Retirement is something most people look forward to after a long career. Besides no longer working, one of the best parts about retiring is moving to a new place where they can enjoy retirement to the fullest.
If you’re considering moving to Arizona for your retirement or currently live there but are looking for a new town, these are the best places to retire in Arizona.
1: Tucson
Tucson is one of the most well-known cities in Arizona. Nestled between Green Valley and Phoenix, you’ll get the best of both worlds when you retire here. You’ll be able to explore a city and enjoy the peacefulness of nature and the suburbs.
This Arizona city offers great entertainment opportunities, cultural experiences, and plenty of outdoor activities to participate in. Tucson has numerous festivals and street fairs that happen annually, allowing you to be active in your community once you retire.
Tucson is a city proud of its history, so you’ll see stunning architecture and can learn more about what made Tucson the city people love today. For the outdoorsy individuals, you’ll be pretty close to beautiful parks like Tohono Chul Park, Sabino Canyon, and the Saguaro National Park.
There are a lot of golf courses, healthcare options, shops, and dining waiting for you in Tucson. If you want some advice on areas to make a home, Catalina Foothills, Altura, and La Cholla Hills are all great options for retirees.
2: Green Valley
Green Valley is in Southern Arizona and was originally a retirement community. To this day, Green Valley is designed and beloved by retirees from Arizona and beyond. There are more than 26 active adult communities to choose from if you were to call Green Valley home.
Much like Tucson, you’ll have a mixture of cultural, outdoorsy, and indoor activities to spend your days. There are excellent museums like the Titan Missile Museum, delicious restaurants to treat yourself to, and more.
While you don’t have to live in an age-restricted community, the ones here are some of the best. They come with everything you need to live happily in retirement, like a sense of community, tennis courts, swimming pools, and more.
Green Valley is perfect for those who want to explore outside. You’re close to Coronado National Forest and several other beautiful parks. A few great communities here are Canoa Ranch and Quail Creek.
3: Scottsdale
Scottsdale is known as a suburb of Phoenix, but in recent years it created a name for itself independent from Phoenix. Scottsdale has always been a popular spot for retirees for several reasons.
There are seven active adult communities within Scottsdale’s city lines. However, even if you prefer to live in a regular community, you’ll still have access to some of the best dining Arizona offers: great golf courses like TPC Scottsdale, beautiful parks like Camelback Mountain, and a lavish lifestyle.
You can spend your days outdoors or soaking up the high-end lifestyle that many retirees have in Scottsdale. While the suburb has a more suburban vibe, it’s still perfect for retirees who crave city life since you’re so close to Phoenix.
If you’re considering retiring to Scottsdale, some of the best age-restricted communities you might want to look into are Scottsdale Shadows, Terravita, and Golden Keys.
4: Buckeye
Another great suburb of Phoenix retirees are flocking to is Buckeye. It’s on the western side of Phoenix in Central Arizona. While almost everywhere in Arizona is an outdoorsy person’s dream, Buckeye takes it up a notch.
If you dream of spending your retirement outdoors hiking, biking, horseback riding, and otherwise just enjoying the fresh air, then Buckeye might be the best place for you. The area is home to the Skyline Regional Park, which spans over 8,600 acres.
The park has all sorts of hiking, biking, and horseback trails for you to explore on your own or with a guide. In addition to that, they have various events and activities like stargazing, fitness classes, and more.
Buckeye also has a charming Main Street with shops and restaurants for you to enjoy. Some of the best retirement communities in Buckeye that are worth exploring are Sun City Festival and Sundance.
5: Phoenix
We’ve talked a lot about the different suburbs of Phoenix being great for retirees, but Phoenix itself is a great option too! Phoenix is better for people who want a more urban retirement, but it’s still not a concrete jungle.
This desert city offers residents warmth year-round, plenty of entertainment, and outdoor attractions. Some of the things you can do here when you retire include visiting the Arizona Opera, the Ballet Arizona, art festivals, the zoo, and playing at one of the 200 golf courses.
Phoenix offers retirees the best of both worlds because you can access plenty of outdoor spaces and parks. If you love spending time in the city, then the downtown area will be your favorite.
Some age-restricted communities that are outstanding for retirees in Phoenix are Sun City, Northtown, and Ahwatukee Retirement Village.
6: Oro Valley
Just north of Tucson’s city limits is Oro Valley. This small Arizona town is perfect for retirees who want a quiet place to retire that still offers them plenty of things to do and see. One of the biggest draws to Oro Valley is the climate.
Oro Valley is considered one of the country’s sunniest places and one of the most comfortable weather-wise. The average temperatures are highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 50s, making it pleasant for almost everyone year-round.
Another thing people love about Oro Valley is that it’s the perfect launch point to explore other areas of the state. You can take day trips to Mount Lemmon and other regions. Many people here enjoy going fishing, boating, hiking, and skiing in the winter.
The good news is that you get a quieter place to live, but you’re still close to Tucson if you want to venture into a larger city. Some great communities to retire to in Oro Valley are Sun City Oro Valley and Vistoso Village.
7: Prescott
One hundred miles north of Phoenix is Prescott, Arizona. This active town is perfect for active adults who want to spend retirement outside and participate in active activities. The city itself is inside one of the state’s most famous natural spaces.
The city has a mild climate compared to towns in southern Arizona which is an enormous appeal for many people. Prescott is in the Bradshaw Mountains, meaning that it does see more rainfall than other cities due to the elevation, but it’s still not overly wet and comfortable temperature-wise.
You can easily visit the Coconino National Forest, the Peavine National Recreation Trail, and Prescott National Forest from here, where you can hike, bike, and take in the scenery.
You can also venture to several museums when the rain hits, like the Smoki Museum and the Sharlot Hall Museum. A few retirement communities you might want to consider in Prescott include Prescott Lakes and Victorian Estates.
8: Sierra Vista
Lastly, we have Sierra Vista. This is in southern Arizona near the Mexico border. The town is more than just an age-restricted retirement community, even though many people choose to retire to Sierra Vista.
The city is perfect for active adults who want to participate in different activities and become part of a strong community. You can watch movies in the park, go on day trips to other parts of the state, and even venture into Mexico for shopping and affordable services.
People who retire here love the ten golf courses, historical museums, hiking trails, shopping options, and dining choices. Retirement communities are widely popular here because they have everything you need on the property to enjoy retirement.
You can quickly meet new friends and other retirees to spend time with, plan trips with, and more. The best part is the Tucson International Airport is only an hour away. Some communities you might like are Winterhaven and Vista View Resort.
Wrapping Up
Whether you’re looking for a city environment, something a little quieter, or want an outdoorsman’s paradise, there’s a place in Arizona waiting for you to retire. It’s best to do your own research on each area to make sure it’s the best one for you, but you can’t go wrong with these eight best places to retire in Arizona.
