Peoria

Peoria, just west of Phoenix, was recently ranked #29 on Money Magazine's 50 best cities to live in the entire United States. With year-round sunshine, peaceful neighborhoods, majestic mountains on the horizon, and central location, it's easy to see why.

Living here comes with the perks of friendly, easygoing neighbors, amazing hiking trails, and incredible parks, including the 23,000 acre Lake Pleasant Recreation Area in the city's north end. With a population of 190,985 and covering nearly 180 square miles, Peoria is the 9th largest city in AZ and is experiencing job growth even in a challenging economy.

The highly-rated Peoria Unified School District has 23 elementary schools and seven high schools, and families from diverse backgrounds get to know each other at sporting and community events. While the cities of Glendale, Phoenix, and Scottsdale are just minutes away, Peoria feels like a small community of people who have known each other for years.