Valley residents may be surprised to find that Chandler, Scottsdale, and Mesa are three metro Phoenix suburbs that ranked in the top 10 list for the highest homeownership rates among single buyers in the U.S., according to a study by SmartAsset. To find these rankings, SmartAsset looked at the largest 100 cities in the U.S. and divided the number of owner-occupied, one-person households by the total number of one-person households.

AZ Central also reported on these findings, calling the Valley a “hub for solo homeowners.” The findings were significant because a large portion of single homeowners in these metro suburbs are mostly seniors, who are either single due to their spouse passing away or divorce. Metro Phoenix has also been known to be a reasonably priced city, which would make it a lot easier for someone to buy a home on their own with just one income. Besides affordable home prices and a large population of retirees, what else attracts singles to these three metro suburbs in Arizona?

Chandler

Aerial view of homes and neighborhoods in Chandler, AZ

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Chandler made the number four spot on SmartAsset’s list thanks to its high homeownership rate, which is about 61 percent, as well as having a high number of singles in the city at about 54 percent. Although Chandler is a popular retirement destination for retirees, they only make up 38 percent of the population. The average resident age is 35, making it a popular spot for Millennials and Generation X single homeowners, according to Data USA. Chandler is also already a major draw for high-tech companies and is known to be one of the region’s fastest-growing economic hubs. The city also further enhances its appeal to single homebuyers with new construction developments and the expansion of new condo communities. Proximity to major freeways as well as a variety of offices and retail options have also been cited as reasons buyers choose to live there. 

Scottsdale

An aerial view of homesand neighborhoods in Scottsdale, AZ.

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Scottsdale made the number six spot on the list with 52 percent of single homebuyers. When it comes to home value, the city is labeled as an “outlier” by SmartAsset because Scottsdale’s home prices are much higher. Median home values in Scottsdale are around the $400s, which is about $150,000 more than in Henderson, NV, and $170,000 more than Virginia Beach. The town’s median age is also a bit higher at 46.9, according to the Government Website. But with the higher median home prices than larger Valley cities, how can single homebuyers afford to purchase homes here? The city has a wide selection of residential options surrounded by amenities that attract single homebuyers. Homebuyers can choose from a luxury condo community or a golf course patio home in Seven at Desert Mountain. Not to mention Scottsdale also has a thriving food scene, lively nightlife, and plenty of shopping options, which are sure to draw single homebuyers to the area. 

Mesa

Aerial view of homes and neighborhoods in Mesa, AZ.

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Rounding off the last spot on the list is Mesa, coming in at number eight. About 52 percent of retirees own a big chunk of the owner-occupied, one-person households in the city. Arizona in general is a popular retirement destination thanks to its tax-friendly benefits for retirees. Homes are very affordable in Mesa with median home prices in the mid $100s, according to the U.S. Census. Mesa also boasts multiple master-planned communities with new developments coming to the area such as like  David Weekly’s addition to Cadence at Gateway, which offers new construction homes as well as resort-style amenities.