Great Small Town to Retire Payson Arizona

Payson, Arizona

Payson offers a great mix of adventurousness and calm to retirees, making it one of the top affordable spots to consider for retirement. The friendly community ensures a warm welcome and convenient healthcare access. As one of the more scenic small towns in Arizona, it is a great place to take in the vastness of nature. Proximity to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park adds a natural marvel for retirees to explore, making Payson, Arizona, an ideal destination for those seeking a balanced retirement filled with both relaxation and nearby adventures.

Cost of Living Index: 92.4
Average Monthly Rent:$1,700
Median Home Price:$428,352
Population: 16,516

The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately 200 miles, starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border with New Mexico. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona.

While average summer daytime temperatures climb above 90 °F (32 °C), the town’s elevation keeps it protected from the extreme heat found in Arizona’s lowland deserts—though temperatures do occasionally reach 100 °F (38 °C). Early summer is characterized by hot and dry weather, with elevated wildfire risk, whereas mid-to-late summer is tempered by the North American Monsoon. The monsoon brings frequent, sometimes severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and flash floods. On average, Payson receives 7 inches (180 mm) of monsoonal moisture—approximately 35% of its annual precipitation—across the months of July, August, and September. Winter can bring up to 15″ of snow.
Diurnal temperature variation is large throughout the year. Even in summer, the difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows exceeds 30 degrees.