Where Arizona's Highest-Income Communities Are Located: A Deep Dive Into Mesa and Tucson Metro Areas

Arizona’s most prosperous residential areas cluster around two major metropolitan regions—Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler and the Tucson area. A comprehensive analysis combining U.S. Census Community Survey data with current property valuations from Zillow reveals clear patterns in wealth distribution across the state’s suburbs. The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler corridor accounts for 14 of the top 20 most affluent communities, while Tucson claims six positions, including the highest-earning suburb statewide.

This ranking methodology prioritizes average household income as the primary metric, supplemented by typical home values to provide a complete picture of community prosperity. Understanding these patterns helps prospective residents and investors identify areas experiencing sustained economic growth and high earning potential.

The Tucson Metro’s Premier Community: Catalina Foothills

At the pinnacle sits Catalina Foothills, where residents enjoy an average household income of $170,897—the highest across Arizona’s suburbs. Typical home values in this Tucson-area community reach $761,048, reflecting the strong correlation between earning power and real estate investment.

Scottsdale: The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler Region’s Top Performer

Just below Catalina Foothills ranks Scottsdale, a Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler suburb where average household income reaches $168,679. The median home value climbs to $938,118, positioning Scottsdale among the state’s most expensive residential markets.

Upper-Tier Communities: Queen Creek and New River

Queen Creek maintains third position with $162,363 average household income and $640,576 typical home values. New River follows closely, registering $159,599 in household income and $766,561 in property values—both remain part of the dynamic Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metropolitan ecosystem.

Rising Wealth Tiers: Tanque Verde Through Anthem

Tanque Verde, located in the Tucson metro area, achieves fifth-place status with $157,326 average household income and $679,407 home values. Moving through the rankings, Gilbert (Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler) shows $145,526 household income against $581,829 home values. Anthem presents $143,659 in household income and $577,257 property values.

Fountain Hills demonstrates affluence with $140,542 average household income and $753,411 home values—the highest property cost for its income level in this tier.

Mid-Range Prosperity: Chandler, Oro Valley, and Marana

Chandler, a cornerstone Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler suburb, registers $134,123 household income with $542,177 typical home values. Within the Tucson orbit, Oro Valley achieves $133,439 household income paired with $531,670 property values. Marana’s figures stand at $130,659 and $444,345 respectively, while Vail registers $130,479 income against $421,260 home values.

Established Communities: Goodyear, Peoria, and Gold Canyon

Goodyear’s average household income reaches $121,426 with $478,411 typical home values. Peoria achieves nearly identical earning levels at $119,995 alongside $499,551 property values. Gold Canyon shows $119,660 household income and $495,631 home values.

Developing Areas: Buckeye, Sun Tan Valley, and Sahuarita

Sun Tan Valley and its Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler neighbors represent emerging prosperity zones. Sun Tan Valley’s $108,603 household income corresponds to $407,834 home values. Buckeye achieves $113,682 income with $404,585 property values. In the Tucson region, Sahuarita reaches $117,690 household income and $365,404 home values.

Growing Suburbs: Maricopa and Surprise

Maricopa rounds out the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler representation with $108,500 household income and $359,461 home values. Surprise, ranked at position 20, maintains $107,511 average household income with $432,562 property values—demonstrating growth potential across the Mesa Arizona suburban landscape.

Methodology and Data Sources

This comprehensive analysis examined all Arizona municipalities with populations exceeding 5,000 households. Rankings prioritize 2023 U.S. Census American Community Survey data for average household income calculations. Property valuations reflect 2025 Zillow estimates as of August 19, 2025. Metropolitan area classifications were applied based on established geographic boundaries, ensuring accurate representation of community positioning within the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler and Tucson regions.