer, from vibrant city vibes to cultural destinations to natural landmarks. But according to a new ranking, it’s still falling short of being the best place to live in Arizona.
Instead, Greenlee County once again claimed the top spot on Niche’s list of the 2025 best Arizona counties to live in ranking.
The list evaluated Arizona’s 15 counties based on nearly a dozen factors, including public school ratings, cost of living, job opportunities and access to amenities. Each category was assigned a letter grade using data from the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and other sources.
Here’s how all of Arizona’s counties stacked up and why.
Arizona’s top 5 counties, according to Niche
- Greenlee County
- Pima County
- Cochise County
- Maricopa County
- Coconino County
Why Greenlee is the best county in Arizona to live in
Greenlee County not only took the No. 1 spot overall, but it also ranked as the best county for families and the best county to buy a home in Arizona.
Located along the state’s eastern border with New Mexico, Greenlee is one of the least populated counties in the state, with fewer than 10,000 residents. But what it lacks in population, it makes up for in livability: highly rated public schools, favorable weather and a fairly diverse community helped it secure its top ranking.
Greenly County also has a strong housing market, with a median home value and rent cost far below the national median.
Major cities in Greenlee County include Duncan and Morenci, but its top-rated city with an overall grade of A- is Clifton, according to Niche.
Two other counties also surpassed Maricopa County in the list: Pima and Cochise counties, with better housing and cost of living ratings than Maricopa.
Why is Maricopa County not the best to live in Arizona?
Maricopa County is where most residents in Arizona live, with a population of nearly 4.5 million. Even though it did not make it to the top of Niche’s list, it still made it to the top five, with high ratings for outdoor activities, diversity, weather, health and fitness, and nightlife.
Maricopa offers a wide range of things to do, including restaurants, entertainment venues, coffee shops, parks and outdoor activities. It has bustling urban centers like Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale while still offering plenty of charming, quieter rural areas on the outskirts.
It was also named the best county for young professionals in Arizona, offering a fairly strong job market and income stability. Its public schools are also mostly above average.
However, Maricopa County received poor ratings for the housing and cost of living categories, bringing its overall grade down. The median home value in Maricopa is about $415,000, which is more than $100,000 above the national average. The median rent cost is also higher than the national average at $1,587 a month.
Even so, several communities in the county stood out. With an overall grade of A+, Awhatukee Foothills was named the best place to live in Maricopa County, followed by Gilbert, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Chandler.
How the ranking was determined
Niche ranked Arizona’s counties based on how livable they are, using data from the U.S. Census and other reliable sources. The goal was to measure the overall quality of life in each area by looking at factors that matter most to residents.
These included things like:
- Higher education rate: How many people have a college degree.
- Cost of living: How affordable it is to live there.
- Housing: Home values, property taxes, and local school quality.
- Public schools: Based on school ratings and student population.
- Diversity: Ethnic, age, and income diversity.
- Jobs: Employment rates, job growth, and income stability.
- Health & fitness: Access to healthcare and community health statistics.
- Outdoor activities & weather: Access to parks and good weather.
- Commute times: How long it typically takes to get to work.
- Nightlife: Access to restaurants, bars, and entertainment.
Niche also considered feedback from people who lived in each county to help shape the rankings.
Each category was given a letter grade, and those grades were combined to come up with an overall score for each county.
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