CountyScore

Maricopa County

Arizona · AZ

#15 in Arizona
61.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Maricopa County, Arizona

Maricopa scores above national average

Maricopa County's composite score of 66.8 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper third of U.S. counties despite Arizona-wide challenges. The county's strength lies in high incomes and favorable tax rates.

Below Arizona's state average score

At 66.8, Maricopa County scores below Arizona's state average of 73.9, ranking it in the lower half among the state's 15 counties. Housing affordability pressures offset its income and tax advantages.

Highest incomes in this survey

Maricopa County's income score of 39.2 and median household income of $85,518 lead this region, supporting families and professionals with earning power. Its tax score of 88.9 and effective rate of 0.474% are the state's most favorable.

Housing affordability severely strained

A cost score of just 57.2 reflects median home values of $414,700 and rents of $1,587/month—among the highest in the nation. Even high incomes struggle against these housing costs; schools, safety, and health data remain absent.

For high-earners accepting cost trade-offs

Maricopa County suits well-compensated professionals and established families prioritizing career opportunities, earning potential, and urban amenities over affordability. Success here requires six-figure household incomes to navigate steep housing costs.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax88.9Cost57.2SafetyComing SoonHealth69.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome39.2Risk0.1WaterComing Soon
🏛88.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠57.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼39.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤69.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡0.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Maricopa County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Mendocino County
California
61.8
Median income: $64,688
Flagler County
Florida
61.8
Median income: $72,923
Jefferson County
Illinois
61.8
Median income: $61,102
Cowley County
Kansas
61.8
Median income: $58,263
Hampshire County
Massachusetts
61.8
Median income: $86,391

Deep Dives

Maricopa County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Maricopa County

via TaxByCounty

Maricopa taxes rank among nation's lowest

Maricopa County's effective tax rate of 0.474% places it in the bottom 20% nationally, well below the 0.73% U.S. median. This exceptionally low rate benefits Arizona's largest county and most populous region.

Below-average rate for Arizona

Maricopa County's 0.474% rate sits 18% below Arizona's state average of 0.581%, making it one of the most tax-friendly counties in the state. Phoenix-area residents benefit from property tax rates among Arizona's lowest.

Lower than most surrounding counties

Maricopa County (0.474%) has a lower tax rate than Apache (0.838%), Cochise (0.639%), La Paz (0.707%), and Graham (0.540%), offering excellent tax value despite being Arizona's most economically developed region. The Phoenix metro area's favorable tax rate helps attract homebuyers from higher-tax regions.

Median home costs $1,965 annually

Maricopa County's median home value of $414,700—the highest among these counties—produces approximately $1,965 in annual property taxes. The combination of high home values and a low tax rate means Phoenix-area homeowners benefit from reasonable tax burdens despite expensive properties.

Maricopa homeowners can still find savings

Even with favorable tax rates, many Maricopa County homeowners discover their properties have been overassessed during valuation audits. Filing a formal assessment protest with the county assessor is free and can identify whether your home's assessed value aligns with recent comparable sales.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Maricopa County

via CostByCounty

Maricopa renters pay above national average

At 22.3%, Maricopa County's rent-to-income ratio exceeds the national standard by roughly three percentage points, indicating tighter affordability for renters than typical American markets. With median rent at $1,587 and household income at $85,518, Maricopa reflects Phoenix's urban popularity and rapid growth.

Second-priciest rental market in Arizona

Maricopa County's 22.3% rent-to-income ratio ranks second-highest in Arizona after Coconino's 24.2%, signaling moderate-to-tight rental affordability in the state's largest metro. At $1,587 median rent, Maricopa exceeds the state average by 56%, driven by Phoenix's dominance as Arizona's employment and population center.

Significantly costlier than all surrounding counties

Maricopa's $1,587 median rent dwarfs every surrounding county—Coconino at $1,406, Gila at $1,001, Cochise at $939, and Apache at $647—reflecting Phoenix's metropolitan scale and economic pull. Its median home value of $414,700 essentially matches Coconino's, making Maricopa the state's priciest urban housing market.

Renters spend 22%, owners 20% of income

Maricopa renters pay $1,587 monthly—22.3% of the $85,518 median income—while homeowners pay $1,445, or just 20.3% of income. The narrow 2-percentage-point gap shows that Maricopa's high home values mean both renters and owners face substantial housing burdens despite above-average household incomes.

Maricopa offers opportunity at a premium

If Phoenix's job markets, urban services, and networking opportunities justify higher housing costs, Maricopa County's $1,587 rent and $414,700 home values deliver access to Arizona's economic engine. Compare this against smaller, cheaper counties to decide whether metro-area benefits offset a 22% housing cost burden.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Maricopa County

via IncomeByCounty

Maricopa County outearns the nation by 14%

Maricopa County's median household income of $85,518 exceeds the U.S. median of $74,755 by $10,763, placing it among the top-earning counties nationwide. The Phoenix metro area captures 114% of typical American household earnings.

Highest income county in all of Arizona

Maricopa County ranks first among Arizona's 15 counties, with median income $22,855 above the state average of $62,663. The economic dominance reflects Phoenix's status as a major metropolitan hub with diverse employment sectors.

Dramatically outearns all rural Arizona counties

Maricopa County's $85,518 income dwarfs Greenlee County by $10,279, Graham by $18,192, and Apache by $45,180. The metro-rural income gap underscores Arizona's uneven economic geography.

Strong income offset by high housing costs

Maricopa County's 22.3% rent-to-income ratio reflects a median home value of $414,700, among the nation's highest. Residents earning the median income allocate significant portions to housing despite above-average earnings.

Aggressively invest Phoenix metro income premium

Maricopa County residents should capitalize on higher earnings by investing 20-25% of household income into diversified portfolios, real estate, and retirement accounts. The income premium over national averages can fund substantial wealth accumulation and financial independence goals.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Maricopa County

via HealthByCounty

Maricopa County leads Arizona health outcomes

Maricopa County achieves a life expectancy of 77.5 years, just 0.9 years below the U.S. average of 78.4 years, demonstrating strong population health. The poor or fair health rate of 17.1% slightly exceeds the national average of 16%, yet remains favorable for a county of 4 million residents.

Best-in-state health outcomes

Maricopa County's 77.5-year life expectancy ranks highest in Arizona, exceeding the state average of 74.0 years by 3.5 years. The county's 12.5% uninsured rate beats Arizona's 14.0% state average, reflecting robust healthcare access infrastructure.

Exceptional health resources and outcomes

Maricopa County's 77.5-year life expectancy surpasses all neighboring and comparable Arizona counties, including Coconino (75.9 years) and Cochise (76.1 years). With 70 primary care and 214 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, Maricopa offers comprehensive healthcare access rivaling national standards.

World-class healthcare infrastructure

Maricopa County residents benefit from 70 primary care providers and 214 mental health providers per 100,000—among the nation's highest concentrations of healthcare professionals. At 12.5% uninsured, the county ensures most residents can access this robust network of medical and behavioral health services.

Complete your coverage picture

Maricopa County's exceptional healthcare system works best when residents maintain continuous coverage; even 12.5% uninsured represents thousands of residents missing care access. Verify your plan remains active at Healthcare.gov or with your employer to maximize the county's outstanding health resources.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Maricopa County

via RiskByCounty

Maricopa County faces extreme risks

Maricopa County scores 99.87 on the composite risk scale, earning a "Very High" rating and sitting far above Arizona's state average of 84.45. The state's most populous and hazard-exposed county faces nearly maximum composite risk across multiple disaster types.

Arizona's highest-risk county by far

Maricopa County ranks as Arizona's most hazard-exposed county, with a composite score that dwarfs all peers. Its 99.87 rating reflects extreme exposure to floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and earthquakes in a densely populated region.

Dramatically riskier than surrounding areas

Maricopa County's 99.87 score vastly exceeds La Paz County (83.52) to the west and Gila County (90.17) to the north. Its extreme rating is unmatched in the state, reflecting the convergence of urban density and multiple overlapping hazards.

Multiple severe hazards converge here

Maricopa County faces near-maximum flood risk (99.87), extreme wildfire exposure (99.62), and exceptionally high tornado (84.00) and earthquake risk (96.82). This unprecedented concentration of hazards makes it the state's most disaster-prone county.

Comprehensive coverage is non-negotiable

Maricopa County residents must secure wildfire and flood insurance beyond standard homeowners policies, given both score above 99. Earthquake and tornado coverage should also be evaluated, particularly for properties in areas with older construction.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.