If you’re a longtime follower of the Sunbound blog then you’ll know that one of the reasons we think Phoenix, Arizona is such a great place to retire is that the greater Phoenix metro area is filled with an amazing array of towns and cities that are perfect for retirement. Many people tell us that they love being able to live close to one of the biggest cities in the country (Phoenix, Arizona is the fifth biggest city in the entire country) and all the amenities that come with such a major metropolitan area, while at the same time getting to live in a smaller town or suburb. While we’ve covered some of these amazing small towns in more depth before - towns like Goodyear, Arizona and Buckeye, Arizona - we wanted to put together a list of some of our favorite cities in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. With so many unique options to choose from, you’re bound to find a city that’s right for you.

Scottsdale, Arizona

One of our favorite places in Phoenix, and probably one of the more popular Phoenix suburbs nationally, is Scottsdale Arizona, located on the east side of Phoenix. Named after founder Winfield Scott and bearing the nickname “The West’s Most Western Town” you still see traces of Scottsdale’s cowboy past such as in the city’s charming Old Town neighborhood. However, Scottsdale has grown from its cowboy roots (it has been one of the fastest growing cities in the entire country) to now become a destination for high-end resorts, golf, dining, and shopping. If you want your retirement to feature plenty of time relaxing in high end spas or hitting some of the country’s best golf courses, you may love Scottsdale. While housing in Scottsdale can be on the pricier end for Phoenix, many residents tell us it is worth it to be around all the amenities that Scottsdale has to offer. Finally, like so many places in Arizona, Scottsdale has some amazing outdoor adventures, with the most famous probably being the iconic local Camelback Mountain, which offers some of the best hikes (and views) in the state.

‍Tempe, Arizona‍

Staying on the east side of Phoenix is the city of Tempe, Arizona, home to Arizona State University. While Tempe is certainly a college town, bringing with it all the cultural and sporting events, not to mention nightlife, that comes with being around a major university, Tempe is also one of the country’s fastest growing tech hubs. All this youth and energy makes Tempe an exciting and lively place to retire, with plenty of amazing new restaurants and other entertainment options seemingly always popping up. In addition to all of this energy, Tempe has a bustling housing market with plenty of amazing new homes as well as access to all the amenities and world-class healthcare facilities you would expect from such a fast growing, industry and technology focused city. 

‍Goodyear, Arizona‍

While perhaps a little less famous nationally than Tempe or Scottsdale, one of our favorite Phoenix suburbs is the city of Goodyear, Arizona, located across town from Tempe and Scottsdale in the western suburbs of Phoenix. Named after Charles Goodyear, the founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Goodyear was a fairly small town until recently, when it has become one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona. In fact, Goodyear was the third fastest growing city in the entire state from 1990 to 2000. Today, Goodyear, Arizona provides for a pleasant, laid back retirement with plenty of high-quality, newly built homes to choose from. The town also enjoys an amazing location, as it’s close enough to downtown Phoenix to provide easy access to all of its amenities and great healthcare options, while still being in a quiet part of town that provides easy access by car to Arizona’s plentiful outdoor activities.

‍To learn more about retiring to Goodyear, Arizona, check out our in-depth review of Goodyear here.‍

‍Buckeye, Arizona‍

Close to Goodyear is Buckeye, Arizona - another smaller but fast-growing west-Phoenix suburb that is a hotspot for retirees. Like Goodyear, Buckeye, Arizona has seen rapid growth in recent years as people, many of them retirees, have flocked to the area. So many people have come to the area, that in 2017 and 2018 Buckeye, Arizona was the fastest growing city in the entire country. Specifically, since 2000 the city’s population has grown from roughly 6,000 people to over 90,000 people today. And there’s definitely good reasons why so many people have moved to Buckeye. Located in west Phoenix, it provides easy access to getting out and exploring all of the National Parks and other outdoor destinations Arizona has to offer, while also being close enough to the downtown to give residents easy access to everything they could need or want like fine dining or world-class hospitals. And with so many top quality home builders working in the area, it’s no surprise so many retirees love moving to Buckeye.

‍To learn more about retiring to Buckeye, Arizona, check out our in-depth review of Buckeye here.‍

‍Litchfield Park, Arizona‍

Another west-Phoenix suburb that is very popular with retirees is Litchfield Park. Like Buckeye and Goodyear, Litchfield park has a great location providing easy access to Phoenix if need be, while still providing a quieter and more laid back living experience. However, unlike Goodyear and Buckeye, Litchfield Park is a fairly small city with a population of only roughly 7,000. Litchfield Park has a comparatively high number of retirees, and so makes for a great destination for those looking to live in a smaller city amongst other retirees. And with a high amount of quality active adult and senior living communities, there are plenty of great retirement living options in Litchfield Park.

‍Mesa, Arizona‍

Swinging back across town to the east side of the Phoenix metropolitan area is another one of the bigger Phoenix suburbs - Mesa, Arizona. The third biggest city in Arizona, Mesa is known as one of the foodie hubs of Phoenix. Located near some of Arizona’s best farmland, Mesa’s famous Fresh Food Trail has some of the best restaurants in Arizona and makes for the perfect outing. Mesa also has a host of popular cultural offerings, including the Arizona Natural History Museum and the MESA Arts Center, which is the largest arts and entertainment park in the southwest United States. Mesa also has easy access to some of the more popular outdoor recreational spots in Phoenix, like the nearby Salt and Verde rivers as well as several lakes.

While we listed just a few of our favorite areas of Phoenix in this blog post, there’s no shortage of amazing retirement destinations not only in and around Phoenix but in the entire state of Arizona.

Sunbound is the best way to pay for senior living. If you want to learn more about how Sunbound can help make senior living more affordable for residents and easier to manage for communities, email us at info@sunboundhomes.com or request a demo here. Sunbound is on a mission to make senior living more affordable for everyone.