Money magazine picks Peoria as Arizona’s best place to live
Sep 21, 2018, 1:46 PM
(Google Street View)
(Google Street View)
PHOENIX – Only one Arizona city made Money magazine’s list of the country’s 50 best places to live for 2018 — and the location might come as a surprise.
It’s not one of Phoenix’s upscale suburbs, a trendy East Valley community or a scenic northern community.
No, the magazine’s choice as the best place to live in Arizona is – drumroll — Peoria.
“You don’t get selected as the No. 1 city without a fantastic citizen base and an incredible staff at the city,” Vice Mayor Michael Finn told KTAR News 92.3 FM this week.
#ICYMI: We were named the No. 1 best city to live in Arizona! ☝️ @MONEY #peoriaaz pic.twitter.com/hpgMPrKsGz
— Peoria, AZ ☀️ (@PeoriaAZ) September 20, 2018
Money ranked the West Valley city with a population of around 180,000 as the 29th best place to live in the United States.
The magazine, in conjunction with Realtor.com, took a look at 583 cities with more than 50,000 residents in a variety of categories, including economic health, cost of living, diversity, public education, income and crime.
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Money also sent reporters to each location to interview residents and seek out intangible factors that don’t show up in statistics.
Each state was limited to two cities in the top 50, but the magazine determined that Peoria was without peer in Arizona.
Among the characteristics cited as setting Peoria apart were its graduation rates, affordable housing and job growth forecasts as well as its historic downtown.
Despite the accolade, the city isn’t resting on its laurels.
“We look forward to moving the number from 29 down to a better number next year,” Finn said.
In 2017, Money ranked the top 100 best places to live, and Paradise Valley, at No. 80, was the only Arizona city to crack the list.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Madison Spence contributed to this report.
