Nicknamed the “sunniest city on Earth,” Yuma, Arizona is set in the Sonoran Desert, halfway between Phoenix and San Diego, California. Since its late 19th-century founding as a trading hub along the Colorado River, Yuma has steadily grown to a population of about 95,000. Matias Rosales, a Realtor with Realty One Group Gateway and over 15 years of local experience, says part of the growth is because, "The price point is lower than California and Phoenix—you can buy a brand-new house out here for $260,000.” Compared to Phoenix, Yuma is a smaller, less walkable city, but still has big-city conveniences like parks, shopping and dining. Most locals drive or use public transportation to get around, and Route 95 provides a direct route to the U.S./Mexico border in San Luis, 25 miles away. The military and agriculture are major local industries; many residents here are stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (MCAS Yuma), and top exports include lettuce, wheat and dates.
“There’s almost too much to do,” says Patti Bourelle, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Yuma who has over 8 years of experience. “We have golf, camping, parks and fishing. We have everything.” During the winter, the population here nearly doubles due to snowbirds—a regional term for someone who moves to a warmer state during the winter months. “We have multiple events every weekend all winter because it’s a paradise here during that time,” Bourelle says. Seasonal residents typically live outside of the city in eastern Yuma County. “We call it ‘the foothills,’ but it’s east Yuma County,” Rosales says. Many residents hire house sitters to watch their homes during the off-season, while others rent out their properties.
West Wetlands Park in Yuma has a pond that attracts families who can enjoy fishing and swimming.
Lively restaurants and breweries in downtown Yuma are only minute from Avenue B and C.
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What to expect when house-hunting in Yuma
The median home price in Yuma is $330,000, compared to $440,000 in Phoenix and $925,000 in San Diego. “If a home’s priced right, it only stays on the market a day,” Bourelle says. “Our average number of days on the market is now around 30 days—and that’s not time until an offer, that’s time until closing.” According to Bourelle, the market is especially competitive in the summer, when school lets out and military assignments change.
Most housing in Yuma was built between the late 20th century and the 2020s, typically set in planned neighborhoods without homeowners associations. Single-family homes tend to be new traditional with Spanish- or Pueblo-style details, or minimal ranch-style; yards are generally landscaped with low-water desert plantings. Condo communities like Sunset Mesa often feature shared amenities like community pools and tennis courts. A handful of retirement communities, including the 55-plus Desert Palms Mobile Estates, offer late 20th-century manufactured homes with attached carports.
Country Estates is 3 miles southwest of downtown Yuma, AZ.
Spanish style houses with stucco exteriors are typical for Country Estates, AZ.
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Shopping and dining in Yuma
Shopping and dining are found throughout the city, but especially along thoroughfares like West 24th Street, West 16th Street and Avenue B. The Yuma Palms Regional Center, set just off Route 95, is the city's largest outdoor mall, a one-stop-shop for chain retail, dining and family entertainment. Most of the city's small local businesses are found in Downtown Yuma. “It’s where a lot of the residents like to go down and walk," Rosales says. "You have a lot of family-owned restaurants, and some nightclubs that attract the younger generation.”
Clothes, unique gifts and more can be found at Rebel and Rove near Country Estates, AZ.
Most local small businesses and retail can be found in old town Yuma near Country Estates.
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Parks, golf and community
Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert landscape, Yuma offers nearly 50 parks, golf courses and community centers. Set right on the Colorado River, the 110-acre West Wetlands Park offers boat access, enabling activities like kayaking or jet-skiing. The park also features fishing ponds stocked with catfish and trout, a disc golf course, and a sprawling, castle-themed playground built by community volunteers. Golfers may hit the links at the 18-hole Desert Hills Golf Course, popular for its rolling green fairways with distant mountain views. At the Valley Aquatic Center, residents can swim or take water aerobics in the community pool.
Fishing in the Colorado River is a popular activity at West Wetlands Park in Yuma,
The Imperial Sand Dunes are about an hour west from Yuma.
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Getting around Yuma
Rosales says cars are the most practical way to get around the city. Yuma is crossed by two major highways, Route 95 and Interstate 8. Route 95 leads about 25 miles to the U.S./Mexico border in San Luis, while I-8 travels 170 miles west to San Diego and 185 miles east to Phoenix. Residential neighborhoods and city streets are typically sidewalk-lined. As of 2024, the city is actively expanding its bikeways; in May 2024, the city added bike lanes around the Yuma Palms Regional Center. Locals may also ride Yuma County Area Transit buses to get around town. Yuma Regional Medical Center and Yuma International Airport are located within the city.
Schooling opportunities in Yuma
Yuma is served by several school districts, including the Crane Elementary and Yuma Union High districts, both rated C-plus by Niche. Many of the city’s public high schools offer career and technical education courses in fields ranging from the culinary arts and agriscience to sports medicine. There are also several private schools in the area, including the A-plus-rated Southwestern Christian School and the B-rated Yuma Catholic High. High school graduates may go on to attend the local community college, Arizona Western College, or satellite campuses for Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and University of Arizona.
Locals love watching football games at The Arizona Stadium in Yuma.
Arizona Western College is a public community college in Yuma, Arizona.
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Public art and annual traditions
There are over 100 public art installations around Yuma, including lots of handcrafted sculptures and colorful murals around downtown—the hub for Yuma’s art venues and annual events. At the Yuma Art Center, locals may take classes in painting and pottery or catch a live show at the center’s historic Yuma Theatre, a city staple since 1912. In January, the Yuma Medjool Date Festival is a downtown celebration of the city’s agricultural history and date farmers. “They’ll have live music and different ways of preparing dates, like bacon-wrapped dates,” Rosales says. In April, the Yuma County Fair is held at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, where over 100,000 festivalgoers enjoy a lively 6-day celebration of everything Yuma. “It’s a fair—lots of overpriced fried foods, rides for the kids and a demolition derby,” Rosales says.
The Hot Air Balloon Festival is a must-see event near Country Estates, AZ.
The Yuma Art Center has art exhibits and events near Avenue B and C in Arizona.
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Crime and environmental factors
According to FBI data, Yuma's rates of property and violent crime are slightly lower than state and national averages. Between 2013 and 2023, the total number of crimes reported in Yuma decreased by 52%.
Extreme heat and wildfires are ongoing environmental concerns here. Summer temperatures regularly top 100 degrees, and Rosales says locals adapt by limiting their time outside. “For four months out of the year, everything is an evening event—activities start after 7 p.m.” Rosales says. In May 2024, the Refuge Fire burned about 1,000 acres of vegetation near Martinez Lake, about 35 miles away. There are six fire stations in Yuma that respond to local emergencies.
Written By
Travis Rocha
Photography Contributed By
Kalina Mondzholovska
Video By
Chris Freeman
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Caleb Tuggle,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Yuma, AZ sell after 48 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Yuma, AZ over the last 12 months is $330,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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