Phoenix
Although surrounded by inhospitable desert, Phoenix is one of the largest cities in the United States, and the nation’s single largest state capital city. The area contains numerous galleries and museums, putting the people in contact with everything from the European masters to Native American craftsmanship to modern originals from Phoenix’s diverse artistic community. The Downtown cultural scene has developed into a top-notch feast of visual and performing arts, with symphony performances, live theater, and the popular First Friday exhibitions. Phoenix is also an excellent city for sports fans, being one of the few cities in America with local franchises in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Several thousand students attend the two Arizona State University campuses in the city, as well as the over-50,000 who attend the main campus in neighboring Tempe. Rental rates for apartments average around $1000 per month, but numerous more affordable options are available all over the city, from quiet houses for rent in the suburbs to downtown efficiency apartments. Getting around Phoenix is typically done by car for most residents, but a light rail system makes it easy to get across town without a personal vehicle; Downtown and its surrounding areas are quite walkable as well.
Mesa
Mesa is the most populous U.S. city that isn't a county seat, and that distinction hints at something real about the place: it plays by its own rules. Stretching 143 square miles across the Sonoran Desert, Arizona's third-largest city sits in the East Valley of the Phoenix metro, with Tempe to the west and the dramatic Superstition Mountains anchoring the eastern horizon. Mesa Community College and Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus give the city a steady academic pulse, while major employers like Boeing near Falcon Field, Banner Desert Medical Center, and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport drive a broad economic base. Neighborhoods range from the established, lake-lined streets of Dobson Ranch to the newer developments of Eastmark and the Gateway district, offering something well-suited to just about every lifestyle. Downtown Mesa anchors cultural life with the Mesa Arts Center, an acclaimed performing and visual arts venue that draws visitors year-round. Renters will find a range of options across the city, from gated apartment communities with resort-style amenities to spacious townhomes and garden-style rentals that deliver elbow room without sacrificing access to the greater Valley.
Denver
Established in the mid-1800s as a mining town during the Gold Rush, Denver embraces its Western heritage along with a forward-thinking mindset. Larimer Square is a testament to Denver’s balance of old and new, boasting rows of creative restaurants, independent shops, and vibrant nightlife spots in Victorian-era buildings downtown. Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is renowned for its great outdoor adventures. Residents enjoy more than 5,000 acres of parks, trails, golf courses, and playgrounds as well as convenience to Red Rocks Park and Cherry Creek State Park. Denver is proximate to world-class skiing and snowboarding opportunities just outside the city too. City center skyrises provide incredible views of the mountains to the west, while spacious suburbs with single-family rentals make for the perfect place to set down roots. Cultural amenities abound in Denver, including the Denver Botanic Gardens, Union Station, Ogden Theatre, Denver Zoo, Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Denver is also home to five major sports teams—the NFL’s Denver Broncos, MLB’s Colorado Rockies, NBA’s Denver Nuggets, NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, and MLS’s Colorado Rapids.
