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Live in Phoenix 

“The spirit of Phoenix lies in our diverse culture, which is also one of our greatest strengths. We have a rich Native American and Latino influence, which is a huge advantage to our young people, who gain an understanding and appreciation for other cultures. This benefits not just our community, but the rest of the country as well.” 

—Mayor Greg Stanton

“It’s exciting to experience the housing market recovery in the Phoenix area. K. Hovnanian Homes has opened more than 12 new communities in the area over the past 18 months. The diversity of neighborhoods appeals to everyone from first-time home buyers looking for an  intimate neighborhood to those in search of a luxury home in a country club setting.” 

—Lou Smith

Group President

K. Hovnanian Homes

Facts of Life in Phoenix

• Greater Phoenix, which includes the city of Phoenix, as well as Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Tempe, has a population of more than 4.3 million, making it the 13th largest metro area in the country.

• On average, more than 50,000 people move to Greater Phoenix each year. 

• The average winter high in Phoenix is 67 degrees. 

• Phoenix is home to 110 spoken languages, the third highest of any U.S. region.

• The average age of residents in Phoenix is 33.7 years old, making it the country’s third youngest metropolitan area.

• The “megapolitan” area of Phoenix and Tucson is one of 10 areas of the U.S. expected to experience the most growth in the next 35 years, according to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

• The Phoenix area is home to one public university, 11 private universities, and 10 community colleges.

Work in Phoenix 

“Phoenix is an easy place to do business. The city government treats companies like customers, and city officials make it their responsibility to help every business succeed, whether it’s a major industry or a start-up. People moving to Phoenix have the advantage of coming to a growing city that is dynamic and entrepreneur-focused. I love the energy and pace here—quick, but not hectic. All of these things create a nice formula for business success.”

—Barry Broome

President & CEO

Greater Phoenix Economic Council

“Health care is thriving in Phoenix due to the ‘can do’ attitude and the willingness to collaborate that prevails here. That’s what makes this area unique and home to some of the most cutting-edge advancements in medicine. Health care usually involves significant capital investments, higher paying jobs, and economic diversification across all skill levels. Combined with the collaborative spirit, these things all make Phoenix a health destination valued at $14 billion annually and growing.” 

 — Wyatt W. Decker, M.D.

Vice President, Mayo Clinic

CEO, Mayo Clinic in Arizona

“The accessibility of Phoenix officials, like the mayor, gives small business owners the opportunity to impact change, which they may not be able to do in a bigger city. People need to connect with their city, and our local businesses play a big part in creating civic pride and making people feel like they’re home.”

 —Kimber Lanning

Founder and Director
Local First Arizona

“Health care plays a major role in Greater Phoenix, due to the number of hospitals we have, the numerous programs available in fields like nursing and dentistry, and the city’s ability to attract the brightest and best caregivers. Another advantage is its well-developed ground and air transport system, which allows for patient movement between facilities.”

 —Larry E. Volkmar, CEO
Banner Good Samaritan
Medical Center 

Facts of Work in Phoenix

• Greater Phoenix’s largest industries include high-tech manufacturing, tourism, and construction.

• Industry sectors in Greater Phoenix with the highest projected employment growth between 2006 and 2016 include health care, education, computer/mathematical, and business/ financial.

• Five Fortune 500 companies—Apollo Group, Avnet, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Republic Services, and PetSmart—are based in Phoenix. 

• Arizona’s Renewable Energy Tax Incentive Program allows companies in the solar, wind, biofuel, and geothermal industries to receive tax breaks for locating or expanding in the state.

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) serves more than 40 million passengers annually, making it one of the country’s 10 busiest airports.

• In July 2010, Bloomberg Businessweek included Phoenix among the country’s top 30 cities for new college graduates. 

• The Phoenix Convention Center completed a $600 million expansion in January 2009 and now offers nearly 900,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. 

 • Greater Phoenix added 31,300 new jobs between August 2010 and August 2011, ranking it sixth in the nation for new job growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

• Luke Air Force Base near Glendale, Arizona, is the only active duty F-16 training base in the world. It employs about 7,500 people.

• Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local economies through supporting locally owned businesses. 

• Due to its safety, schools, health care, job opportunities, earning potential, and cost of living, Phoenix was listed among the top 50 cities in America for career mothers in the October 2011 issue of ForbesWoman.

• More than 3.5 million people travel to Phoenix for business each year. 

Play in Phoenix 

“Phoenix is a progressive city that’s modern, clean, and easy to get around in. There aren’t many places where you can drive north to the mountains and south to the beach in the same day. Our diverse climate allows us the best of both worlds.”

 —Ron Lynch, President, Tilted Kilt

“The Valley offers so much in the way of activities and culture, and the offerings seem to be increasing all the time. Phoenix is undergoing a renaissance that’s generating a lot of excitement. New life is being breathed into downtown, and it’s great to see fresh additions popping up. CityScape, the mixed-use development area that the Hotel Palomar will call home, is furthering the downtown movement and adding to the growth dynamic.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  —Jim Hollister

General Manager

Hotel Palomar Phoenix-CityScape

“One of Phoenix’s greatest strengths is its unique combination of natural, human, and institutional resources. Here, both individuals and enterprises of all kinds have a chance to develop without restrictions based on tradition or an ‘established way of doing things.’ Innovation driven advancement is taking hold in our communities, classrooms, and markets as a result.”

—Michael M. Crow

President

Arizona State University

“A great thing about Phoenix is its diversity of people and places. Phoenicians come from all over the world, and we’re lucky to have both the desert and the mountains right here. Day trips to places like Flagstaff and Sedona are great for exploring our many cultures.” 

 —Chris Bianco, Owner

Pizzeria Bianco and Pane Bianco

Facts of Play in Phoenix

• Greater Phoenix is home to more than 200 golf courses.

• Phoenix is one of only 11 U.S. cities with franchises in all four major sports leagues: Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Arizona Cardinals (NFL), and Phoenix Coyotes (NHL). 

• South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix is the world’s largest municipal park, spanning more than 16,500 acres.

• The Waste Management Phoenix Open, a golf tournament played each February at TPC Scottsdale, is the most-attended event on the PGA Tour, averaging more than 500,000 spectators annually.

• Six Greater Phoenix area spas were named Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Spas for 2012.

Cactus League 

“Fans get the chance to see Major League baseball games at a fraction of the cost of regular season games, while enjoying a more intimate atmosphere. Since all the stadiums are within a 10- to 40-minute drive of each other, Phoenix is an attractive spot for spring training.”

 —Brad Curtis, President

Cactus League

Facts of the Cactus League

• The Cactus League is one of two professional spring training leagues in the country. Major League Baseball teams compete in Greater Phoenix area stadiums throughout March and early April.

• The Cactus League has grown from hosting two teams in 1946 to 15 teams in 2012, playing in 10 ballparks in the cities of Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Salt River, Scottsdale, Surprise, and Tempe.

• In 1951, the New York Yankees attended their only spring training in Arizona. This was the only year that baseball legends Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio played together. 

• The 2011 spring training season contributed $348 million to the state and set an all-time record for overall league attendance with 1,595,614 attendees at 233 games. 

2012 Teams

Arizona Diamondbacks

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

Cincinnati Reds

Cleveland Indians

Colorado Rockies

Kansas City Royals

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Dodgers

Milwaukee Brewers

Oakland Athletics

San Diego Padres

San Francisco Giants

Seattle Mariners

Texas Rangers