Greater Phoenix, AZ relocation guide
Moving to Phoenix, AZ
About Phoenix
Phoenix is the state capital and by far the largest city in Arizona — the anchor of the Valley of the Sun (Maricopa County, population 1,624,832). It is a sprawling Sonoran Desert metro: historic districts like Encanto-Palmcroft, Arcadia, and the Roosevelt neighborhood sit alongside master-planned North Phoenix communities (Desert Ridge), downtown condo towers, and miles of single-family subdivisions. Major draws are the desert setting, 300+ days of sunshine, spring training, a fast-growing downtown arts and food scene, and big-city amenities (pro sports, museums, ASU's downtown campus) without coastal-city prices.
Home prices in Phoenix
The median listing price in Phoenix is $449,900.
Top places in Phoenix
- Desert Botanical Garden — 50-acre desert garden in Papago Park with thousands of cacti and desert plants.
- Papago Park / Hole-in-the-Rock — city park with the famous red-rock formation and skyline views.
- Heard Museum — one of the country's premier museums of Native American art and history (1929 building, historic register).
- Roosevelt Row — downtown arts district with galleries, murals, restaurants, and First Fridays art walk.
- South Mountain Park & Preserve / Dobbins Lookout — one of the largest municipal parks in the U.S., with sunset views over the Valley.
- Camelback Mountain (Echo Canyon / Cholla trails) — the iconic summit hike on the Phoenix–Scottsdale border.
- Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) — world music instrument collection in North Phoenix.
- Downtown sports & culture — Footprint Center (Suns), Chase Field (Diamondbacks), plus Heritage Square and the Arizona Science Center.
Commuting from Phoenix
- There is no commute to Phoenix — this is the hub. Most neighborhoods reach Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in 10–25 minutes by car; the airport sits inside the city limits between downtown and the eastern suburbs.
- Valley Metro Rail is a two-line light rail system — the A Line (east–west: Downtown Phoenix Hub through Tempe to Mesa) and the B Line (north–south along Central Avenue: Metro Parkway to Baseline/Central Avenue) — totaling roughly 35 miles and 51 stations (Valley Metro FY25 rail fact sheet; read September 24, 2026). Trains run about every 12 minutes on weekdays before 7 PM; fare is $2.00 per ride / $4.00 daily pass.
- The PHX Sky Train (free, automated, runs 24/7) connects the 44th St/Washington light rail station (A Line) directly to airport Terminals 3 and 4 and the Rental Car Center (phoenix-airport.com; read September 24, 2026) — so downtown Phoenix to the airport is a single-seat ride.
- The South Central Extension/Downtown Hub opened June 7, 2025, extending rail south to Baseline Road and creating the current two-line network (trains.com, progressive railroading; read September 24, 2026). Planned west-Phoenix extensions were shelved by the City Cou
Phoenix FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Phoenix, AZ?
The median listing price in Phoenix is $449,900. Median listing price (active listings, all property types) — September 2026 market summary - How is the commute from Phoenix, AZ?
There is no commute to Phoenix — this is the hub. Most neighborhoods reach Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in 10–25 minutes by car; the airport sits inside the city limits between downtown and the eastern suburbs.
Town links
Schools
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.