Arizona's Wealthiest Communities: Where the Richest Suburbs Are Located

Arizona’s most affluent neighborhoods are concentrated in just two major metropolitan regions—the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler area and the Tucson region. By combining income data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey with property values from Zillow, we can identify where Arizona’s richest city communities are thriving. The analysis reveals that the Phoenix metro dominates with 14 of the top 20 positions, while Tucson claims the remaining six—with its highest-ranked suburb taking the #1 spot overall.

Phoenix-Chandler-Mesa Metro: Home to 14 of the Richest Arizona Suburbs

The greater Phoenix area represents the primary hub for wealth concentration in the state. Spanning from established urban centers to rapidly developing suburban communities, this metro area consistently shows the strongest household income levels and property valuations.

Ranking 20-15: The Entry-Level Wealthy

Starting at position #20, Surprise leads this tier with an average household income of $107,511 and typical home prices around $432,562. Moving up the list, Maricopa follows with household earnings of $108,500 and homes valued near $359,461. Sun City West positions at #18 with $108,603 in average household income and properties at $407,834. Buckeye rounds out this initial group at #17, where residents earn an average of $113,682 annually, with homes averaging $404,585. Gold Canyon (#15) shows stronger wealth metrics at $119,660 average household income paired with home values of $495,631.

Ranking 14-10: Upper-Middle Affluence

Peoria enters at #14 with household income of $119,995 and property values reaching $499,551. Goodyear (#13) demonstrates $121,426 in average earnings and homes valued at $478,411. Moving toward the upper tier, Chandler stands at #9 with $134,123 average household income and typical home values of $542,177. Fountain Hills (#8) signals even stronger wealth concentration, with residents earning $140,542 on average and homes commanding $753,411. Anthem (#7) continues the trend with $143,659 average household income and properties valued at $577,257.

Ranking 6-4: The Most Affluent Phoenix Suburbs

Gilbert ranks #6 among Arizona’s richest suburbs with average household income of $145,526 and home values of $581,829. New River (#4) shows exceptional wealth with $159,599 average household income and properties valued at $766,561. Queen Creek claims #3 with $162,363 average household earnings and homes priced around $640,576. Scottsdale, positioned at #2, stands as the wealthiest in the Phoenix metro area with $168,679 average household income and the highest property values in its tier at $938,118.

Tucson Region: Six Affluent Communities, Including the State’s Richest

Tucson’s affluent suburbs, while fewer in number, demonstrate comparable or superior wealth metrics to many Phoenix-area communities. The region showcases concentrated pockets of high-income households and premium real estate valuations.

Ranking 16-11: Tucson’s Upper-Income Suburbs

Sahuarita (#16) leads Tucson’s representation with average household income of $117,690 and typical home value of $365,404. Vail (#12) follows with $130,479 average household earnings and properties at $421,260. Marana (#11) shows $130,659 in household income with homes valued at $444,345. Oro Valley (#10) strengthens Tucson’s position with $133,439 average household income and property values reaching $531,670.

Ranking 5-1: Where Arizona’s Richest Suburb Resides

Tanque Verde claims #5 statewide with $157,326 average household income and property values of $679,407. The top position goes to Catalina Foothills, Arizona’s richest city by average household income at $170,897, with typical home values of $761,048—cementing its status as the state’s most affluent suburb.

Key Insights on Arizona’s Wealth Distribution

The data reveals significant income concentration in specific suburban pockets rather than evenly distributed across metropolitan areas. Average household incomes across Arizona’s richest cities range from approximately $107,500 to $170,900, while property valuations span from under $360,000 to nearly $940,000. This disparity highlights how certain communities have attracted higher-earning households and command premium real estate prices.

The methodological approach—examining all Arizona cities with 5,000+ households and isolating income data from the 2023 Census American Community Survey with 2025 Zillow property valuations—ensures a comprehensive view of where Arizona’s richest suburbs concentrate wealth and investment opportunity.

Note: All household income figures are based on the 2023 U.S. Census American Community Survey. Property valuations reflect 2025 data sourced from Zillow as of August 2025. Rankings exclude cities with fewer than 5,000 households.