Arizona’s 6 Best Hidden Gem Housing Markets of 2025

In a year marked by rising costs and shrinking options, six Arizona cities have quietly emerged as standout housing markets — offering the state’s best blends of affordability and livability.

According to a new analysis by GOBankingRates, these hidden gems outperform the state average in key metrics such as home affordability, monthly mortgage costs and quality of life. To compile its list of the top six options, GBR analyzed data from Zillow, AreaVibes, Sperling’s BestPlaces, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve. Cities were weighted based on how they rank in multiple categories, and an overall score was determined — producing the top six.

The average value of a single-family home in Arizona stands at $435,588. Each of the six cities listed comes in well below that, with deltas ranging from $80,000 to $200,000. But these six cities also get respectable livability scores from AreaVibes, ranging from 70 to 80 on a scale of 100.

Here’s a rundown of the top six options in the Grand Canyon State.

Also see cities that might be hidden gems for buyers.

• Average home value in city: $302,703
• Amount below average home value in state: $132,885
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,733
• Livability: 70
• Median household income: $62,546

Yuma is located in the southwestern corner of the state, near the borders with California and Mexico. Its AreaVibes livability score of 70 ranks it lowest among the cities in GBR’s list, but average monthly mortgages are reachable at around $1,700.

• Average home value in city: $339,478
• Amount below average home value in state: $96,110
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,943
• Livability: 73
• Median household income: $54,546

Tucson sits in the Sonoran Desert, about 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border and roughly 110 miles southeast of Phoenix. Home to the University of Arizona, Tucson is by far the largest city on GBR’s list with about 543,000 residents. Average monthly expenditures here come in around $1,950.

• Average home value in city: $355,112
• Amount below average home value in state: $80,476
• Average monthly mortgage: $2,033
• Livability: 74
• Median household income: $94,208

You’ll find Maricopa in south-central Arizona, about 35 miles southwest of Phoenix. Maricopa’s median household income ranks first among the cities listed. Its average monthly cost of living — about $4,100 — is the highest on the list.

• Average home value in city: $304,300
• Amount below average home value in state: $131,288
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,742
• Livability: 78
• Median household income: $69,783

Sierra Vista is located in the southeastern part of Arizona, near the border with Mexico. Its livability score of 78 ranks second among cities in GBR’s top six. Average monthly mortgages come in at a list-low $1,346.

• Average home value in city: $235,225
• Average home value in state: $435,588
• Amount below average home value in state: $200,363
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,346
• Livability: 76
• Median household income: $57,364

San Luis sits in the far southwestern corner of the state, directly on the U.S.-Mexico border. With average values for single-family homes about $200,000 below the state average, San Luis has the biggest delta among cities in GBR’s list. San Luis is also a relatively young city compared to others on the list, with only about 10% of its residents age 65 or older.

• Average home value in city: $272,902
• Amount below average home value in state: $162,686
• Average monthly mortgage: $1,562
• Livability: 80
• Median household income: $60,418

Kingman is located in northwestern Arizona on historic Route 66. Average single-family home values come in well below the state average, but Kingman also boasts a respectable livability score of 80 — highest among the cities in this list. The average monthly mortgage in Kingman comes in below $1,600.

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.

Methodology: To identify the best hidden gem housing markets for 2025, GOBankingRates conducted a comprehensive analysis of cities across the U.S. The selection began with data from the Zillow Home Value Index, focusing on cities where the average single-family home value was at least $50,000 below the statewide average. Cities with a livability score below 70, sourced from AreaVibes, were excluded to ensure a baseline quality of life. Cost-of-living indexes were obtained from Sperling’s BestPlaces and paired with national average expenditure data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey to estimate typical spending in each city. Assuming a 10% down payment and applying the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average monthly mortgage was calculated for each location. From there, the total cost of living was determined by combining mortgage and expenditure estimates. Each city was then scored and weighted using the following weighted criteria: median household income (1.00), average mortgage cost (1.00), difference from statewide home value (2.00), and livability index (2.00). Final scores were then summed and ranked. The top cities from Arizona were then separated out. All data is current as of Sept. 2, 2025.