Multiple cities in the Phoenix area are some of the best places for renters — in the country — according to several recent studies.
According to WalletHub, Scottsdale is the third best city in the country for renters. While it isn’t necessarily the least expensive — residents there spend about 20% of their income on rent — it came in at No. 1 for overall quality of life, largely due to the thriving job market and high-quality infrastructure. Furthermore, Scottsdale renters get a lot of space for the price, with the average home square footage topping 2,400 square feet.
Chandler and Gilbert ranked Nos. 6 and 8, respectively. Though rental affordability is similar to Scottsdale’s, Chandler ranked at No. 3 for quality of life, and Gilbert ranked at No. 9. Gilbert also ranked as the second-safest city in the country based on violent and property crime rates.
Furthermore, Arizona has statewide laws addressing bedbug infestations in rental properties which provides general protection for renters and influenced all three cities’ high positions.
WalletHub isn’t the only company that ranks Phoenix-area cities among the best for renters, though. A recent study from RentCafe also places Scottsdale and Gilbert in the top 10 in 2024.
Scottsdale came in at No. 5, earning especially high scores for its strong local economy and, again, for high quality of life. Specifically, Scottsdale offers good schools and ample natural amenities, while 84.4% of apartments are in top locations, meaning they’re close to places of work, recreation, transportation and education.
Notably, Scottsdale was the No. 1 city for renters in the western half of the U.S., while Phoenix ranked as the No. 10 city.
Meanwhile, Gilbert ranked No. 9 on RentCafe’s list, coming in fourth for overall cost of living. However, Gilbert’s close proximity to both Phoenix and Scottsdale means residents there have access to many of the same amenities and recreation opportunities, making it ideal for those with a tighter budget.