Skip to main content
MoveScore
Home›Best Overall Cities›Arizona

Best Overall Cities in Arizona

11 cities ranked · Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top Cities in Arizona

  1. #1
    B

    Scottsdale

    Best Overall Cities score 75 · MoveScore 75

  2. #2
    C

    Glendale

    Best Overall Cities score 67 · MoveScore 67

  3. #3
    C

    Surprise

    Best Overall Cities score 66 · MoveScore 66

  4. #4
    C

    Peoria

    Best Overall Cities score 66 · MoveScore 66

  5. #5
    C

    Mesa

    Best Overall Cities score 65 · MoveScore 65

  6. #6
    C

    Tucson

    Best Overall Cities score 64 · MoveScore 64

  7. #7
    C

    FLAGSTAFF

    Best Overall Cities score 63 · MoveScore 63

  8. #8
    C

    Phoenix

    Best Overall Cities score 62 · MoveScore 62

  9. #9
    D

    Chandler

    Best Overall Cities score 58 · MoveScore 58

  10. #10
    D

    Gilbert

    Best Overall Cities score 57 · MoveScore 57

  11. #11
    D

    Yuma

    Best Overall Cities score 56 · MoveScore 56

Other Arizona Rankings

Best for Safety in Arizona

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality in Arizona

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in Arizona

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in Arizona

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in Arizona

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in Arizona

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in Arizona ranks highest for best overall cities?

Scottsdale, AZ ranks #1 in Arizona for best overall cities with a sub-score of 75/100 (MoveScore 75, grade B).

How many cities in Arizona are compared?

11 Arizona cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

Arizona-specific ranking using the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.