16 Pros and Cons of Living in San Tan Valley, AZ

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San Tan Valley offers the perfect balance between urban and rural living.

Residents have access to a diverse range of amenities and entertainment, without sacrificing those surreal landscapes and sunsets Arizona is known for.

Located to the southeast of Phoenix, San Tan Valley is an up-and-coming neighborhood that hasn’t fully realized its potential.

An increasing number of businesses have started to move to the area, so the city is starting to see a boom in its economy.

San Tan Valley is a very family-friendly place to live.

Residents are friendly and work hard to keep the city clean and safe.

If you’re considering moving to the area, there are a number of pros and cons to consider.

Let’s take a look.

Pros of Living in San Tan Valley

1. Beautiful Scenery 

Throughout Arizona, there are numerous picturesque spots, some even famous for their use in movies and TV.

The deserts offer unique views and scenery, compared to any other part of the country. 

San Tan Valley is no exception.

Approaching storms or high clouds help to paint the pastels and orange hues across the skies.

Dust from the desert also helps to tint the early evening sunsets.

 If you’re a fan of photography, the skies, deserts, mountains, and valleys in this region offer an excellent subject.

2. San Tan Mountains

Right next to the valley are the San Tan Mountains.

These majestic upheavals accentuate the amazing geologic history of the area.

Once part of a shallow inland sea, many of the now visible cliffs and mesas were underwater formations thousands of years ago. 

Visitors to the San Tan Mountains will see various species of cactus in bloom, wildflowers, wildlife, and remnants of sea creatures from millennia passed.

San Tan Mountain Regional Park maintains the trails and facilities and welcomes hikers, and their dogs, to spend a day or two roaming the mountainsides.

3. Outside Activities

Since the climate and weather are quite affable most of the year, it’s possible to pursue a number of outside activities.

Mountain biking, hiking, and hot air balloon rides are just a few of the things to do outside in San Tan Valley. 

There are also numerous national parks and monuments, national forests, and state-run attractions throughout Arizona.

Most residents of the state spend the majority of their time outdoors exploring, whenever possible. 

4. Comfortable Climate

As we’ve been highlighting, the weather and climate in Arizona and San Tan Valley are pleasant for much of the year.

Summers can get hot but are cooled by nights in the 70s, even in the middle of summer.

It’s advisable to seek some shade if you’re going to be outside for long stretches in the summer.

Winters in Arizona are very manageable, with low temperatures in the 40s, highs in the 60s, and relatively low humidity.

Snowfall in the mountains is possible, but it usually misses the valley. 

Most residents report relatively mild winter conditions, with strong winds being more of a concern. 

5. Cost of Living

Living in San Tan Valley, on average, is less expensive than the rest of the state, and only slightly higher than the nation.

For the most part, San Tan Valley is in line with, or only a few points higher, than the national average. 

In comparison to the state of Arizona, San Tan gives and takes, as some indexes were higher, but others were lower.

San Tan Valley does offer an average income of $60,000, which is nearly double the national and state averages. 

6. Lots of Restaurants

If you appreciate good food and drinks, San Tan Valley has a number of fabulous restaurants and bars to try.

To start, take your choice of authentic Mexican restaurants in the area.

Moreno’s is a top-ranked spot. Lola Empanada offers a delicious take on Latin fusion cuisine. 

Burgers and fries, pizza, and sandwiches are available for more American cuisine choices.

A number of quality fine dining restaurants can also be found at regional golf course country clubs. 

Thinking of grabbing a beer?

Check out some local microbreweries such as Old Ellsworth, Uncle Bear’s, and West Brewing Co serving up their original fermentations, as well.

Lastly, there are also a number of full-service bars also available in the greater San Tan Valley. 

7. Top-Ranked Golf Courses

Playing golf in Arizona is a blast.

The courses are often wide and range through cactus scenery, with elevation changes throughout.

In and around the San Tan Valley, residents and visitors will find a number of high-quality courses to play.

The weather and climate are ideal for golf almost all year. 

The Golf Club at Johnson Ranch and Encanterra Golf Course are two of the premiere choices for hitting the links.

Check their websites for reservations or more information. 

8. Low Crime Rate

Residents rave about the neighborhoods in San Tan Valley, primarily because they feel safe.

Overall, crime rates in San Tan are very low.

The national average says that 4 out of every 1,000 people will experience crime.

Arizona’s state average is 5.03.

San Tan Valley’s average is .72.

That’s one of the lowest rates in the entire nation. 

When a crime is low in an area, community involvement increases, the statistical health of the citizens improves, and people report an overall sense of well-being.

San Tan Valley offers its residents a real sense of security and helps put minds at ease. 

Cons Of Living in San Tan Valley

1. Lack of Corporate Jobs

One missing piece in San Tan Valley’s puzzle is a specific industry or corporate jobs market.

Most job opportunities in the San Tan Valley focus on local needs or professions.

Service industry workers, trade school jobs, and the education field are local opportunities. 

For a person to expand their opportunities with a larger corporation, they’ll more than likely have to commute out of San Tan Valley.

This can create its own set of problems. 

2. Long Commute

When commuting, some of the closest big cities are Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Both offer greater opportunities for employment, but also require an hour commute, one way.

And that’s assuming traffic is moving relatively quickly. 

Commuting to a larger city adds fuel costs and road miles to your vehicle.

The trade-off for a better job salary may be negated by the additional travel costs. 

3. Unemployment

As stated, there are jobs available in San Tan Valley, although not necessarily a plethora of corporate career choices.

As a result, unemployment numbers for San Tan are a bit higher than the national average. 

It is worth noting that many residents of the valley are retirees.

These citizens aren’t looking for jobs, but some may still be younger than the retirement age, which could cause the unemployment numbers to be a bit higher. 

4. Homes are Expensive

Renting in San Tan Valley, as well as Arizona, is not cheap.

Buying a house is also expensive, and the prices keep rising.

An average single-family home averages over $460k.

The rent for a one-bedroom apartment is over $1,300, which is one of the highest rates in the country. 

5. High Sales Tax

Arizona’s state sales tax is 5.6%.

Each county is able to levy its own rate in addition to the state sales tax.

San Tan Valley is in Pinal County.

The combined sales tax rate for the residents is 10.7%.

Although those tax dollars are used to help to pay for state and local services, it can be a hefty chunk, once the yearly total is added up.  

6. Fewer Secondary Education Degree Holders

San Tan Valley’s average citizen doesn’t have a college degree of any kind.

Although this is not a huge factor in the positive or negative nature of a community, it can have an effect on the overall trajectory of the city, over time.

Less educated communities tend to resist change and can stifle growth and development. 

Just the same, a college degree does not guarantee a person to be smart, either, although it doesn’t necessarily hurt, either. 

7. Lack of Big City Entertainment

Residents of San Tan Valley tend to take things a bit slower and easier.

Consequently, nightlife and entertainment options are fairly limited.

Residents can make the drive to Phoenix, Mesa, or Scottsdale to find more entertainment options.

They will, undoubtedly, run into the same issues they face when commuting for work to these locations.

 Within the valley, most entertainment will begin to wind down before getting too late into the night. 

8. Questionable Tap Water

Throughout the west, water scarcity and restrictions are starting to affect everyone.

Water usage and availability are critical management pieces for desert communities. 

Unfortunately, that means some water sources aren’t as fresh as they could be.

Contaminant seepage or stagnant water reserves need proper filtration to be safely used.

When living in this area, it can be worth the extra money to install a high-quality water filter. 

Pros and Cons of Living in San Tan Valley, AZ  – Summary Table