It is less expensive to live in Arizona's major cities than in most metropolitan areas in the West, according to a new report prepared by the Arizona Department of Commerce. ACCRA Cost of Living Index reports Greater Phoenix being one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in the country.           

Despite its reputation as a retirement center, Arizona's population is slightly younger than the national average. The state's median age is 34.4 while the nation's is 34.9 years. The proportion of people younger than 25, as well as those over 65, is roughly the same as the United States as a whole.

• Labor Market Information System in Arizona.
• Arizona New Hire Reporting Center
• The overall economic optimism is bolstered by Arizona State University College of Business which sees no serious imbalances in the Arizona economy. Despite some cutbacks in high-tech employment, the demand continues for skilled workers in the Phoenix area.
• In the late 90's, the corporate tax rate was reduced by the Arizona Legislature to 8% from 9%. In addition, personal income taxes were slashed again, for a total across-the-board decrease of 31% during the past six years, and unemployment benefits were increased by $20 a week, but employer premiums were reduced, saving businesses $45 million during the next four years.
• Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine rated Phoenix 96th in tax burden among 106 major cities. No. 1 had the highest tax burden.
• Job growth - State Profile FDIC's reports a healthy growth in Arizona.

Personal Income

Bureau of Labor Statistics in Arizona

• Arizona's per capita income will rise by an annual average of 5.3% through 2002, according to an estimate by the University of Arizona College of Business and Public Administration.

• Retail sales Arizona total retail sales (restaurant/bar plus retail) as provided by the Arizona Department of Revenue for December '04 are up 11.1 percent above sales from the year before.

• Arizonans 55 and older provide a $307 million-a-year annual benefit to the state, according to a survey by Thomas, Warren & Associates of Phoenix.

Education

Arizona invests in its future by investing in its educational system. The per capita school expenditures rank among the highest in the nation. Additionally, the student-teacher ratio in both elementary and secondary schools ranks favorably in comparison to other states.

• Thunderbird, “Thunderbird School of Global Management,” from the first graduate school of its kind in the world, to the number one ranked international business school in the world, Thunderbird is admired as a global business leader and a global citizen. Unique, balanced curriculum of traditional MBA "hard skills" and specialized "soft skills" cross-cultural communication fundamentals offering lifelong career value for global leaders.
• Maricopa Community College District (95,000 students) the best community college system.
• Arizona Department of Education

Economic Development Activity

The revised 2005 census figures released show Arizona was the fastest growing state in the nation in 2005 displacing Nevada from that position which it has held for 19 years. Arizona grew by 3.6% and NV by 3.5%. Overall, Arizona added 213,311 people (almost 600 per day!), including about 32,000 "immigrants" and 130,000 people moving from other states.

The population growth adds to the construction activity which is well above trend, with over 15,500 new workers added in the past calendar year. Construction is the largest job generator across all sectors. The second place is education & health services, up 11,100, closely followed by government, up 10,300 (with over half in the public school system). Retail trade added 8,500. All of these gains are due to more people - and the need for more houses, teachers for more students, as well as retail space for more shoppers, reports Marshall J. Vest in the April 2005 issue of  "Arizona's Economy." 

Real Estate Information:

Please call Alice Held, Realtor: 480-767-2700 or

1-877-266-3229 toll free

Cultural Opportunities

Arizona is internationally renowned for its unsurpassed natural beauty, its pleasant desert winters, varied recreational activities and diverse cultural opportunities. Taken together, these provide a quality of life in Arizona unexcelled by any area of its size in the world.

• Arts enthusiasts can enjoy a wide variety of dance and theatrical performances, from classical and contemporary to ethnic and experimental. Opera, ballet, and children's theaters are here for your enjoyment.
• The Phoenix Symphony features classical, chamber and pops performances; statewide musical opportunities exist in rock, country and western, bluegrass, jazz and new age concerts and festivals.
• The Heard Museum is nationally known for its collection of Native American art and artifacts; other museums throughout the state offer special themes and exhibits.
• Museums of all kinds; Historical, Science, Art, Military, Botanical, Cultural, and the latest on the block, the Smithsonian to be part of the new
• Waterfront Project in Scottsdale.

Recreational Opportunities

• Sixty-seven natural and manmade lakes, 22 national parks, monuments and preserves, 67 natural and man-made lakes, 25 state historical and recreational parks, preserved Indian ruins, ghost towns and lost mines are among outdoor recreation opportunities.
• Four alpine ski areas and nine principal areas for cross- country skiing; over 200
• golf courses throughout the state.
• Professional sports teams include: the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL, the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL, the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball, the Arizona Rattlers of Arena Football League and Arizona Thunder of the Continental Indoor Soccer League.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball team, which began play this spring, will have an economic impact of at least $300 million a year, according to the Downtown Phoenix Partnership. The stadium boasts a retractable roof with a natural grass field, and a swimming pool and hot tub in the right field stands.
• Major League Spring Training or Cactus League games are played throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. Teams include Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Anaheim Angels, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Oakland A's and Colorado Rockies, with the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks starting this year.
• Tourists spent $108.4 million in 1998 to see Cactus League spring baseball games in Arizona, the Behavior Research Center reports.
• The Sporting News names Phoenix as the 12th Best Sports City in the nation.
• Year-round golf, tennis, horseback riding, bicycle riding and hiking facilities.
• In addition there are golf tournaments sanctioned by Professional Golf Association, Ladies Professional Golf Association, Senior Professional Golf Association; Indy and sprint car racing, arena football, indoor soccer, roller hockey, and thoroughbred and greyhound racing. College fans can enjoy inter-collegiate athletics at three major state universities.
• Golf adds $1 billion a year to the Arizona economy, supporting 17,000 jobs, according to a 1997 study by the National Golf Foundation. The state's Golf Industry Association is commissioning a study in 2005 to update those numbers, which some estimate could be $1.5 billion or more.
• Phoenix/Scottsdale is 8th on the list for best golf destinations in the world per the AZ Republic report.
• Close to 14 million winter visitors bring about 6 billion dollars to the state's economy annually per Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau.

What Others Are Saying About Arizona

• Money Magazine ranks Scottsdale #7 in best places to live in U.S. in 2006.
• Cognetics Inc., a Cambridge, Mass., research firm, ranked Phoenix # 1 for the fifth straight year in their "Annual Index of U.S. Entrepreunial Hot Spots."
• The Los Angeles Times reported "when it comes to entrepreneurial hot zones, the experts say Phoenix is positively smoking."
• Arizona has been recognized as the Top State for starting and growing business ventures (Entrepreneur Magazine, October 2005).
• Arizona is the nation’s 8th most urban state. (How Arizona Compares, Morrison Institutes for Public Policy, January 2005)
• The median age is lower than the national average at 34.2 years (Department of Economic Security, 2002 Preliminary Average).
• Arizona ranks 4th in the nation for overall biodiversity (How Arizona Compares, Morrison Institutes for Public Policy, January 2005)

And last but not least!

Over 300 days of sunshine each year and low relative humidity.