Lake Havasu, Arizona, is a great place to live and raise a family.
People who decide to move to this area are generally happy with all it offers.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of living in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
Use this information to help you determine if it is the right move for your lifestyle.
Contents
Pros of Living in Lake Havasu
There are plenty of benefits for individuals who decide to move to Lake Havasu, Arizona.
Keep reading to find out the top reasons why people enjoy living in this area.
1. Beautiful Water
The beautiful water in Lake Havasu is perfect for various water activities such as swimming, boating, and other water sports.
Anyone who enjoys gorgeous Scenic Lakes and has plenty of outdoor activity options for enjoying the water will be thrilled by the lake in this area.
2. Outdoor Activities
There are tons of outdoor activities in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
Whether it is hiking, climbing, or water sports, there is something for everyone.
People who love to engage in outdoor activities will have plenty to keep them entertained if they move to this area.
3. Plenty of Sunshine
Individuals who enjoy living in a sunny part of the country will want the abundant sunshine at Lake Havasu.
This area is known for having more sunny days than rainy or cloudy days.
Having plentiful sunny days means it’s easy to enjoy outdoor activities or soak up some rays on a leisurely day.
This is especially appealing for people who have lived in areas where they have frequent clouds or inclement weather.
4. Entertainment Options
Because Havasu, Arizona, is a tourist town, there are many entertainment options for people of all ages and interests.
Whether it’s a fun time outdoors with family or shopping or dancing the night away at a local club, there are unlimited entertainment options in this area.
5. Low Crime Rates
Anyone considering moving to Lake Havasu will love the fact that this area has a very low crime rate.
Crimes of any type are a rare occurrence that is ideal for individuals with families.
For many, this type of secure town is a big change compared to larger cities or areas with high crime rates.
6. Good Air Quality
Lake Havasu is a popular area, but the local government and its residents take significant measures to keep it clean and inviting.
This is one benefit to living in an area that depends on tourism.
The air quality in this area is far superior to many other similar size cities across the country.
This is a great benefit to individuals who have breathing troubles such as asthma or COPD.
7. Quality of Life
People who live in Lake Havasu will enjoy a superior quality of life.
This town is clean and inviting, and the locals are friendly.
There are also measures in place to reduce pollution, and plenty of activities and delicious food are located throughout the city.
It is an ideal place to settle for people who want a better quality of life.
8. Clean and Scenic
Anyone who likes Scenic views of the lake or the surrounding areas will appreciate Lake Havasu.
This area is very picturesque and offers a clean and inviting area for individuals who choose to move there.
This area is very well-kept, and there is a notable lack of trash on the sides of the roads and pollution.
Cons of Living in Lake Havasu
There are many benefits to living in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
However, there are also some downsides to consider before deciding if it is the right place for your lifestyle.
Keep reading to learn more about the cons of living in Lake Havasu.
1. Tourists
While Lake Havasu is a beautiful place to live in many aspects, it is also one of the reasons why it attracts so many tourists.
Lake Havasu is a notorious tourist attraction, meaning they are frequent visitors coming and going throughout the city.
It is important to understand that Lake Havasu relies on its tourism.
Although it may be a benefit for the city, it may not be a benefit for anyone considering moving to the area.
2. Heat
Lake Havasu, Arizona, is located in the desert Southwest, which means it experiences excessive heat during the late spring and summer months.
Sometimes the temperatures can get well over 100°, which is dangerous for many people, especially if they are not used to that type of heat.
Anyone who is considering moving to this area should be mindful of heat warnings and avoid vigorous activities during these times.
3. Poor Public Transportation
Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of public transportation in the Lake Havasu area.
There may be a few public buses here or there, but individuals who moved to this area will be car-dependent.
f you don’t already have a vehicle, you will need one if you are planning on moving to Lake Havasu, Arizona.
4. Cost of Living
The cost of living in Lake Havasu, Arizona, is extremely high.
Because it is a very attractive area for many people with adequate income, the homes and rentals in this area are priced very high.
If you plan on moving to this area, consider the price of homes or rentals when planning your budget.
5. Tourism-Based Economy
Lake Havasu might be disappointing if you hope for a thriving economy due to manufacturing, technology, or other industries.
This is an entirely tourism-based economy and relies almost entirely on people visiting and spending their money while they vacation.
6. Far From a Big City
Unfortunately, for individuals who want to travel to a larger city for recreation, diversity, or basic industries, we will have to drive over 100 miles to the nearest medium size city.
The largest city nearby Lake Havasu, Arizona, is Las Vegas, Nevada.
Las Vegas is located approximately 125 miles from Lake Havasu.
It is also important to note that driving from Lake Havasu to any of the nearby major cities can be somewhat taxing and dangerous in some instances.
Anyone with car trouble or similar issues may be stranded for a significant amount of time which can be a problem if it is hot outside.
Before traveling to any nearby cities, make sure your vehicle is in good repair, and you have a way to connect with individuals nearby if you need assistance.
7. Expensive Housing
The cost of buying a house in the area is significantly higher than in other areas of the country.
On average, anyone considering buying a house can expect to pay around $400,000 for a home.
And anyone who plans on renting an apartment or a house can expect to have competition in terms of securing a place, and the cost of rent is excessively high.
8. Poor Job Market
The job market in Lake Havasu is considered poor.
There is not much in the way of a variety of jobs or many Industries represented in this area.
There are no factories or any type of manufacturing in this area.
Additionally, there are very few opportunities in the way of Technology or similar industries.
Anyone looking for a job should probably secure one before moving to the area or consider a remote job if it is in an industry other than tourism or customer service.
Pros and Cons of Living in Lake Havasu, AZ – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Lake Havasu | Cons of Living in Lake Havasu |
|---|---|
| 1. Beautiful Water | 1. Tourists |
| 2. Outdoor Activities | 2. Heat |
| 3. Plenty of Sunshine | 3. Poor Public Transportation |
| 4. Entertainment Options | 4. Cost of Living |
| 5. Low Crime Rates | 5. Tourism Based Economy |
| 6. Good Air Quality | 6. Far From a Big City |
| 7. Quality of Life | 7. Expensive Housing |
| 8. Clean and Scenic | 8. Poor Job Market |
Lake Havasu City Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Lake Havasu City Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average summer high temperature in Lake Havasu, Arizona?
The average high temperature in Lake Havasu, Arizona, in the summer is 102° f.
However, the temperature can fluctuate drastically beyond 110° during the day.
Anyone considering moving to this area should prepare for excessive heat throughout the summer months.
People sensitive to heat should avoid being outside and doing strenuous activities during the daytime.
It is important to keep informed about excessive heat warnings and how to prepare to spend time outdoors in those temperatures.
What is the elevation of Lake Havasu, Arizona?
Lake Havasu, Arizona, is located 738 ft above sea level.
The area surrounding Lake Havasu is mountainous, however.
The Mojave mountains surround Lake Havasu, which is located in its basin.
Individuals interested in climbing, hiking, or other outdoor activities ideal for mountain ranges with plenty of options when they moved to Lake Havasu, Arizona.
What is the average annual precipitation in Lake Havasu, Arizona?
The average rainfall in Lake Havasu, Arizona, is approximately 5 in per year.
The average annual rainfall for the rest of the nation is 38 inches per year.
These totals take into consideration both rain and frozen precipitation.
This average places Lake Havasu as one of the driest cities in the country.
When planning to move to Lake Havasu, it is essential to know that water conservation is important in areas with little rain.
Some amenities may be affected as a result of infrequent rain.
For example, individuals may be unable to water their lawns or use water for recreational activities.
What is Lake Havasu, Arizona's average monthly cost of living?
The average monthly cost of living minus rent or mortgage is approximately $2,000 per month.
That place is Lake Havasu, Arizona, in the top 15% in terms of expensive cities in which to reside.
Anyone planning on moving to Lake Havasu should plan on having a higher cost of a living budget than almost anywhere else in the country.
What is the crime rate in Lake Havasu, Arizona?
The crime rate in Lake Havasu is 11.1 in the national average is just over 22.
On average, there are 33 crimes per 1,000 residents, with fewer violent crimes than property crimes.
Overall, Lake Havasu, Arizona, is considered a very safe city and has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.
The air quality in Lake Havasu City, AZ used to be great, but now it’s disgusting.
With so much tourism there is a lot of exhaust concentrated into a small area and it literally stinks.
Also, everyone wants to have an outdoor wood-burning pit, the city does not monitor the types of pits that you have nor does it care how big your fires are, nor do they care that the city now smells like an ashtray every single night as soon as the temperature in the evening cools down to 90.
If you have any kind of medical conditions, stay away from Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Not So Try being a city dweller
Not true at all.
I’ve been retired here for 8 years, your statement is untrue, except for the occasional dust our air quality is great!
Been monitoring from afar and compared with other places such as the Front Range of Colorado it’s consistently good.
It’s a town built for retired people. Most are extremely right-wing. Trump is god here. And they are mean, nasty and prejudiced against anyone who disagrees. Very little going on. Summers are brutal, but that doesn’t bother me. You need quite a bit of money to fully fund your activities. Boats, cars, trucks, UTVs … all the toys. Working people have no place to live. California developers are coddled to, so town gets the high tax rates.
I might suggest to you to move back to CA where the air is so clean and the politics are straight forward (right into socialism). Oh and don’t forget you can supply funds for as many hopeless policies they can dream up. By the way the town can be very entertaining without buying all the toys. One makes their own entertainment and you work within your own budget.
agreed < why do people want to move somewhere and make it just like where they came from ..except the idea in their head is so off . i agree stay in california if you want to complain so much. I live in California
Too many trump cultist.
Where do you live in Lake Havasu? Been here 19 years and never saw any of that? Our share of traffic has increased but the quality of the air is great other than the dust as mentioned above!
Visited the city several times… Would Never what to live. Dangerous Summer heat. Lacks culture areas. Very little for young children to do. Your village by the bridge is a joke, Homeless people live in the areas nearby. Lacks quality healthcare. Extremely far away from any major cities… LHC is a playground for people who live and work elsewhere… Most people don’t care to become a permanent resident of the city. Bet your biggest employer is Walmart and we all know about the people of Walmart.. Trump on LHC..
Wanted to add to my comments that LHC keeps hush, hush, on crimes.. They don’t want to scare away tourists. November 2023.. Police shooting that killed a man. Drive by shooting at Walmart in 2023 .Murder in May 2023.. I could go on. Remember the 5 people killed in LHC in 2010…
Lived there many many many years ago, they were hiding the crime bigtime back then for the same reasons. Same with the drought, always “no effect” I have a video from the 70’s, you can clearly see the lake level difference, even after the 2 foot drop from the calif. pipleline.