The Pros and Cons of Retiring in Arizona

Arizona has a great many advantages for retirement living, along with some disadvantages. This page will give you a bird’s eye view of what it is like to retire in Arizona, although of course there is no better advice than to go visit the Grand Canyon State yourself. Because it is such a big state, you might take a few short trips to thoroughly explore an area that stretches from the Mexico to the 5 U.S. states on its borders – Utah, Nevada, California, Colorado, and New Mexico.

The Pros of a Arizona Retirement

• Relatively low cost of living
• Housing prices below the U.S. median ($145,700 vs. $182,600 in 2010)
• Social security payments are exempt from state income tax
• Its famous dry heat and lack of humidity
• Great selection of active adult communities of all types and sizes
• Warmer winters
• Unbelievable scenery – mountains and deserts

The Cons of Retiring in Arizona

• Conservative politically (but a positive for some!)
• Oppressive summer heat
• Dust
• No oceans and very few lakes

For more information about the best places to retire in Arizona consult these resources :

• Arizona Active Adult Communities Directory Find new and established active adult communities in and around Arizona, with links to more.
• Arizona Retirement Guide Use this helpful guide to find the best places to retire in Arizona, find out if it is tax-friendly state, and learn more about its climate and other key factors.
• Arizona Tourism and Chamber of Commerce Websites
• Arizona Tourism
• Arizona Page on Wikipedia