Prescott Valley vs Yuma
Compare Prescott Valley, AZ and Yuma, AZ on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Yuma is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $950/mo versus $1,128/mo in Prescott Valley — a gap of about $178/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,264/mo against $1,403/mo. Across the four public-data screens Prescott Valley comes out ahead (248 vs 229 summed points), though Yuma still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 104°F and 104°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Yuma; if walkable daily life matters more, Prescott Valley screens stronger on the walkability proxy (8 vs 6). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Yuma leads 79 to 65 on the cost and climate screen.
Yuma leads 77 to 74 on the work screen.
Prescott Valley leads 61 to 33 on the daily life screen.
Prescott Valley leads 48 to 40 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Prescott Valley is roughly $226,667 in Yuma using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Prescott Valley | Yuma | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,128/mo | $950/mo | Yuma |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,403/mo | $1,264/mo | Yuma |
| Median home value | $354,000 | $174,000 | Yuma |
| State income tax | 2.5% | 2.5% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 22.8 min | Yuma |
| Safety score | 44/100 | 44/100 | Tie |
| School score | 6/10 | 3/10 | Prescott Valley |
| Walkability estimate | 8/100 | 6/100 | Prescott Valley |
| Outdoor score | 10/10 | 9/10 | Prescott Valley |
| Restaurants per 100k | 189.6 | 129.2 | Prescott Valley |
| Mountain distance | 29 mi | 126 mi | Prescott Valley |
| Coast distance | 225 mi | 55 mi | Yuma |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 38/100 | 39/100 | Yuma |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 72th | 0th | Yuma |
| Wildfire risk percentile (NRI) | 99th | 37th | Yuma |
| Heat wave risk percentile (NRI) | 32th | 88th | Prescott Valley |
What stands out
Prescott Valley stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 5 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 42 miles
Prescott Valley tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
Yuma stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 2 miles
- Coast access within 55 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Yuma tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Prescott Valley cheaper than Yuma?
On public benchmarks Yuma is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,128/mo in Prescott Valley vs $950/mo in Yuma; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,403/mo vs $1,264/mo; state income tax is 2.5% vs 2.5%.
Is Prescott Valley or Yuma safer?
Prescott Valley screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 44/100 for Prescott Valley and 44/100 for Yuma (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Prescott Valley or Yuma?
School screens show 6/10 for Prescott Valley vs 3/10 for Yuma, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Prescott Valley and Yuma?
Prescott Valley: summer highs near 104°F, winter lows near 41°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Yuma: 104°F / 41°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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