If you’re thinking of moving to Prescott, AZ, then there’s a lot you need to know. The first thing is that while Prescott is a good place to retire to, it’s not your typical Arizona town. For one thing, it’s surrounded by forests, not deserts. People moving to Arizona don’t always realize that almost 30% of the state is forest. Prescott is in the middle of the 1.25 million-acre Prescott National Forest and close to the Kaibab, Tonto, and Coconino National Forests.
Also, the Prescott area has real winters. Whereas in much of southern Arizona, you’re only likely to see a flurry of snow on one or two days a year. Prescott is at an elevation of 5,319 feet and can have snow from November to April.
That said, people move to Prescott for the same reasons Arizonans love to visit it. It has a beautiful setting up in the mountains with forests to drive through to get there, it has history, it has culture, it has all the facilities of a good-sized town, and it has tons of character. It also has cooler summers than places further south, like Phoenix.
Retiring in Prescott: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cooler summers than Southern Arizona and milder winters than Northern Arizona
- A favorable tax situation
- Lots of both cultural and outdoor activities
- Good range of active adult communities
Cons
- Only one hospital—not ideal for anyone with serious health issues
- A hundred miles from the nearest big airport in Phoenix
Prescott Climate
Prescott has a more moderate climate than many places in Arizona, and it certainly has more definable seasons. Summers are milder, fall is glorious because of those forests, winters look and feel like winters without being harsh, and springs are wonderful as the trees and flowers start to show their colors.
Temperatures
The Prescott climate lacks extremes. In midsummer, when temperatures in Phoenix are well into the 100s or 110+, Prescott is more tolerable in the low 90s. And while snow can fall from November through April, you’re still only likely to get one or two snowy days per month. November to March is also when you’ll get below-freezing temperatures overnight, but it rises to the 50s during the day. Several of the area’s active adult communities have indoor pools because of the winter chills.
Rain and Sunshine
When it comes to rainfall, you can experience this all year round. The driest month is June, with less than two rainy days on average, and the wettest months are July and August, which see almost ten inches of rain each. This is because Prescott, like many other parts of Arizona, experiences a monsoon season with afternoon/evening thunderstorms being common. Provided you’re indoors, these do provide some dramatic entertainment.
Over the year, the town also averages almost 10 hours of sunshine daily, perfect for popular outdoor activities like golf, tennis, and pickleball. Prescott residents can spend more time hiking, cycling, and horse-riding in the surrounding forests. Water activities are also popular in the Prescott Lakes area on the edge of the town.
Prescott Taxes
Arizona is generally a tax-friendly state for retirees. There’s no tax on Social Security benefits, and the state income tax is lower than the national average. You’ll also find sales and property taxes to be lower, and there’s no inheritance tax, making Prescott a good place to retire to.
Prescott Property Taxes
The average property tax for the state of Arizona is 0.51%. This means that for every $100,000 of assessed home value, the average homeowner would pay $510 in property taxes. Prescott is located in Yavapai County, where property tax is slightly higher at 0.58%. However, this still makes it the ninth-cheapest place for property tax in the country, with other popular retirement places such as California averaging 0.75% and Florida 0.91%.
Prescott Retirement Income Taxes
Until recently, Arizona had a graduated income tax system. Butut as of 2024, it charges a flat income tax rate of 2.5%. Therefore, aside from state with no income tax, Arizona has the lowest flat rate of income tax in the U.S. Just for comparison, in neighboring California, you would pay 13.3%, and in New Mexico (on the other side of Arizona), it’s 5.9%.
Prescott Tax Exemptions for Seniors
Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying widows, widowers, and disabled people. Exemptions are also available for low-income seniors on fixed incomes.
Prescott Health Care
One of the health benefits of Prescott is that it has a dry heat. It might get a little humid during the summer monsoon season, but for the rest of the year, the dry heat can be beneficial to people with arthritis, asthma, breathing problems, and allergies.
Arizona overall does have good health facilities as it has an older-than-average population due to its many retirees. Also, the brand-new Exceptional Community Hospital is Prescott’s first hospital, and it’s scheduled to open in late 2024. Otherwise, there are several medical centers and an urgent care facility catering to Prescott’s 46,000 population. It has to be said that Prescott is not an ideal place to move to for anyone with serious health issues requiring regular hospital visits.
Where to Live in Prescott
There’s a good choice of active adult communities in Prescott. None of them are very far from downtown, but they offer different advantages so it’s important to compare and contrast. Some will appeal to keen golfers, and others to those who want to be as close as possible to downtown attractions. Others still will attract buyers wanting easy access to nature, and there are some where the lack of an age restriction might be a draw.
Prescott Lakes
High $400ks – High $1Ms
A 10-minute drive north of downtown, this gated community is close to the various Prescott lakes which offer hiking trails and water-based activities. Partially age-restricted, this is a community of 1,300 homes.
Amenities include the 18-hole Hale Irwin golf course, a clubhouse, a restaurant, a sauna, an arts and crafts studio, an aerobics and dance studio, a fitness center, a ballroom, a hobby and games room, an indoor pool for those winter months, an outdoor pool for the rest of the year, hiking and biking trails, and courts for tennis, volleyball, and basketball. There are also clubs, activities, and classes including gardening, hiking, line dancing, a travel group, and games nights.
The numerous models range from 1,393 feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage to over 3,000 square feet with two-to-six bedrooms, three-to-four bathrooms, and a two-to-three-car garage.
Yavapai Hills
Low $500ks – High $900ks
Yavapai Hills is a community of 1,015 attached and single-family homes with no age restriction. It’s just over a 10-minute drive east of the center of Prescott in an area known as Diamond Valley. Amenities include a clubhouse, a library, a demonstration kitchen, multipurpose rooms, an outdoor pool, a picnic area, parks, and facilities for tennis, pickleball, volleyball, basketball. There are also clubs for all those sports.
Talking Rock
Low $800ks – Mid $3Ms
Talking Rock is an active lifestyle community for people who prefer to be out in a natural landscape rather than in the town of Prescott itself. It’s located a 30-minute drive north of the town in a flat area surrounded by scrubland with distant mountain views.
Because it’s away from the town, this community has good self-contained amenities. There’s a golf course, with practice facilities and a putting green, a fitness center, a restaurant, an outdoor pool, walking and biking trails, gardening plots, and courts for tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, and bocce.
The smallest models are an impressive 1,960 square feet and these provide two-to-three bedrooms, two-to-three bathrooms, and a two-to-three-car garage. There are many different models available, the largest being 2,879 square feet, offering three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a four-car garage.
The Dells
Mid $600ks – Low $2Ms
The Dells is an active lifestyle community of 300 single-family homes with no age restriction. It’s around a 15-minute drive north of Downtown Prescott, about five minutes beyond the Prescott Lakes area. It’s a good location for people who want to be in the Great Outdoors but still not too far from the town’s facilities.
The Dells has its own clubhouse, fitness center, demonstration kitchen outdoor pool, walking and biking trails, and pickleball courts. There are also clubs to join for hiking, cycling, and pickleball. If you enjoy golf, there are three clubs within a short drive.
Prescott Canyon Estates
Low $300ks – High $300ks
Prescott Canyon Estates is a 55+ active adult community that’s a 5-minute drive east of downtown and made up of 255 single-family homes. There are stores, restaurants, and other amenities just a few minutes away.
The community has its own clubhouse, indoor pool, fitness center, ballroom, billiards, card room, library, demonstration kitchen, walking and biking trails, and courts for tennis and shuffleboard. There are holiday events and potlucks as well as clubs and classes for swimming, tennis, card games, dancing, billiards, and shuffleboard.
Saddlewood
Low $400ks – Mid $500ks
Saddlewood is an active lifestyle community of 216 single-family homes with no age restrictions. It’s situated a 15-minute drive north of the center of Prescott, just beyond the Prescott Lakes area.
As a smaller and newer community, on which work began in 2018, amenities are currently restricted to walking and biking trails, which weave through the community, and several parks and open spaces. Other amenities are planned as the community develops, and residents have formed a bridge club and walking groups.
Models start at 1,369 square feet. These have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The largest homes are 2,118 square feet and have three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a two-car garage.
The Gardens at Willow Creek
Low $500ks – Mid $500ks
This 55+ gated community of 105 single-family homes is located a 15-minute drive north of downtown, close to the Prescott Lakes. Amenities include a clubhouse, a fitness center, a library, a demonstration kitchen, an arts and crafts studio, and a billiards room. Outside, there’s a pool and patio. Residents also enjoy a games night and regular weekly social gatherings.
Models start at 1,132 square feet and these have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. There are nine models available, the largest having 1,808 square feet with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage.
