Phoenix

Shortest commutes to Downtown Phoenix

Ranked on distance to Downtown Phoenix at 50% and the mean commute time residents report to the Census at 50%. The mean commute includes people who work locally, which is why the two numbers do not always agree.

Updated Sep 2026·31 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
Welcome sign in Paradise Valley Arizona
Paradise Valley$2.00M+ median · 20.7 min commute
Commute B+Housing A+Cost of living D−
89
Commute score
overall 64 C+
2
Skyline view of Phoenix — looking northeast from a helicopter, from above the 4th Avenue Jail. Foreground is the Central City Village and Central Avenue Corrido
Phoenix$421k median · 25.6 min commute
Commute C+Housing DCost of living B
83
Commute score
overall 61 C
3
Hayden Flour Mill and Silos from north of Tempe Town Lake
Tempe$455k median · 20.9 min commute
Commute A−Housing D−Cost of living B+
77
Commute score
overall 69 B−
4
Aerial view of downtown Scottsdale, Arizona (pop. 241,361), viewed from Camelback Mountain in 2026.
Scottsdale$790k median · 21.6 min commute
Commute B+Housing C+Cost of living B−
76
Commute score
overall 65 C+
5
The Sun City DEVCO Model #1 a.k.a. “Del Webb Sun Cities Museum” is a white brick Bungalow built in 1959 and located at 10801 W. Oakmont Drive in Sun City, Arizo
Sun City$281k median · 24.1 min commute
Commute C+Housing DCost of living A−
76
Commute score
overall 55 C−
6
Downtown Glendale, Arizona as viewed from the intersections of Glendale Ave. and 58th Ave.
Glendale$388k median · 27.7 min commute
Commute C−Housing D−Cost of living B
75
Commute score
overall 58 C
7
Sign at the entrance of Sun City West, Arizona
Sun City West$378k median · 21.7 min commute
Commute BHousing C−Cost of living B
74
Commute score
overall 60 C
8
Sun Lakes$455k median · 20.5 min commute
Commute BHousing CCost of living B
61
Commute score
overall 64 C+
9
Entrance to El Mirage, Az. established in 1951.
El Mirage$322k median · 30.1 min commute
Commute DHousing DCost of living B
59
Commute score
overall 54 C−
10
Feeding the ducks
Anthem$570k median · 26.9 min commute
Commute CHousing B−Cost of living C−
59
Commute score
overall 63 C+
This list's weighting
Distance to downtown 50%Mean commute time 50%
Other Phoenix lists
Best Phoenix suburbs for familiesMost affordable Phoenix suburbsBest Phoenix suburbs for schoolsMost walkable Phoenix suburbsBest Phoenix suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Phoenix suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Paradise Valley (sean horan from Phoenix, AZ · CC BY 2.0); Phoenix (DPPed · CC BY-SA 3.0); Tempe (Hunter Trick (TrickHunter) · CC BY-SA 4.0); Scottsdale (Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0); Sun City (Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0); Glendale (Tony the Marine (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0); Sun City West (Mark Wagner · CC BY 2.5); El Mirage (Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0); Anthem (dougegood · CC BY 2.0).