Arizona is famous for its sunny weather, beautiful scenery, and rich culture. However, not all of its cities are equally appealing to locals and tourists.
Some of them are confronted with major obstacles such as high crime rates, low quality of life, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental concerns. Here are seven Arizona cities that residents are evacuating as quickly as possible.
1. Yuma
Yuma is a city in the southwestern part of Arizona. It is close to the lines where Arizona and California meet. It is known for growing crops, especially lettuce, and having a military base there.
But a lot of people are also trying to avoid or get away from the city. The jobless rate in Yuma is 15.9%, which is higher than the national rate of 6.0%. The typical home worth is $173,900, less than the national average of $217,500.
It also has a high cost of living. This city has an average annual temperature of 75.3°F and an average annual rainfall of 3.3 inches. It is also one of the hottest and driest in the US.
2. Bullheads City
A place called Bullhead Place is in western Arizona. It is on the Colorado River. Because it is across the river from Laughlin, Nevada, many people go there to fish, boat, and gamble.
A lot of people are leaving the city, though, because it has a bad standard of life and a lot of crime. The typical family income in Bullhead City is only $37,814, which is less than the national average of $62,843.
It also has a high rate of poverty (20.4%), which is higher than the 11.4% rate across the country. Only 366.7 violent crimes happen per 100,000 people in the whole country, but 724.6 violent crimes happen per 100,000 people in Bullhead City.
3. Phoenix
Phoenix is the state center and biggest city of Arizona. It is also one of the worst places to live in the state. Phoenix is one of the ten most dangerous towns in the US because it has a high crime rate.
It also has problems with high heat, air pollution, road jams, and insufficient water. Phoenix is one of the places in the country that is warming up the fastest.
Since 1970, the average temperature has gone up by 4.3°F. In the future, heat waves, droughts, and wildfires are likely to happen more often and be worse in the city.
4. Tucson
The University of Arizona is in Tucson, which is the second-biggest city in Arizona. But a lot of people are also leaving the city. The typical family income in Tucson is only $41,625, which is less than the national average of $62,843.
There are also a lot of poor people there—24.9% compared to 13.4% across the country. The US News & World Report says that Tucson has bad schools, health care, and income. Tucson is also likely to be affected by climate change, which can cause heat stress, water problems, and floods.
5. Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista is in the southeast of Arizona, close to the border with Mexico. This city is the culture and economic center of Cochise County. It is also home to Fort Huachuca, a major military base.
Still, a lot of people are leaving the city because it doesn’t have much to offer or grow. When compared to the rest of the country, Sierra Vista’s population growth rate of -0.2% is shallow.
The average family income in the United States is $62,843, but this area’s is only $44,631. The typical home worth in Sierra Vista is $189,400, less than the national average of $217,500. This means that living costs are higher there.
Conclusion
The numbers show that some towns in Arizona are having major problems that make them less desirable places to live.
People leave these places because of things like high crime, low income, bad infrastructure, and environmental problems. Arizona needs to fix these issues to make life better and more chances available in its towns that are having a hard time.