Flagstaff vs Green Valley

Which is the better fit for you?

Flagstaff, AZ
41
Area Score
Bottom 4% nationally
Green Valley, AZ
40
Area Score
Bottom 3% nationally

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Flagstaff receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

If you are moving

What the difference in prices, rent, homes and weather comes to, using the published figures for the two places. Add your income to see what it would take to keep pace.

Moving from Flagstaff to Green Valley

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Everyday prices
3% higher
Regional price level 94.9 against 91.9 (US = 100)
Income to keep the same purchasing power
Enter your household income to see it.
A new two-bedroom lease
−$271 a month
HUD benchmarks it at $1,650 in Green Valley against $1,921 in Flagstaff.
The median home
47% less
$293,500 in Green Valley against $552,900 in Flagstaff.
The weather you would swap
Winters 23°F milder
Normal January lows are 41°F in Green Valley against 18°F in Flagstaff; July highs are 100°F against 82°F (summers 18°F hotter).

These are differences between published figures, not a forecast of your budget. Income and sales taxes, commuting, schools, insurance and the job you would actually get are not in them, and a price index describes a metropolitan area, so two places in one metro read the same. HUD’s rent is a benchmark for a new lease, not a listing.

32 occupations have a published median wage in both places. Start typing, or choose from the list.

Median wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ metro figures for that occupation, not a job offer, and the price level is the regional index; neither includes taxes, benefits or how senior you are.

Signals

Flagstaff
Green Valley
Opportunity: Flagstaff is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
33 · Bottom 9%
vs
26 · Bottom 4%
Growth: Green Valley is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
34 · Bottom 20%
vs
51 · Top 49%
Climate: Green Valley is the more favorable of the two.
Climate
58 · Bottom 9%
vs
63 · Bottom 28%
Physical resilience: Flagstaff is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
22 · Bottom 16%
vs
20 · Bottom 13%
Housing affordability: Flagstaff is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
41 · Bottom 11%
vs
29 · Bottom 3%
Schools: Green Valley is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
44 · Bottom 43%
vs
50 · Top 49%
Access: Flagstaff is the more favorable of the two.
Access
95 · Top 42%
vs
89 · Bottom 36%
Economic stability: Flagstaff is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
57 · Bottom 49%
vs
41 · Bottom 23%

Measured values

MetricFlagstaffGreen ValleySource period
Population76,44522,1142024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$71,512 — more favorable$62,0632024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$38,409$50,246 — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Population density1,158/sq mi1,121/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$552,900$293,5002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$1,645$1,171 — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Market rent, two bedroom$1,921$1,650 — more favorableFY2026
Cost of living index91.9 — more favorable94.92023
Homeownership rate42.3%86.2%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate5.1% — more favorable5.6%July 2026
Employment change (year over year)−7.8%−4.5% — more favorableJuly 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher52.3% — more favorable44.0%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate13.0%7.7% — more favorable2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)3024,79012 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents4.04.5 — more favorable12 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)−47.6%+5.2% — more favorable12 months ending July 2026
Average July high82°F100°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low18°F41°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation20.5"10.6"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport4 mi — more favorable19 miNASR current cycle
Average commute17.7 min — more favorable26.6 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age25.973.62024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools1912024-25 school year
Students per teacher14.5 — more favorable16.12024-25 school year
Math proficiency38.6%45.1% — more favorable2018-19 school year
Reading proficiency41.6%46.3% — more favorable2018-19 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

The number of units permitted is not marked because the larger place always permits more; the per-resident rate is the fair comparison.

Physical risk tradeoff

Flagstaff

Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.

Green Valley

Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

Flagstaff
—
Flagstaff: Your Score
41
Area Score
Green Valley
—
Green Valley: Your Score
40
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: Flagstaff, AZ · Green Valley, AZ · How this is calculated: methodology