The 6 best Phoenix neighborhoods for renters on a budget

With over 500 square miles to choose from and inflation on the rise, deciding where to rent in Phoenix can be a challenge. Here are the best neighborhoods for renters on a budget, ranked.

Deciding where to rent in Phoenix can be such a headache, especially considering that housing prices have increased 55.2% since 2019! Despite this fact, there are many worthy neighborhoods in Phoenix that are close to job opportunities, fun, and affordable, especially after rental tax was banned earlier this year and crackdowns have been made on rent fixing.

Using first-hand experience, Zillow, and Niche, this list of neighborhoods in Phoenix includes the best of the cheapest. Since “best” is very subjective, this list considers rental rates, safety, median household income, and location.

Rental rates are the initial criteria for even making it on this list—no way should a two-bedroom apartment be over $2,000 on average and still be considered affordable. Safety looks at the crime rate of the area because not all of Phoenix is the same as far as safety goes. Median household income is my personal go-to when looking at rentals because it reveals many things, such as the vibe, poverty rates, and employment of the area. Finally, location considers not only proximity to job opportunities but also convenience and whether or not there is fun to be had. Jobs, convenience, and fun are the point of living in a city, after all.

The 6 best and cheapest neighborhoods in Phoenix for renters, ranked: 

#6 South Mountain

South Mountain Park has more than 100 miles of trails, three mountains, and over 16,000 acres of beauty. South Mountain Village, attached to the park, is therefore an excellent place to live for outdoor enthusiasts and those who can appreciate a good view.

Despite the higher-than-average crime rate, the close-knit communities, access to economic opportunity, and affordable rent make this area a prime location for renting. In fact, it is still possible to find good rentals at pre-2019 prices. Studios can be snagged for well under $1,000, one-bedroom apartments are right around $1,000, and two- and three-bedroom apartments still go for under $2,000! Of course, prices range based on amenities offered by the complex/neighborhood, but affordability and outdoor joy make this neighborhood a top contender.

Safety: Low
Location: High
Median rental rate: $1,300
Median household income: $75,450

#5 Ahwatukee Foothills

Ahwatukee Foothills—pronounced phonetically—is a neighborhood in the southeast corner of Phoenix, bordering the East Valley city of Chandler. With ample trails, mountain views, and well-designed architecture, this area is aesthetically pleasing, outside of the traditional city domain, and incredibly family-friendly. While there is an excellent farmers market in the area and a few business complexes, there are not tons of businesses to shop or work at in this area—just clean streets, wonderful trails, golf courses, and ritzy-looking housing.

Despite the glamour, rentals here are fairly reasonable. Studios are just over $1,000, one-bedrooms are around $1,500, two-bedrooms are under $2,000, and three- to four-bedroom rentals are in the $2,000-$2,500 range.

This is an excellent neighborhood for families or those seeking a peaceful retreat—the trails offer a tranquility that can’t quite be found in Phoenix or the Valley. The price is higher than the rest, though, ranking this neighborhood a little bit lower on the list. 

Safety: High
Location: Fair
Median rental rates: $2,000
Median household income: $122,540

#4 Roosevelt Row

If I were out there living that city and/or single life, this is where I would go. Roosevelt Row is the arts district of Phoenix that attracts artists and creatives alike, and is home to the notoriously fun First Friday! Decked with museums, creative spaces, galleries, and good food, this district is nothing short of a fun time.

The best part is that even though this vibrant part of Phoenix is chock-full of meaningful employment opportunities and worthy ways to spend time, the average 2-bedroom apartment is just under $1,600/month.

Find a roommate or move here with your creative family; the vibes are fun, and the rent won’t have you slaving behind a desk all day. Play it right, and work may not include a desk at all, given the connections you can make here.

Safety: Fair
Location: High
Median rental rate: $1,550
Median household income: $61,074 

#3 Camelback East

If you like Papago Park, the Botanical Garden, and all the other wonderful shopping and exploring in the area, then Camelback East may be where to look for your inexpensive rental home. With easy access to the freeway and healthcare facilities, and just a short drive to anywhere in Phoenix, Camelback East is a convenient, beautiful, and fun neighborhood to live in.

Due to the alluring attractions, there is a good deal of tourism, which equates to heavier traffic, but that is a small trade-off for an area that is inexpensive and full of eye-catching activities.

Safety: Fair
Location: High
Median rental rate: $1,493
Median household income: $74,622

#2 Melrose District

Sometimes called the Melrose District, and other times referred to as Woodlea-Melrose, this area in the heart of Phoenix is known as the “gayborhood” of Arizona’s capital. Everyone is welcome here, and the rainbow flags alongside the various gay/lesbian bars and nightclubs make it apparent that this area is very LGBTQ+ friendly.

Vibrant and full of life, this neighborhood is home to a range of ages and maintains some very affordable rental rates. One- and two-bedroom apartments are still less than $1,500 here, making it an affordable, fun, and inclusive neighborhood.

Safety: Fair
Location: High
Median rental rate: $1,200
Median household income: $79,664

#1 North Mountain

With many mountain preserves come many hiking and biking trails. For views, outdoor living, shopping, and dining, North Mountain is a low-rent area that stands out among the others. Despite the lower rent and the high-traffic activities, crime rates are significantly lower than many other Phoenix neighborhoods, meaning you really can have it all!

Living in North Phoenix offers access to swankier areas to hang out, bountiful activities and opportunities, and easy access to drive all over the state. North Mountain offers chances of travel, economic opportunity, and plenty of access to all of the best of Phoenix, making it the BEST of the cheap neighborhoods. Could it be right for you?

Safety: High
Location: High
Median rental rate: $,1350
Median household income: $70,857

Happy home hunting! 

While these six neighborhoods look at several aspects such as average pricing, safety, and other factors, that doesn’t mean affordability isn’t possible in other neighborhoods. In fact, when I first moved to Phoenix, knowing nothing about the area, I wound up finding affordable, shorter-term housing in both Arcadia and Scottsdale, notoriously pricey places. Surprisingly, these rentals were actually less expensive than what I later paid in a lower-income area.

The point is that this list can point you in the right direction, but if you have the time and energy to research and wait for openings, affordability eventually exists everywhere. Regardless of where you choose to rent, the best thing to do is to visit the area during the day, during the night, during the week, and during the weekend before signing a lease. It is important to have a well-rounded idea of what it is like to be in the area before calling it home.

Have fun finding your next home sweet home in Phoenix! 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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