Arizona's Safest & Best Cities to Live In

Arizona, the Grand Canyon State, is known for its deserts, pine forests, mountains, lakes, valleys and canyons. Cities throughout the state are ranked in national crime statistics, and several municipalities have been recognized as having better crime ratings than most cities throughout the United States. Some cities are also recognized by national surveys for their recreation and attractiveness for retirees.

Gilbert

• Gilbert was ranked as the safest city in Arizona in City Crime Rankings, 2008-2009: Crime in Metropolitan America. The city finished 23rd among all the cities in United States with more than 75,000 people. Gilbert is also receiving attention because of its many activities, including the downtown shopping in the Heritage District or the Trilogy Golf Club. Located 30 minutes from Phoenix, Gilbert had a population of 216,00 in 2010 and finished 36th in CNN Money's "Best Places to Live" list.

Scottsdale

• Scottsdale finished second in 2008 in Arizona's crime rankings. With a population of 235,000, the city finished 71st on CNN Money's "Best Places to Live" list. A multitude of golf courses are scattered throughout the city, one of which is a stop on the PGA tour. Upscale restaurants, resort spas and high-end shopping helped Scottsdale move onto the CNN list. Hiking opportunities abound with the Sonoran Desert and McDowell Mountains in close proximity.

Surprise

• Surprise was ranked as the third-safest city in Arizona in 2008 according to crime data. The rankings considered convictions of murder, rape, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and auto theft. The population in Surprise rocketed from 7,200 in 1990 to nearly 75,000 in 2010. Surprise has a warm climate with an average temperature of 54.7 degrees Fahrenheit in January and 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Surprise finished ahead of the rest of the state in employment rating at 4.0, compared to 3.9 throughout the state.

Yuma

• Yuma was ranked the second safest city in Arizona in the crime data. In 2002, the "Farmers Almanac" voted Yuma as having the best climate in the United States. The average precipitation is 2.65 inches, which equals about 17 rainy days in a year. This means the sun is shining 90 percent of the time. Yuma was voted the third least humid city in America by the "Almanac," which also noted the average temperature in the summer is too hot, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. "US News & World Report" named the city a top place in America to retire. Yuma had a population of over 95,000 in 2011.