Where to buy · Phoenix area
The most affordable Phoenix suburbs, by what they cost to own
Median home value is the start. Tax area, commute, utility, and new-build water rules change what a suburb really costs.
Two ways to start
- Search homes by payment
Create your free account to see all homes for sale that fit the monthly payment you're comfortable with, each with its actual property taxes, HOA dues, estimated homeowners insurance, and mortgage insurance when it applies, plus its own estimated closing costs and APR disclosure.
Opens the MABLS home search. Payments shown there are estimates to help you search, not a loan offer or rate quote. Your actual payment depends on price, down payment, credit, taxes, insurance, HOA, and loan program.
- Get pre-qualified (Apply now) (opens in a new tab)
Get pre-qualified with Pam Messina at Rebel Rate Mortgage. Once you're pre-qualified, Pam can update the maximum monthly payment and total funds to close in your home search, so the homes you see match what you qualify for. If you'd like, she can also give you a free, no-obligation introduction to a real estate professional so you can start touring homes.
Opens Rebel Rate Mortgage's secure online application (my1003app.com) in a new tab. Pre-qualification isn't a loan approval or a commitment to lend; approval depends on underwriting, verification of your information, and the property.
Applications are handled by Pam Messina, NMLS #245626, Rebel Rate Mortgage, Inc. (NMLS #2571369).
What are the most affordable suburbs of Phoenix?
Quick answer: By Census median home value, the most affordable Phoenix-area places with 20,000+ residents are Apache Junction ($211,500), Casa Grande ($303,900), El Mirage ($321,900), Florence ($346,300), and the City of Maricopa ($377,200). Phoenix itself is $420,700. These are medians of all owner-occupied homes, not listing prices, so compare current homes by monthly payment.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25077 (summary file). Last updated .
Phoenix-area places compared
| Place | Median home value | Median taxes paid (yr) | 2026 residential rate per $100 (Maricopa tax areas) | Mean commute (min) | Area inside SRP electric territory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Junction | $211,500 | $908 | Unincorporated | 28.1 | 100% |
| Casa Grande | $303,900 | $1,473 | Pinal County | 23.3 | 0% |
| El Mirage | $321,900 | $1,079 | 8.57 | 30.1 | 0% |
| Florence | $346,300 | $2,225 | Pinal County | 30.9 | 11% |
| Maricopa (city) | $377,200 | $2,200 | Pinal County | 36.6 | 0% |
| Glendale | $387,500 | $1,612 | 7.19–15.18 | 27.7 | 40% |
| Avondale | $394,600 | $1,799 | 8.85–12.46 | 28.1 | 38% |
| Mesa | $408,000 | $1,604 | 6.68–8.86 | 24.7 | 96% |
| San Tan Valley | $410,100 | $1,601 | Pinal County | 36.4 | 100% |
| Buckeye | $419,800 | $2,081 | 7.03–10.15 | 33.3 | 0% |
| Phoenix | $420,700 | $1,850 | 6.14–15.83 | 25.6 | 38% |
| Surprise | $435,100 | $1,842 | 5.68–7.10 | 30.2 | 0% |
| Tempe | $455,400 | $2,175 | 7.50–11.58 | 20.9 | 86% |
| Peoria | $463,600 | $2,160 | 7.07–7.92 | 28.2 | 7% |
| Goodyear | $471,300 | $2,551 | 9.12–11.78 | 29.6 | 0% |
| Chandler | $507,800 | $2,258 | 7.45–8.27 | 23.9 | 94% |
| Anthem | $569,900 | $3,184 | Unincorporated | 26.9 | 0% |
| Gilbert | $575,100 | $2,417 | 6.81–8.17 | 25.9 | 94% |
| Fountain Hills | $622,900 | $2,424 | 4.18 | 28.6 | 100% |
| Queen Creek | $635,400 | $2,754 | 7.30–8.22 | 31.1 | 100% |
| Scottsdale | $789,800 | $2,956 | 5.00–9.91 | 21.6 | 8% |
Values, taxes, commute: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year. Rates: Maricopa County 2026 Tax Rates, residential primary after state aid plus secondary, before CFDs. SRP share: our overlay of SRP's published territory layer on Census 2024 place boundaries (land area, not customers); the rest is mostly APS or another provider. Check every address.
Three things that change the math
1. The farther out, the longer the drive
Two Pinal County suburbs carry the longest commutes in the table: the City of Maricopa averages 36.6 minutes and San Tan Valley 36.4, compared with 20.9 in Tempe. Pinal County's average total tax rate across all property (12.32 per $100 in FY2025-26) is also above Maricopa County's (10.12).
2. Community facilities districts add a line to the tax bill
Many newer master-planned areas sit in a CFD. Maricopa County's 2026 table lists, for example, Eastmark CFD at 1.89 per $100 (Mesa), Vistancia North CFD at 2.65 (Peoria), and Verrado District 1 CFD at 2.8391 (Buckeye). Each 1.00 of CFD rate adds $100 a year per $100,000 of limited property value. Check any parcel with our HOA and CFD lookup.
3. Water rules shape new construction
The Arizona Department of Water Resources says its model shows 4.86 million acre-feet of unmet groundwater demand in the Phoenix Active Management Area over 100 years, so the state won't approve new assured water supply determinations based on groundwater there. Building can continue inside existing certificates and designations. In October 2025, EPCOR received the first Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply, which the Governor's office said covers more than 140,000 Arizonans and enough water for 60,000 new homes. Read what to check on new construction.
Is it cheaper to buy outside Phoenix?
10 of the 20 places in the table have a lower Census median home value than Phoenix's $420,700. Several of them, like Glendale and Avondale, also have Phoenix-like commutes.
Three steps from browsing to touring
- See the costs here, no signup. Every guide on this site is open, with no forms. Read the taxes, fees, and rules first.
- Search by payment, privately, on MABLS. Pick the monthly payment you're comfortable with. Each home shows its own property taxes, HOA dues, and insurance, so two homes at the same price can show different payments. It's a free account, and we never sell your information.Search Phoenix-area homes by payment
Opens the MABLS home search. Payments shown there are estimates to help you search, not a loan offer or rate quote.
- Make it exact with Pam. Get pre-qualified with Pam Messina. Once you're pre-qualified, Pam can update the maximum monthly payment and total funds to close in your MABLS search, so results match what you actually qualify for. If you'd like, she can also give you a free, no-obligation introduction to a real estate professional so you can start touring homes.Get pre-qualified with Pam (opens in a new tab)
Applications are handled by Pam Messina, NMLS #245626, Rebel Rate Mortgage, Inc. (NMLS #2571369).
Opens Rebel Rate Mortgage's secure online application (my1003app.com) in a new tab. Pre-qualification isn't a loan approval or a commitment to lend; approval depends on underwriting, verification of your information, and the property.
We never sell your information · Only Rebel Rate Mortgage contacts you about a loan · We connect you with an agent only if you ask · Privacy policy
Related: Phoenix neighborhoods by budget · Most affordable places statewide · SRP or APS? · Property tax by city
Data as of October 4, 2026. Figures are cited to the public sources listed below. General information for Arizona home shoppers, not a loan offer, rate quote, or commitment to lend.
What clients say about Rebel Rate Mortgage
Review mentions Pam Messina, NMLS #245626
We had an excellent experience working with Pam. She made the entire process simple and easy to understand, always responded quickly, and answered every question we had. The approval process was smooth and we were able to close quickly. Thank you so much, Pam. …
Trixie D. · Google review
Review mentions Pam Messina, NMLS #245626
Pam Messina at Rebel Rate Mortgage came through again for one of our home buyer clients. Pam always takes a personal interest in our client's mortgage qualification and success using her integrity and personal commitment to help our buyers successfully purchase a home. …
Thomas J. · Google review
Review mentions Pam Messina, NMLS #245626
This was the easiest mortgage Ive ever gotten. Pam and Josh were excellent! I would recommend Rebel Rate to everyone!
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Reviews from Rebel Rate Mortgage's Google Business Profile. Individual results vary. Read all 36 reviews on this site.
See homes by the payment you want
Search with each home's own property taxes, HOA dues, and insurance built into the estimate. We never sell your information.
Create your free account to see all homes for sale that fit the monthly payment you're comfortable with, each with its actual property taxes, HOA dues, estimated homeowners insurance, and mortgage insurance when it applies, plus its own estimated closing costs and APR disclosure.
Opens the MABLS home search. Payments shown there are estimates to help you search, not a loan offer or rate quote. Your actual payment depends on price, down payment, credit, taxes, insurance, HOA, and loan program.
Prefer to talk it through? Pam Messina, NMLS #245626
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More where to buy guides · Private home search · Property tax by city · HOA and CFD lookup · Neighborhood guides
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates: B25077 (median home value), B25103 (median real estate taxes paid), B25088 (median owner costs with a mortgage), B08013/B08303 (mean travel time to work), B25003 (owner-occupied share), B01003 (population) (retrieved October 4, 2026)
- Maricopa County, 2026 Tax Rates (rates per $100 of assessed value by tax area, school, city, fire, and special districts) (tax year 2026; retrieved October 4, 2026)
- Pinal County, FY2026-27 budget presentation (countywide average tax rates by county, citing the 2026 ADOR Final Abstract) (retrieved October 4, 2026)
- Salt River Project, SRP_PSA electric service territory layer (ArcGIS FeatureServer) (territory per the August 31, 1955 SRP-APS territorial agreement and the September 15, 1954 Mesa agreement; retrieved October 4, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 cartographic boundary file, Arizona places (cb_2024_04_place_500k) (retrieved October 4, 2026)
- Arizona Department of Water Resources, Phoenix AMA groundwater supply updates (retrieved October 4, 2026)
- Office of the Arizona Governor, Governor Katie Hobbs celebrates historic water milestone with EPCOR (news release, October 7, 2025)
Frequently asked questions
What is the most affordable suburb of Phoenix?
Among Phoenix-area places with 20,000+ residents, Apache Junction has the lowest Census median home value, $211,500 (ACS 2020–2024).
What are the up and coming Phoenix suburbs?
We don't rank neighborhoods by trend. What the data shows is where homes cost less and what you trade for it: Pinal County suburbs like Maricopa and San Tan Valley have lower medians than many Maricopa County cities but commutes over 36 minutes.
Are property taxes higher in Pinal County?
On average, yes. Pinal's average total rate across all property was 12.32 per $100 in FY2025-26, compared with 10.12 in Maricopa County. Individual tax areas vary in both.
Which Phoenix suburbs have SRP?
By land area, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, Fountain Hills, and San Tan Valley sit entirely inside SRP's territory, and Mesa, Gilbert, and Chandler are mostly inside. Buckeye, Surprise, Goodyear, and the City of Maricopa are outside it. Check each address.
Can builders still build new homes around Phoenix?
Yes, inside existing assured water supply certificates and designations. ADWR won't approve new groundwater-based determinations in the Phoenix AMA, and EPCOR received a new alternative designation in October 2025.