If your idea of retirement includes near year-round sunshine and easy trips to bucket-list parks like Grand Canyon National Park and Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona has a lot going for it. Green Valley is a peaceful, retiree-friendly community where you can relax at Desert Meadows Park and play a round at San Ignacio Golf Club. For a completely different setting, Sedona turns even routine errands into a scenic drive, with red-rock views and quick access to places like Slide Rock State Park and the trail-filled stretches of Coconino National Forest. Below are eight of the best places to retire in the state.

Green Valley

About 30 minutes south of Tucson, Green Valley is a quiet, welcoming community of roughly 21,000 residents. It is known for its laid-back atmosphere, strong sense of safety, and easy access to trails, parks, and classic Arizona mountain views. You can catch a performance at the CPAC Community Performance & Art Center, unwind at Desert Meadows Park, or spend an afternoon on the greens at nearby San Ignacio Golf Club.

Green Valley is also one of the most retirement-friendly communities in Arizona. The median age is in the low 70s, so it is easy to connect with people in the same stage of life. It is also relatively affordable, with a median home sale price around $277,833. For healthcare, residents are close to larger hospitals in Tucson, while Northwest Medical Center Sahuarita can usually handle everyday medical needs.

Fountain Hills

Fountain Hills has a true small-town feel, but it is close enough to the Phoenix metro area that big-city conveniences are never far away. Downtown Scottsdale is only about 25 minutes away, and the town itself has plenty to offer. You can see a show at Fountain Hills Theater, spend a relaxing afternoon at Fountain Park with its lake and walking paths, or bring your dog to Desert Vista Dog Park for a little sunshine and social time.

It is not the cheapest option on this list—median home prices are around $666,325—but many retirees feel the setting and convenience are worth the higher cost. Healthcare is another big plus, with highly regarded facilities nearby in Scottsdale and Phoenix, including HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center and Mayo Clinic Hospital. The median age is around 60, so there are plenty of fellow retirees and empty nesters in the area.

Oro Valley

Tucked into the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Oro Valley is a scenic suburb just north of Tucson. If staying active is part of your retirement plan, it is an excellent fit. Catalina State Park offers more than 5,000 acres for hiking and exploring, while Naranja Park has everything from a splash pad and skate park to a dog park and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the scenery. Honey Bee Canyon Park is another local favorite, especially for its rocky desert views and peaceful trails.

Homes here sell for a median price around $472,333, and residents also benefit from access to Oro Valley Hospital, which has earned recognition for outpatient joint replacement care. With a median age in the mid-50s, the town feels social and active without coming across as a retirement-only community.

Fortuna Foothills

If you like the idea of a desert retirement with a Palm Springs feel—but at a lower cost—Fortuna Foothills is worth considering. The community is close to the Colorado River, Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, and places like Fortuna Lake, where fishing is a popular pastime. Home prices in the Yuma area, where Fortuna Foothills is located, hover around a median of $306,333, making it one of the more affordable retirement options in Arizona.

The median age is about 62, so the area already has the feel of a natural retirement community. For healthcare, Yuma Regional Medical Center is nearby and has earned recognition for orthopedic surgery.

Sahuarita

Sahuarita is a strong choice if you want safe neighborhoods, well-maintained walking and biking paths, and an overall slower pace of life without giving up easy access to city conveniences. Tucson is less than 30 minutes to the north, so shopping, dining, and additional healthcare are all close by. In town, Northwest Medical Center Sahuarita is a major asset, and Banner University Medical Center in Tucson is another excellent option.

For fun, residents can visit the Titan Missile Museum for a fascinating look at Cold War history, tee off at San Ignacio Golf Club, or walk the paved trails at Parque Los Arroyos. Median home prices are around $360,800, which is relatively affordable for the region. Because the median age here is lower than in many retirement towns, Sahuarita tends to feel a little more energetic and mixed-age.

Wickenburg

Wickenburg is a great fit if you want a small-town atmosphere, a slower pace, and a strong sense of community without being too far removed from the Phoenix area. Phoenix is about an hour away, so you can still reach major amenities when needed. Locals spend time golfing at Wickenburg Ranch, birdwatching at the Hassayampa River Preserve, and attending events at the Everett Bowman Rodeo Arena.

Wickenburg Community Hospital is right in town and has served local residents for generations. The median age is around 64, making it easy to find a built-in network of people in the same stage of life. Zillow does not list a median sale price for homes here, but the median listing price is around $602,167—higher than some towns on this list, but not unusual for a desirable Arizona destination.

Sedona

If you want to retire surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery, Sedona is hard to beat. This artsy town in northern Arizona’s Verde Valley is famous for its red-rock landscapes, especially at sunrise and sunset, and it is packed with outdoor adventures. Coconino National Forest is right nearby, while Walnut Canyon National Monument offers ancient cliff dwellings and Slide Rock State Park is perfect for a more playful day outdoors.

For healthcare, Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood has served the area since 1971. Sedona’s median age is around 59, so retirees fit in naturally. Just be prepared for the cost: the median home sale price is about $956,125, making Sedona the most expensive town on this list.

Apache Junction

Apache Junction offers a true best-of-both-worlds setup. Downtown Phoenix is about 30 minutes away, and Mesa, Arizona’s third-largest city, is even closer. That gives residents a quieter and more affordable home base while still keeping major shopping, dining, and healthcare within easy reach.

Outdoor recreation is a big part of the appeal here, thanks to Lost Dutchman State Park and its rugged desert trails. Golfers also have excellent options nearby, including Gold Canyon Golf Course and Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club, both known for their dramatic scenery. Banner Goldfield Medical Center is right in town, and Mesa offers even more hospitals and specialists. The median age is around 54, and the median home price is about $369,083, which makes Apache Junction an appealing value for the greater Phoenix area.

Where to Retire in Arizona?

Arizona is one of the best states in the country for an active retirement, especially if you love spending time outdoors. The key is finding a town that gives you both easy access to trails and scenery, along with the practical essentials like hospitals, grocery stores, and shopping.

If you want a retirement-focused community that is still relatively affordable, Green Valley is a strong place to start. If you prefer small-town charm with quick access to Scottsdale and Phoenix, Fountain Hills deserves a look. And if parks, mountain views, and quality healthcare matter most, Oro Valley is tough to beat. Any of the eight towns on this list could be a great fit—it all comes down to the lifestyle and budget that suit you best.

The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Friday, March 6, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers

08-19-26-38-42, Mega Ball: 24

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers

8-0-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers

13-18-23-24-34

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Triple Twist numbers

05-06-15-19-21-42

Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results

What time is the Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings are at 7:59 p.m. Arizona time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?

In Arizona, Powerball tickets cost $2 per game, according to the Arizona Lottery.

How to play the Powerball

To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.

You can choose your lucky numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers.

To win, match one of the 9 Ways to Win:

• 5 white balls + 1 red Powerball = Grand prize.
• 5 white balls = $1 million.
• 4 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $50,000.
• 4 white balls = $100.
• 3 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $100.
• 3 white balls = $7.
• 2 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $7.
• 1 white ball + 1 red Powerball = $4.
• 1 red Powerball = $4.

At least five people detained in Maine by immigration agents during a January surge are being held at an Arizona facility where a Haitian man died this week of sepsis caused by an untreated tooth infection, according to his family.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not confirmed the death of Emmanuel Damas, who lived in Dorchester, Massachusetts, when he was detained last year. Damas’ brother told the Boston Globe he didn’t get proper medical attention in ICE custody, and Massachusetts’ U.S. senators have called for an investigation into what they believe was likely a “highly preventable” death.

ICE has reported nine other deaths of people in custody this year.

Concerns about the conditions at the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center and other ICE facilities underscore that immigrants without criminal records, including some of those who were targeted in Maine, are spending more than a month in custody, often in prisons that were built for people convicted of crimes.

Marcos Gaspar-Da Silva, who has no criminal history and is in the process of applying for a green card, is one of the Maine detainees at the central Arizona facility. He’s been there for a month.

His wife, Alessia, is a U.S. citizen and said while Marcos is in a special part of the prison with more freedom than the general population, he’s sick from drinking the water and eating food that’s cooked in it. He’s having gastrointestinal problems and vomiting that seem to get better only when he avoids the water, she said.

“We’re trying to switch him to eating just enough to stay alive while we work on his case,” she said. “How is this where we’ve gotten in America?”

She’s also deeply concerned that Gaspar-Da Silva is developing a toothache.

Marcos Gaspar-Da Silva. (Courtesy photo)

STUCK FOR WEEKS

Isaac Nzau is surprised he’s still waiting for his friend to come home. Nzau leads a congregation at a Portland church and on Jan. 20, his assistant pastor was detained during a trip to the grocery store. He does not have a criminal record and works legally in the U.S. His attorneys asked that his name not be published because they fear that he will face retaliation for speaking out.

Not long after his friend was detained, Nzau and the church’s congregation said they deeply missed the assistant pastor, but they were hopeful that he would be back with them soon.

“Normally he’s all over the place during services — singing, praying, giving people rides to and from church,” said congregant Maria Cesar, her face lighting up. “He pours his heart out for people that need help.”

“Pray for God to have grace on him,” Nzau said during a Sunday service on Feb. 8. Congregants waved their hands.

A month later, their prayers have not been answered. The assistant pastor is still detained in Arizona as his attorneys face off with government lawyers about whether or not he should be released — proceedings that can take months to unfold.

Even before Damas’ death this week, immigrant advocates said conditions at the central Arizona prison are poor, although the company that runs the prison disputes those claims.

The facility had a measles outbreak in February. Viruses and a lack of access to medical care have been problems there for several years, said Liz Casey, a social worker at the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, which provides free legal and social services to people who are detained in Arizona. 

“With the increased enforcement and people being flown all over the country, going from facility to facility, that just increases the risk of infection,” Casey said.

CoreCivic operates the Arizona facility and many others where ICE is holding people.

“We take seriously our obligation to adhere to all applicable federal detention standards and will continue to ensure that all detainees receive appropriate and timely medical attention,” company spokesman Ryan Gustin said in an email. He declined to confirm Damas’ death.

He noted that CoreCivic has health care staff in the facility and coordinates with off-site providers and hospitals.

Casey’s group, the Florence Project, has filed complaints with the Department of Homeland Security alleging CoreCivic and ICE have violated detention standards. She’s visited detainees at the Arizona center and said the conditions there are “inhumane,” particularly for people who have chronic illnesses, disabilities and need specialty care.

This week’s death is the second at the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center in the past year. In August, a detainee who had diabetes died after he contracted COVID-19.

Alessia Gaspar-Da Silva said that despite feeling sick, her husband Marcos’ time at the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center has been better than at the temporary facilities where he was held in both that state and Louisiana. He told her those facilities were overcrowded and at times he had to use the bathroom in buckets and sleep on concrete floors without blankets.

During those frequent transfers in harsh conditions, Alessia said, immigration authorities tried to get her husband to agree to leave the country voluntarily.

Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, recently toured a facility in Massachusetts that held many of the “Operation Catch of the Day” detainees for their initial few days in custody. Attorneys allege it is “abysmal” and “unsanitary,” but Pingree said she did not witness those conditions on her visit.

ICE did not respond to a request for comment for this story. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The New York Times in February that for detainees in custody across the country, “This is the best health care that many aliens have received in their entire lives.”

IN SEARCH OF SAFETY

The other people at the Arizona facility who were taken into custody in Maine in January include the roommate of the assistant pastor in Portland, as well as Kimuena Jonathan Nguinamau, who was detained in Auburn, and Inacio Joao, who was detained in Lewiston, according to ICE’s online locator.

The assistant pastor has been applying for asylum, said his attorney Lauren Kousaie in Portland. He’s from the Democratic Republic of the Congo where a lengthy war has killed 6 million people. He left in 2022, “because he was a member of an opposition political party and was being persecuted by the Congolese government,” Kousaie said.

He made the difficult journey to the U.S. because he wanted to live in a place “that respects human rights,” she said.

The community he has established in Maine includes his work at the church, his assistance for people in the congregation, and a job at a restaurant in Falmouth.

Andrea Dibanza, who attends their church, said she tried to call him the morning he was detained. “He drove me everywhere, including to school,” she said. He didn’t pick up the phone.

Weeks later, the assistant pastor called Kousaie’s office from detention. In French, he told a paralegal that it felt like “torture just like we were in our home countries.”

By now, as dozens of other people detained in January have been released and returned to Maine, Alessia Gaspar Da-Silva said she feels like the public has forgotten about people like her husband, or that they believe he must have done something wrong to still be in custody. 

But the legal system takes time, she said, and as the days grind on, “We’re still living it.”