HomeSnacks’ 2026 general-affordability ranking puts Douglas first among the Arizona places it evaluated, followed by Winslow, San Luis, Eloy, Apache Junction, Nogales, Benson, Bullhead City, Coolidge and Safford. It is a useful starting shortlist—not a ranking of the best places to retire or a forecast of what your retirement will cost. The list covers places with more than 5,000 residents, so “small town” is not a precise description of every entry.
How to read this affordability ranking
HomeSnacks ranked 55 Arizona places with more than 5,000 residents using a composite index based on 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS)-derived measures. The index considers housing, transportation, services, groceries, healthcare and utilities, with housing weighted most heavily. The order below is that source’s 2026 general-affordability ranking; it is not an official government ranking and was not designed specifically for retirees.
A composite index can help identify places to investigate, but it is not a monthly budget. It does not establish what a particular retiree will pay for a home, property taxes, insurance, utilities, Medicare coverage, prescriptions or specialist care. Nor does the ranking establish that every category costs less in a higher-ranked place.
The 10 Arizona places, in HomeSnacks’ 2026 order
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Douglas
Douglas ranks first in HomeSnacks’ statewide general-affordability list. Treat that position as a reason to compare local housing and household expenses, not as evidence that it will be cheapest for your retirement circumstances.
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Winslow
Winslow ranks second. The ranking supplies a relative position, not a retiree-specific estimate of housing, healthcare, taxes or other monthly costs.
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San Luis
San Luis ranks third in the same composite. Before comparing it with other candidates, check housing options and the services you would need against your own budget and care requirements.
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Eloy
Eloy ranks fourth. Its place in the list reflects the source’s general cost index; it does not determine whether the town’s housing, utilities or access to care suit a particular household.
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Apache Junction
Apache Junction ranks fifth. Use the ranking as a screening signal, then verify the costs that matter most to you with current local figures.
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Nogales
Nogales ranks sixth. The index does not provide a complete retirement budget or settle questions about a household’s insurance, healthcare access or tax situation.
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Benson
Benson ranks seventh. Its position is comparable to the other entries only within HomeSnacks’ stated composite methodology.
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Bullhead City
Bullhead City ranks eighth. A general affordability score alone cannot show what a retiree will pay for a suitable home, cooling, insurance or care.
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Coolidge
Coolidge ranks ninth. Compare its actual housing choices and services with those of other finalists rather than treating the rank as a personalized recommendation.
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Safford
Safford rounds out the top ten at tenth. Its inclusion means it appeared among the most affordable places in this particular statewide comparison, not that it is necessarily less expensive for every retiree than places outside the list.
What the housing figures can—and cannot—tell you
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 QuickFacts estimates put Arizona’s median value of owner-occupied homes at $394,500 and median gross rent at $1,543. Those are statewide context figures, not estimates for the ten ranked places.
Place-level figures can differ substantially. For comparison, QuickFacts reports 2020–2024 median owner-occupied home values and median gross rents of $232,600 and $896 in Somerton, $294,300 and $1,010 in Fort Mohave, and $622,900 and $1,890 in Fountain Hills. These examples are not among the ranked ten and should not be used to infer their home values, rents or rank. They illustrate why a statewide average—or another town’s figures—is not a substitute for checking the specific place and housing type you are considering.
Build a retirement comparison that fits your household
Compare the same kinds of costs and services for each finalist. Use recent local information where possible, and note the year and whether a figure is an average, median, estimate or quote.
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- Housing: Compare homes or rentals you would realistically consider, including maintenance, homeowners or renters insurance, and any association fees.
- Property taxes and insurance: Estimate the bill for the specific home, not just a county or state average. Insurance availability and premiums can also affect the total.
- Utilities and cooling: Check actual utility rates and expected summer electricity use for the home. A broad cost index does not tell you what your cooling bill will be.
- Healthcare: Identify nearby hospitals, primary-care clinicians and relevant specialists; check travel times and whether your insurance or Medicare plan includes the providers you would use. The ranking does not establish local network adequacy or your medical costs.
- Transportation and services: Account for driving, fuel, public transportation where available, and trips to larger service centers for appointments or everyday needs.
- Food and routine expenses: Compare grocery prices and the everyday services you expect to use, rather than assuming a category score matches your spending.
- Income and taxes: Consider your retirement income sources and tax circumstances. A statewide cost index cannot determine your household’s after-tax income.
The Census Bureau’s ACS Data Profiles and Geographic Comparison Tables can help compare housing, economic and demographic measures across town geographies; the tables also include measures such as housing costs and the share of households with retirement income. They are useful screening tools, but they do not establish whether a healthcare network meets your needs or calculate your full household budget.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the cheapest general ranking may not be your best retirement choice
Costs do not move together. Kingman’s city economic-development page, citing BestPlaces, reports an overall cost index of 85 and a health index of 113, compared with Arizona figures of 102 and 95. That comparison illustrates how an overall index can be lower while one category is higher; it is not a substitute for a retiree’s own healthcare-cost and access check.
Likewise, municipal cost claims need their comparison basis. Casa Grande’s economic-development page describes the city as between Phoenix and Tucson and claims living costs 35%–50% below metropolitan regions, but does not define the baseline for that range. Treat it as a municipal claim, not as a directly comparable cost estimate for the ranked towns.
Quick Recap
How to use the list before choosing where to move
- Shortlist several places. Start with the ranking if general affordability is a priority, but include any location that better matches your care, family, climate or transportation needs.
- Set a household budget. Estimate housing, taxes, insurance, utilities, healthcare, transportation and recurring expenses using your own income and likely needs.
- Check comparable data. Use Census town-level profiles and comparison tables for consistent housing and demographic measures, then confirm figures that affect a specific home or service with the relevant provider.
- Verify care and daily logistics. Check provider networks, specialist availability, hospital travel times, transport and access to the services you expect to use.
- Visit finalists. Spend time in each place and assess the specific neighborhoods and homes you might choose; a statewide index cannot substitute for that decision.
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