WalletHub analyzed 182 U.S. cities using 31 factors to determine the strength of local job markets – from job openings per applicant and employment growth, to the average starting salary each month. Scottsdale finished number one for jobs in 2025, in large part because it boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, Scottsdale also provides a good quality of life, ranking seventh among the best cities for recreation and 12th among the best cities for families. It’s also a safe place to live, with the 11th lowest violent crime rate in the U.S. Other metro Phoenix cites scoring high were Chandler at 14, Gilbert at 28, Tempe was 30, Peoria 33, Mesa 55, Phoenix 72, and Glendale 80 What city was the worst? Detroit finished dead last at 182.
