Arizona's 8 Best Retirement Towns Ranked
Those who have had a glimpse of Arizona will agree that it is among the most beautiful states in the nation. Arizona boasts incredible hiking, wildlife-viewing, and camping opportunities. Add that to fishing, boating, and hunting, and you have an outdoor scene like no other. Amid improbably scintillating views, your retirement life here will strike the sweet spot between adventure and relaxation. That said, no retiree can afford to be a two-hour drive from a decent health facility. With these considerations in mind, discover below Arizona's eight best retirement towns ranked.
1. Green Valley
Just 30 minutes from Tucson and the first university established in the Arizona Territory, is a small, charming town of about 21,000 residents that hardly witnesses any crime incidents. Green Valley is a quaint, simple town with great trails, parks, and delicious mountain views. You can catch a mood-lifting concert at the CPAC Community Performance & Art Center, savor some calm and clarity at Desert Meadows Park, or enjoy a round of golf at the nearby San Ignacio Golf Club.
If you want to bond with peers in the same age bracket, you won't find a town that fits like Green Valley. For perspective, residents here have a median age in the low 70s, a social landscape you will hardly find anywhere else. For those keen on retiring on the cheap, Green Valley is incredibly budget-friendly. Houses fetch a median sales price of just $277,833. Finally, although a retiree can quickly reach several hospitals in Tucson, Northwest Medical Center Sahuarita often meets the healthcare needs of area residents.
2. Fountain Hills
Fountain Hills is small-town charm at its best. It boasts fantastic big-city access, especially considering it is a short, 25-minute drive from downtown Scottsdale. With spots such as the Fountain Hills Theater, which often shows some great productions — and Fountain Park — a swoon-worthy space with a shimmering lake and 18-hole golf course, a retiree here has several venues for enjoying free time. If you are a dog walker, there is the Desert Vista Dog Park, a nice spot to let a furry friend meet peers and enjoy a healthy dose of sunshine.
Is Fountain Hills affordable? A median price of $666,325 may not fit every pocket, but it is an excellent bang for the buck, especially considering what Fountain Hills offers. On healthcare access, both Scottsdale and Phoenix host excellent medical facilities, including the award-winning HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center and Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. Finally, residents here have a median age of about 60, meaning you will easily meet and bond with similarly aged folks.
3. Oro Valley
Oro Valley is beautifully nestled in the Santa Catalina foothills. It is a Tucson suburb, positioned just about 10 miles from downtown Tucson. Catalina State Park provides more than 5,000 acres for hiking, and, therefore, is an expansive, beautiful venue for keeping fit. Alternatively, Naranja Park offers just about everything one can dream of, including a splash pad, skate park, dog park, and of course, fantastic playgrounds. You can sit here and watch time glide — or meet friends and people-watch. There is also the Honey Bee Canyon Park, which features beautiful rock formations.
According to Zillow, houses in Oro Valley fetch a median sales price of $472,333. This price point comes with access to the Oro Valley Hospital, a winner of the Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award. Finally, with a median age in the mid 50s, a retiree will find a social scene that fits like a glove.
4. Fortuna Foothills
If you have ever dreamt of retiring at a place like Palm Springs, California, but at a fraction of the cost, it is time you considered Fortuna Foothills. You have the Colorado River, which is known for its whitewater rapids; the nearby Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, a nice spot for connecting with nature in multiple ways; and Fortuna Lake, where an empty nester will enjoy catching some nice-sized bass, catfish, or trout. According to Zillow, houses in the Yuma area — where Fortuna Foothills is located — fetch a median price of $306,333, one of the best price points in the entire state.
On the social side, residents here have a median age of about 62, which means Fortuna Foothills is essentially a retirement community. If your knees are starting to act weirdly, Yuma Regional Medical Center is in town. It is a 2023 recipient of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery Award.
5. Sahuarita
With a nice, local library, beautiful walking and biking paths — and quiet and safe neighborhoods — Sahuarita is a dream retirement destination. With Tucson less than half an hour’s drive to the north, an empty nester here enjoys fantastic access to big-city amenities, including a string of top-rated hospitals. For example, you have the Northwest Medical Center Sahuarita at your doorstep and the nearby Banner University Medical Center in Tucson. Banner University Medical Center is a 2025 winner of the Stroke Care Excellence Award. With a low median age, the social scene here comes with a touch of oomph and pizzazz.
So, how does a retiree spend her time here? The Titan Missile Museum, which offers a unique look into the Cold War, is always a delight to explore. Add that to the handsomely maintained San Ignacio Golf Club, if golfing is up your alley, and Parque Los Arroyos, which has a paved path to walk or jog, and you will start to get an idea of Sahuarita’s retirement appeal. According to Zillow, houses in Sahuarita fetch a median sales price of $360,800, which is enticingly affordable by Arizona standards.
6. Wickenburg
If looking for a small, safe spot to live your sunset years away from the fast lane, Wickenburg should be on your radar. And with Phoenix just an hour away, a retiree here is not in the middle of nowhere. You will be teeing away your afternoons at the Wickenburg Ranch Golf Course WWTP, known to offer an elite golfing experience that would impress all kinds of golfers, including the most sophisticated. Plus, you can occasionally mingle with hummingbirds at the Hassayampa River Preserve — or enjoy a high-octane rodeo at the Everett Bowman Rodeo Arena.
If under the weather, the highly ranked Wickenburg Community Hospital is right in town. It has been serving area residents since before the Great Depression years. However, the most exciting part about Wickenburg is that residents have a median age of about 64, meaning the social support network here is unmatched. Although Zillow does not indicate the median sales price of houses in Wickenburg, the median listing price is $602,167: Nothing outrageous.
7. Sedona
If your heart dances at the mention of the word “outdoors,” you should pay attention to Sedona, a warm, artsy community tucked away in Arizona’s northern Verde Valley region. It may not be the most beautiful thing about retiring in Sedona, but no words can describe the beauty, especially when the evening sun hits the red rocks, curating a scene that is sizzling and electrifying in equal measure. You have the pine-speckled Coconino National Forest in your backyard and the magical Walnut Canyon National Monument, known for its ancient cliff dwellings. Alternatively, Slide Rock State Park, with its natural water slide, is adventure at its finest.
On healthcare access, you have the Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood, which has been providing excellent healthcare to area residents since 1971. With a median age of about 59, Sedona is like a retiree get-together. Finally, houses in Sedona fetch a median sales price of $956,125.
8. Apache Junction
Apache Junction provides retirees with lots of conveniences. Downtown Phoenix, for instance, is a short, 30-minute drive. Mesa, Arizona’s third-largest city, is even closer. A retiree here, therefore, enjoys the best of both worlds: access to the amenities of a big city and the relaxing quietude of a small, charming community. With the Lost Dutchman State Park in your backyard, whose rugged gorgeousness is quite a pleasure to explore, an empty nester here does not lack adventure pleasure spots. Avid or wannabe golfers have the Gold Canyon Golf Course, which features a delightful mix of wide and narrow fairways — and most importantly — incredible views. To a large extent, the same is true of the nearby Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club.
If you are worried about healthcare access, Banner Goldfield Medical Center is right in town. Still, you have a world of options at Mesa, including the Arizona Spine and Joint Hospital, a frequent winner of the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement Award. With a median age of 54, a retiree here will easily meet and interact with peers in the same age bracket. The median sale price of houses in Apache Junction is $369,083, just what any empty nester will want to jump at.
Where to Retire in Arizona?
In many states, a retiree will struggle to find public land open to hunting, fishing, or camping. Not so with Arizona, one of the best territories in the world for outdoor adventure. Even if it did not have the Grand Canyon, Arizona would still leave first-time visitors completely blown away. The trick is to be close to desirable amenities, including good hospitals and shopping venues. Ready to explore some unbelievably beautiful dioramas of nature? Check out Green Valley, Fountain Hills, or Oro Valley — the Top 3 on our list of the eight best retirement towns in Arizona.
