Retiring Near Prescott, AZ: 5 Nearby Towns Compared

If you're thinking about retiring near Prescott, Arizona, there are five towns within about 40 minutes of each other that give you completely different lives: Paulden, Chino Valley, Prescott Valley, Williamson Valley and Prescott itself. One offers wide open sky and big lots. Another has a walkable downtown and a hospital 10 minutes away.

I'm Oscar. I've lived in Arizona my whole life and relocated to this area over three years ago. Below I compare all five, counting down to my number one pick, including who each town is not for.

Prefer to watch? Watch the video on YouTube.

The five towns at a glance

5. Paulden: the most space for your money

Paulden is the hidden gem almost nobody talks about. You get bigger lots, wide open sky and prices you won't find in Prescott itself.

Life here is quiet. One to two plus acre lots are the norm, with plenty of horse properties and manufactured homes sitting next to custom builds. You get dark skies and almost zero traffic. Summers run a bit warmer than Prescott, with some days reaching 100 to 101 degrees. Winters are not quite as cold but can still dip below 20 degrees.

If you want elbow room on a budget, this is the most elbow room per dollar in the Prescott area.

The catch is the drive. Paulden is 35 to 40 minutes from Prescott and Prescott Valley for Costco, specialists and restaurants. Groceries are limited locally, though there is a Safeway in Chino Valley, about 15 to 20 minutes away.

Best for: the budget buyer who wants land, doesn't mind driving and wants quiet over convenience.

4. Chino Valley: elbow room, 20 minutes from town

Chino Valley is about 15 to 20 minutes closer to Prescott and Prescott Valley, and everything changes. At around 4,700 feet of elevation, you get four seasons without Prescott prices. Summers can also reach 100 to 101 degrees. Winters get cold with some snow, but less than Prescott because of the lower elevation.

Whether you want a move in ready home or want to build a horse property from the ground up, Chino has options. You'll find horse properties and newer builds mixed with older ranch homes. Prices vary widely, from the $300s and $400s all the way up to $1 million and beyond, depending on the lot, the build and the finishes.

Daily life is easy here. It's quiet, with agricultural roots and small town events, and there's a Safeway, an Ace Hardware and car stores in town. You'll still drive to Prescott or Prescott Valley for Costco and specialists.

One buying note: a lot of the homes out here are on wells and septic systems, and you have to be aware of flood zones. That's where local knowledge matters most.

Best for: the buyer who wants land and quiet but still wants Prescott within 20 minutes.

3. Prescott Valley: everything you need, close by

Prescott Valley is one of the fastest growing towns in Arizona, and it has everything you need. The population is well over 50,000, with a median age of 49, younger than Prescott proper. There are lots of families, lots of retirees and lots of new build communities.

You'll find the Entertainment District with a Harkins movie theater, grocery stores and chain restaurants, and the YRMC East hospital is not far away. Housing is mostly subdivisions with smaller lots and less maintenance, which is a great feature for retirees and families alike. You trade acreage for lock and leave.

The downside: it does feel suburban. If you came for pines and character, parts of Prescott Valley feel like a Phoenix suburb. The exception is out toward Coyote Springs and over to the base of the Mingus Mountain range, where you'll find homes with acreage. Summers run a couple of degrees warmer than Prescott, and winters are not as cold.

Best for: retirees who want newer, low maintenance homes close to shopping and medical, and who don't need a ton of space.

2. Williamson Valley: quiet, space and privacy

Technically Williamson Valley is still Prescott, but it's a ways away, and I consider it separate from Prescott itself. It isn't a town with a downtown. There's no grocery store, just a gas station. It's a road and a valley with homes on acreage, ranging from 1 to 10 plus acres.

You get dark skies and no street lights. Depending on how far north you go, you can be as close to Prescott as 15 minutes or as far as 45 minutes to an hour. For most people who choose it, being far is the draw.

Prices reflect that. You're typically looking at a premium over Chino Valley and Prescott Valley for updated homes on acreage.

Best for: the buyer with a higher budget who wants privacy, views and minimal HOAs, and doesn't mind a bit of a drive for groceries.

1. Prescott: walkability and medical close by

Prescott itself is my number one pick for most retirees, and the deciding factor for many of my buyers is how close they want to be to medical care.

The population is around 47,000, the elevation is 5,300 feet and the median age is in the early 60s, so this is a true retirement town. You get Courthouse Square and Whiskey Row, live music in the summer, restaurants you can walk to, and the Thumb Butte and Peavine trails right from town.

Here's the factor: YRMC West Hospital and the VA are in town. For a lot of my 60 plus buyers, a 10 minute drive to specialists versus 40 minutes from Paulden or parts of Williamson Valley is the whole decision.

Neighborhoods split pretty cleanly. You get historic in town charm near downtown and 1970s to 90s ranch homes toward the center. If you want an HOA community for low maintenance living close to downtown, look at Prescott Lakes or Hassayampa Village.

The trade off is price. Prescott is the most expensive town on this list per square foot, with smaller lots in town, and older homes mean older roofs and HVAC systems. You're paying for location and walkability.

Which town fits you?

• Walkability and medical close by: Prescott
• Newer, low maintenance and easy: Prescott Valley
• Space with Prescott 20 minutes away: Chino Valley
• Premium quiet, privacy and views: Williamson Valley
• The most land for the dollar, if you don't mind the drive: Paulden

There's a lot about this area that only locals know. If you're thinking about relocating to Arizona, whether it's Prescott, Chino Valley, Prescott Valley or anywhere in Northern Arizona, give me a call or a text and we can talk through your options and what you're looking for.

Call or text Oscar at 602.577.0143, or get my free Relocation Guide.