RANK #962 / 996 · POP 4,430,871 · AZ
PROJECTED GROWTH: -3.5%
Encompassing Phoenix, the state capital, Maricopa County, Arizona, is one of the most populous counties in the United States. It is located in the south-central part of Arizona and is known for its warm, dry climate with abundant sunshine. The county offers extensive outdoor recreation, including a vast regional park system with over 120,000 acres of Sonoran Desert open space. Residents and visitors can enjoy hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, as well as opportunities for camping, boating, and fishing at locations like Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Commute options within the county include regional bus, light rail, and streetcar services provided by Valley Metro, which also offers carpool and vanpool matching services.
Life in Maricopa County is characterized by a diverse population, with many families and young professionals residing there. The county is home to 58 school districts, serving a significant portion of Arizona's students, and public schools generally perform above average. Economically, Maricopa County has seen consistent job growth, outpacing the state's average. Major investment is occurring in sectors such as industrial and logistics, with new developments in commercial and residential areas. The county also maintains a strong agricultural presence, ranking highly in the U.S. for sales of various crops and dairy products.
Above national median (4.7x)
Prices declining
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.0x relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Tract Buckeye Data Center Campus (formerly Project Range)
Tract
|
$20,000M | Planned |
|
W Holdings Energy Generation and Technology Campus (Data Center, BESS, Natural Gas Plant)
W Holdings
|
$10,000M | Approved |
|
Google Mesa Data Center Campus (Project Redhawk)
Google
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Harquahala Flats Energy Storage
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
|
$615M | Planned |
|
Strata Clean Energy Battery Storage Projects (Justice BESS & White Tank BESS)
Strata Clean Energy
|
$250M | Under Construction |
|
Amazon Fulfillment and Distribution Centers (Multiple Projects)
Amazon
|
$100M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Maricopa County has a Boom Town Index score of 3/100, ranking #962 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.1% and a median household income of $80,675, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Maricopa County is $371,400 with median rent at $1,437/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2172, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.1%. Home values changed -2.3% in the past 12 months.