Most Americans have never been to small town Arizona. However, as the Arizonan who live there know, small town Arizona is an awesome place to call home.
But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Arizona has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Grand Canyon State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.
After analyzing more than 110 of Arizona’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Arizona where you’d never want to live:
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These are the worst small towns in Arizona for 2024:
- Cibecue
- Peridot
- Canyon Day
- Quartzsite
- Casa Blanca
- Pinon
- Leupp
- Lukachukai
- Kaibito
- Blackwater
So what is the worst small town to call home in Arizona for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Cibecue is the worst small town to live in Arizona.
While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Cibecue home. Everyone
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.
And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Arizona or the worst places to live in Arizona.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.
The 10 Worst Small Towns In Arizona For 2024
1. Cibecue
/10
Population: 1,419
Median Home Value: $95,414
Median Income: $18,250
Unemployment Rate: 16.3%
2. Peridot
/10
Population: 1,465
Median Home Value: $0
Median Income: $40,074
Unemployment Rate: 40.6%
3. Canyon Day
/10
Population: 1,621
Median Home Value: $103,981
Median Income: $33,284
Unemployment Rate: 13.1%
4. Quartzsite
/10
Population: 2,141
Median Home Value: $188,335
Median Income: $19,017
Unemployment Rate: 38.9%
5. Casa Blanca
/10
Population: 1,137
Median Home Value: $88,034
Median Income: $33,372
Unemployment Rate: 8.6%
6. Pinon
Population: 1,018
Median Home Value: $0
Median Income: $42,750
Unemployment Rate: 17.9%
7. Leupp
/10
Population: 1,179
Median Home Value: $75,251
Median Income: $47,083
Unemployment Rate: 12.9%
8. Lukachukai
/10
Population: 1,706
Median Home Value: $79,336
Median Income: $28,750
Unemployment Rate: 19.7%
9. Kaibito
/10
Population: 1,718
Median Home Value: $83,158
Median Income: $47,212
Unemployment Rate: 16.0%
10. Blackwater
/10
Population: 2,128
Median Home Value: $273,724
Median Income: $25,917
Unemployment Rate: 6.1%
Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Arizona is lousy or not?
To rank the worst small towns to live in Arizona, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.
We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.
Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (The lower, the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime
We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 110 to be exact.
We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.
We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Arizona.
There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Arizona
If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Grand Canyon State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The worst small towns in Arizona are Cibecue, Peridot, Canyon Day, Quartzsite, Casa Blanca, Pinon, Leupp, Lukachukai, Kaibito, and Blackwater.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Arizona, according to science:
- Kachina Village (Pop. 3,057)
- Carefree (Pop. 3,671)
- Rio Verde (Pop. 2,422)
For more Arizona reading, check out:
Worst Small Towns In Arizona
| Rank | Town | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cibecue | 1,419 | 16.3% | $95,414 | $18,250 |
| 2 | Peridot | 1,465 | 40.6% | $0 | $40,074 |
| 3 | Canyon Day | 1,621 | 13.1% | $103,981 | $33,284 |
| 4 | Quartzsite | 2,141 | 38.9% | $188,335 | $19,017 |
| 5 | Casa Blanca | 1,137 | 8.6% | $88,034 | $33,372 |
| 6 | Pinon | 1,018 | 17.9% | $0 | $42,750 |
| 7 | Leupp | 1,179 | 12.9% | $75,251 | $47,083 |
| 8 | Lukachukai | 1,706 | 19.7% | $79,336 | $28,750 |
| 9 | Kaibito | 1,718 | 16.0% | $83,158 | $47,212 |
| 10 | Blackwater | 2,128 | 6.1% | $273,724 | $25,917 |
| 11 | Whiteriver | 4,284 | 9.3% | $78,809 | $37,165 |
| 12 | Seven Mile | 1,032 | 22.4% | $145,626 | $50,956 |
| 13 | Second Mesa | 1,372 | 20.1% | $134,292 | $50,700 |
| 14 | Peach Springs | 1,482 | 18.7% | $0 | $55,000 |
| 15 | Sacaton | 2,713 | 9.4% | $123,881 | $29,347 |
| 16 | Chinle | 3,888 | 11.4% | $44,939 | $44,821 |
| 17 | Avenue B And C | 3,850 | 21.5% | $0 | $37,346 |
| 18 | Bylas | 1,552 | 12.2% | $44,808 | $39,688 |
| 19 | Ak-Chin Village | 1,178 | 14.3% | $173,038 | $47,917 |
| 20 | Shongopovi | 1,151 | 28.3% | $102,531 | $27,353 |
| 21 | White Mountain Lake | 2,817 | 12.1% | $174,883 | $36,719 |
| 22 | Sells | 2,422 | 15.5% | $55,878 | $44,038 |
| 23 | San Carlos | 4,405 | 19.6% | $71,429 | $38,125 |
| 24 | Dilkon | 1,326 | 7.1% | $133,106 | $40,288 |
| 25 | Pirtleville | 1,483 | 21.1% | $111,756 | $48,594 |
| 26 | Gila Bend | 1,783 | 0.0% | $172,527 | $52,879 |
| 27 | Ehrenberg | 1,012 | 9.7% | $338,514 | $37,180 |
| 28 | Tsaile | 1,482 | 4.8% | $62,599 | $39,625 |
| 29 | Dolan Springs | 1,397 | 2.4% | $127,713 | $36,274 |
| 30 | Scenic | 1,840 | 22.3% | $435,745 | $32,578 |
| 31 | Miami | 1,353 | 15.9% | $121,233 | $30,417 |
| 32 | South Tucson | 4,642 | 14.2% | $203,732 | $34,014 |
| 33 | Colorado City | 2,628 | 8.1% | $281,180 | $1,000 |
| 34 | First Mesa | 1,454 | 5.6% | $79,995 | $53,229 |
| 35 | Black Canyon City | 2,408 | 12.8% | $355,980 | $48,468 |
| 36 | Naco | 1,189 | 5.0% | $99,236 | $42,500 |
| 37 | Fort Defiance | 3,528 | 9.2% | $43,490 | $50,320 |
| 38 | Heber-Overgaard | 2,651 | 26.7% | $290,198 | $39,779 |
| 39 | Lechee | 1,453 | 9.6% | $123,749 | $61,354 |
| 40 | San Manuel | 3,535 | 9.9% | $155,504 | $45,625 |
| 41 | Mammoth | 1,014 | 17.2% | $107,802 | $42,650 |
| 42 | Window Rock | 2,056 | 10.8% | $108,330 | $40,242 |
| 43 | Meadview | 1,629 | 52.5% | $196,178 | $55,664 |
| 44 | Wilhoit | 1,009 | 0.0% | $276,360 | $43,882 |
| 45 | Beaver Dam | 2,013 | 7.7% | $299,491 | $45,550 |
| 46 | Moenkopi | 1,064 | 11.3% | $141,277 | $51,518 |
| 47 | Willcox | 3,232 | 16.8% | $175,200 | $40,884 |
| 48 | North Fork | 1,689 | 9.9% | $107,407 | $78,942 |
| 49 | Ajo | 2,922 | 7.5% | $117,764 | $46,250 |
| 50 | Spring Valley | 1,514 | 2.2% | $197,023 | $41,429 |
| 51 | Lake Of The Woods | 3,426 | 13.4% | $273,988 | $52,480 |
| 52 | Cordes Lakes | 3,308 | 20.0% | $185,426 | $51,285 |
| 53 | Central Heights-Midland City | 2,380 | 10.6% | $140,486 | $68,250 |
| 54 | Huachuca City | 1,865 | 11.0% | $191,378 | $44,360 |
| 55 | Bouse | 1,026 | 3.9% | $147,112 | $39,279 |
| 56 | Claypool | 1,252 | 10.8% | $150,238 | $53,450 |
| 57 | Williams | 3,275 | 5.5% | $419,671 | $63,141 |
| 58 | Grand Canyon Village | 1,914 | 0.0% | $0 | $67,256 |
| 59 | Tonto Basin | 1,380 | 0.0% | $308,074 | $49,567 |
| 60 | Valle Vista | 2,633 | 11.4% | $302,059 | $44,929 |
| 61 | Superior | 2,639 | 6.9% | $162,609 | $39,600 |
| 62 | Wellton | 2,447 | 1.0% | $241,477 | $52,654 |
| 63 | Holbrook | 4,842 | 3.9% | $177,645 | $58,856 |
| 64 | Springerville | 2,006 | 1.9% | $241,279 | $48,475 |
| 65 | Bisbee | 4,972 | 4.3% | $210,374 | $43,512 |
| 66 | Paulden | 4,518 | 6.3% | $414,743 | $65,417 |
| 67 | Whetstone | 2,724 | 5.6% | $240,382 | $50,967 |
| 68 | Dewey-Humboldt | 4,363 | 8.1% | $464,319 | $56,604 |
| 69 | Parker | 3,357 | 4.3% | $390,624 | $67,566 |
| 70 | Cienega Springs | 1,441 | 2.3% | $228,784 | $47,438 |
| 71 | Fredonia | 1,009 | 2.7% | $272,582 | $57,762 |
| 72 | Taylor | 4,062 | 4.9% | $346,419 | $75,125 |
| 73 | Tombstone | 1,046 | 2.9% | $218,820 | $46,667 |
| 74 | Six Shooter Canyon | 1,325 | 2.3% | $242,227 | $57,292 |
| 75 | Clifton | 3,869 | 1.2% | $86,321 | $78,862 |
| 76 | Congress | 1,512 | 0.0% | $331,422 | $61,563 |
| 77 | Cactus Flats | 1,238 | 1.8% | $342,781 | $56,111 |
| 78 | Red Rock Cdp (Pinal County) | 3,173 | 5.7% | $302,718 | $76,851 |
| 79 | Mesa Del Caballo | 1,194 | 4.9% | $276,360 | $65,313 |
| 80 | Cornville | 3,582 | 10.2% | $496,250 | $68,929 |
| 81 | Star Valley | 2,490 | 2.2% | $530,023 | $62,603 |
| 82 | Joseph City | 2,058 | 5.2% | $202,031 | $69,643 |
| 83 | Kearny | 2,327 | 4.3% | $163,926 | $58,026 |
| 84 | Cave Creek | 4,966 | 4.5% | $980,412 | $90,824 |
| 85 | Bagdad | 2,661 | 0.0% | $0 | $81,417 |
| 86 | Mohave Valley | 2,724 | 4.8% | $292,366 | $69,313 |
| 87 | Pinetop-Lakeside | 4,080 | 4.9% | $370,062 | $57,125 |
| 88 | Swift Trail Junction | 2,907 | 0.0% | $232,079 | $68,775 |
| 89 | Strawberry | 1,003 | 0.0% | $411,970 | $43,083 |
| 90 | St. Johns | 3,419 | 2.2% | $214,168 | $83,690 |
| 91 | St. David | 1,300 | 0.0% | $295,146 | $51,705 |
| 92 | Eagar | 4,425 | 0.9% | $280,887 | $82,538 |
| 93 | Pima | 2,847 | 1.8% | $280,674 | $67,880 |
| 94 | Mescal | 1,468 | 0.0% | $208,357 | $52,969 |
| 95 | Centennial Park | 1,490 | 6.1% | $299,686 | $68,882 |
| 96 | Linden | 2,452 | 4.1% | $472,725 | $79,531 |
| 97 | Morenci | 1,467 | 4.5% | $0 | $83,144 |
| 98 | Clarkdale | 4,528 | 0.2% | $448,210 | $40,313 |
| 99 | Pine | 1,526 | 0.0% | $466,520 | $54,720 |
| 100 | Desert Hills | 2,651 | 7.6% | $282,554 | $59,911 |
