Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix

Quality Of Life

Phoenix is desirable; it's beautiful and, most importantly, its cost of living is very reasonable. This explains why it's an affordable choice for young families, and why a Phoenix location is an asset to companies looking to attract workers. According to the cost of living index compiled by the American Chamber of Commerce Research Association, Phoenix has an overall cost of living index of 96.8, or just slightly below the U.S. average. Phoenix ranks very well among the major markets.

ACCRA Cost of Living Index Top Participating Metropolitan Areas Over 2 Million In Population 1st Quarter 2005
Metro area	Composite index	Grocery items	Housing	Utilities	Trans- portation	Health care	Misc. goods and services
New York (Manhattan) NY	203.9	142.6	373.2	153.4	113.6	138.4	131.6
Boston MA	137.2	119.1	178.4	133.2	111.3	132.0	118.2
San Diego CA	146.9	109.0	229.0	97.5	118.8	122.9	117.1
Los Angeles-Long Beach CA	153.7	123.4	253.2	114.1	112.5	120.6	108.2
Seattle WA	116.5	108.9	133.0	105.2	111.2	127.7	108.9
Detroit MI	103.8	99.3	112.3	96.8	99.3	101.2	101.2
Atlanta GA	96.0	95.0	91.6	86.7	106.3	110.4	98.3
Phoenix-Mesa AZ	96.8	100.7	88.8	92.9	102.3	95.5	101.3
Dallas TX	91.7	91.6	75.5	103.8	102.3	100.8	97.8
Baltimore MD	112.4	102.9	124.3	115.5	111.7	107.5	106.1
Houston TX	88.7	84.2	74.4	102.6	97.5	98.9	94.7

Housing

It's a home buyer's market in Phoenix. One great cost advantage is housing prices. Phoenix has one of the lowest average prices for a new single-family home, with a median cost of $218,196.

Phoenix and Metropolitan Area Home Sales Median Sales Price 2004 (4Q)
	Resale Home Price	New Home Price
Phoenix	$159,400	$195,000
Greater Phoenix	$203,000	$218,196
U.S.	$189,000	$214,600

Source: Arizona Real Estate Center, L. William Seidman Research Institute, College of Business, Arizona State University, April 2005, and the National Association of Realtors, 2005

The Phoenix area offers a wide variety of new and existing homes. Housing costs in the Phoenix area are well below many other major metropolitan areas. In 2004, more than 48,136 new single-family homes were authorized in the greater Phoenix area. More than 50 percent of new single family homes are constructed in master-planned communities that offer a host of amenities, such as lakes, golf courses, bike trails, etc.

 

New and Resale Home Pricing Comparison 2005 Major U.S. Markets*
Metro area	Average new and resale home price
La Jolla, CA	$1,708,333
San Francisco, CA	$1,125,500
Boston, MA	$1,052,500
San Jose, CA	$952,500
Chicago, IL	$763,333
Ridgewood, NJ	$752,500
Stamford, CT	$681,125
San Diego, CA	$607,475
Princeton Junction, NJ	$559,759
Miami/Coral Gables, FL	$507,225
Philadelphia County / Center City Philadelphia	$488,675
Scottsdale, AZ	$376,300
Minneapolis, MN	$354,175
Naples, FL	$346,667
Ann Arbor, MI	$340,000
Portland, OR	$334,800
Milwaukee, WI	$310,000
Charleston, SC	$290,000
Atlanta, GA	$283,900
Phoenix, AZ	$266,667

*Note: Home Prices based on a single-family home of approx. 2,200 sq. ft., with four bedrooms, 2 baths, family room (or equivalent) and a two-car garage. The homes and neighborhoods surveyed are typical for corporate middle-management transferees.

Source: Coldwell Banker Corporation, 2005

Climate and Lifestyle

Climate and physical amenities

Warm weather is certainly a factor in the Valley's popularity. The sun shines more than 80 percent of the time on an annual average. The area receives about seven inches of precipitation yearly, and the average annual daytime temperature is about 82 degrees. Phoenix's climate is terrific, especially to those used to having to deal with snow, sludge and gray skies. And, yes, it is possible to relax by the pool on Saturday and spend Sunday on the ski slopes.

The Phoenix climate allows for a wide range of recreational activities. More than 184 golf courses offer year-round opportunities on the links, and the Phoenix Open and the LPGA Turquoise Classic are among the five professional golf tournaments played in the area.

With more than 1,130 tennis courts, 100 plus miles of hiking trails, numerous parks including the largest municipal park in the United States, short driving distance to lakes, it's easy and convenient to enjoy favorite recreational activities.

Sports

An incredible variety of sports action can be found in the Valley. Professional sports include the NBA Phoenix Suns, the NFL Arizona Cardinals, the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks, and the WNBA Phoenix Mercury.

Twelve major league baseball teams play spring training in Arizona, nine in the Greater Phoenix area. Known as the Cactus League, the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Anaheim Angels, and San Diego Padres train in Phoenix, while the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, and the Arizona Diamondbacks train in Tucson. Spring exhibition games are played almost daily from March through early April.

Greater Phoenix offers every type of motor sports in the country, including Indy and NASCAR. Other spectator sports available in greater Phoenix include polo matches, horse races, dog races, and a variety of collegiate sports from Arizona State University. Of special note among the important national college football events is the Fiesta Bowl played in ASU's Sun Devil Stadium.

Arts and culture

Arts and cultural activities abound in Phoenix, with more than 20 museums in the metro area and numerous performing arts groups. A sampling of museums include the newly renovated and expanded Phoenix Art Museum, with more than 13,000 works of art including an impressive collection of Western art, a Chinese art selection and an extensive collection of contemporary work; the internationally renown Heard Museum of Anthropology and Primitive Arts, which houses more than 75,000 artifacts of Southwestern Indian culture; and the Arizona Science Center, with 350 hands-on exhibits, giant-screen theater and state-of-the-art planetarium.

On any given night one may find small-scale productions to larger well-known performances such as the Arizona Theatre Company, Arizona Opera, and the Phoenix Symphony. If one's tastes lean toward the performing arts they will find Phoenix a perfect fit.

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The city of Phoenix provides accessibility to information, participation, services and employment for persons with disabilities. This guide may be made available in the following alternative formats: large print, braille or audio-tape by calling (602) 534-CITY (2489).