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The 10 Worst Cities for Women in Arizona in 2026
As we step into 2026, the landscape for women in the workforce continues to evolve, yet significant challenges remain. Despite progress in many areas, women in Arizona still face disparities in earnings, management representation, and access to healthcare. This article explores the cities in Arizona where women encounter the most obstacles, providing valuable insights for job seekers and advocates alike.
We conducted an analysis of the worst (and best) cities for women in Arizona to highlight these disparities. The findings indicate that geography plays a critical role in the opportunities available to women.
Read on to discover where your city stands and how we assessed the worst cities for women in Arizona.
The 10 Worst Cities to Be a Woman in Arizona
These cities present the toughest environments for women in Arizona. Continue reading to understand the factors contributing to these rankings, or jump ahead to see which cities offer the best opportunities for women.
Methodology – How We Determined the Worst Cities for Women in Arizona
Each city was evaluated based on four key categories:
- Percentage of Women in Management (Lower is worse)
- Percentage of Women in Poverty (Higher is worse)
- Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s Earnings (Lower is worse)
- Percentage of Uninsured Women (Lower is worse)
To assess the income gap between women and men in each city, we utilized data from the Census American Community Survey. We calculated the ratio of median male income to median female income to determine how much women earn per dollar earned by men.
For the poverty statistics, we focused on women living without relatives to provide a clearer picture of their economic situation, using data from the ACS. This approach yields a higher poverty rate because it excludes married women, who may have combined incomes.
The percentage of women in management was also derived from the ACS, highlighting women’s representation in leadership roles, which is crucial for career advancement.
Finally, we again referenced the ACS for data on uninsured women in each city.
Our analysis included only Arizona cities with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Avra Valley
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.63
Women in Management: 24.1%
Women in Poverty: 21.5%
Uninsured Women: 15.8%
Avra Valley ranks as the worst city for women in Arizona due to consistently low scores across all categories. Women here face significant challenges related to poverty and lack of healthcare coverage.
2. South Tucson
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.82
Women in Management: 13.2%
Women in Poverty: 38.9%
Uninsured Women: 16.0%
South Tucson is the second worst city for women, with high poverty rates and low management representation indicating significant economic disparities.
3. Verde Village
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.60
Women in Management: 36.9%
Women in Poverty: 19.4%
Uninsured Women: 14.1%
While some statistics show a brighter side, Verde Village still faces challenges with a significant percentage of women living in poverty and a lower management representation.
4. Tolleson
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.69
Women in Management: 31.0%
Women in Poverty: 22.7%
Uninsured Women: 11.6%
Tolleson ranks fourth, with a concerning percentage of uninsured women and a high poverty rate among solo female residents.
5. Williamson
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.54
Women in Management: 9.4%
Women in Poverty: 7.3%
Uninsured Women: 11.4%
Williamson ranks fifth, offering slightly better management opportunities but still facing challenges in income and insurance coverage for women.
6. Sierra Vista Southeast
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.50
Women in Management: 20.3%
Women in Poverty: 11.9%
Uninsured Women: 6.4%
Sierra Vista Southeast ranks sixth, with a high percentage of women at risk of living in poverty. The overall economic conditions remain challenging.
7. Doney Park
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.65
Women in Management: 31.2%
Women in Poverty: 10.1%
Uninsured Women: 11.5%
Doney Park presents a tough environment for women, with high poverty rates and a significant earnings gap compared to their male counterparts.
8. San Luis
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.67
Women in Management: 58.7%
Women in Poverty: 30.3%
Uninsured Women: 18.0%
San Luis has a high percentage of women in management, yet they still face significant poverty rates and low earnings compared to men.
9. Camp Verde
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.88
Women in Management: 23.8%
Women in Poverty: 23.3%
Uninsured Women: 11.3%
In Camp Verde, women earn $0.88 for every male dollar, with a notable percentage living in poverty and lacking health insurance coverage.
10. Summit
How Much Women Make for Every Male Dollar Earned: $0.64
Women in Management: 79.8%
Women in Poverty: 32.0%
Uninsured Women: 18.3%
Summit rounds out the list with a high percentage of women in management, yet a significant portion still contend with poverty and lack of health insurance.
Summary of the Worst Cities to Be a Woman in Arizona
These cities represent the most challenging environments for women in Arizona, highlighting ongoing issues of inequality and access to resources. The disparities between cities illustrate the need for continued advocacy and policy changes to improve the situation for women statewide.
While the rankings show a significant gap in earnings and management representation, it is essential to remember that each woman’s experience is unique. Nevertheless, the data underscores the systemic challenges that many women face in these locales.
Explore the detailed list below to see the full scope of where women in Arizona stand.
Detailed List of the Worst Cities for Women in Arizona
| Rank | Place | Pay Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avra Valley | $0.63 |
| 2 | South Tucson | $0.82 |
| 3 | Verde Village | $0.60 |
| 4 | Tolleson | $0.69 |
| 5 | Williamson | $0.54 |
| 6 | Sierra Vista Southeast | $0.50 |
| 7 | Doney Park | $0.65 |
| 8 | San Luis | $0.67 |
| 9 | Camp Verde | $0.88 |
| 10 | Summit | $0.64 |
| 11 | Yuma | $0.69 |
| 12 | Douglas | $1.20 |
| 13 | Show Low | $0.56 |
| 14 | Globe | $0.74 |
| 15 | Nogales | $0.76 |
| 16 | Wickenburg | $0.58 |
| 17 | Cave Creek | $0.55 |
| 18 | Mesa | $0.76 |
| 19 | Somerton | $0.70 |
| 20 | Rio Rico | $0.65 |
| 21 | Picture Rocks | $0.88 |
| 22 | Phoenix | $0.86 |
| 23 | Page | $0.76 |
| 24 | Chinle | $1.13 |
| 25 | Queen Creek | $0.48 |
| 26 | Glendale | $0.82 |
| 27 | Tucson | $0.83 |
| 28 | Chino Valley | $1.04 |
| 29 | Tucson Estates | $0.85 |
| 30 | Drexel Heights | $0.76 |
| 31 | Fort Mohave | $0.71 |
| 32 | Tempe | $0.85 |
| 33 | Flagstaff | $0.76 |
| 34 | Flowing Wells | $0.89 |
| 35 | Prescott Valley | $0.67 |
| 36 | New Kingman-Butler | $0.77 |
| 37 | Saddlebrooke | $0.53 |
| 38 | Three Points | $0.92 |
| 39 | Avondale | $0.80 |
| 40 | Winslow | $0.80 |
| 41 | Fortuna Foothills | $0.56 |
| 42 | Goodyear | $0.68 |
| 43 | Casas Adobes | $0.68 |
| 44 | Cottonwood | $0.85 |
| 45 | Arizona City | $0.73 |
| 46 | Payson | $0.76 |
| 47 | Paradise Valley | $0.33 |
| 48 | Scottsdale | $0.68 |
| 49 | Sahuarita | $0.56 |
| 50 | Gilbert | $0.63 |
| 51 | Casa Grande | $0.77 |
| 52 | Vail | $0.60 |
| 53 | Kingman | $0.97 |
| 54 | Oro Valley | $0.56 |
| 55 | Catalina | $0.60 |
| 56 | Eloy | $1.31 |
| 57 | Sierra Vista | $0.60 |
| 58 | Lake Havasu | $0.79 |
| 59 | Marana | $0.59 |
| 60 | New River | $0.71 |
| 61 | Citrus Park | $0.64 |
| 62 | Youngtown | $0.94 |
| 63 | Tuba City | $1.03 |
| 64 | Rincon Valley | $0.51 |
| 65 | San Tan Valley | $0.69 |
| 66 | Chandler | $0.74 |
| 67 | Sedona | $0.98 |
| 68 | Maricopa | $0.69 |
| 69 | El Mirage | $0.89 |
| 70 | Buckeye | $0.83 |
| 71 | Catalina Foothills | $0.56 |
| 72 | Peoria | $0.75 |
| 73 | Apache Junction | $0.79 |
| 74 | Coolidge | $0.76 |
| 75 | Prescott | $0.74 |
| 76 | Surprise | $0.75 |
| 77 | Gold Canyon | $0.84 |
| 78 | Corona De Tucson | $0.60 |
| 79 | Lake Montezuma | $0.94 |
| 80 | Bullhead City | $0.86 |
| 81 | Valencia West | $0.69 |
| 82 | Florence | $1.48 |
| 83 | Anthem | $0.64 |
| 84 | Golden Valley | $0.93 |
| 85 | Village Of Oak | $0.92 |
| 86 | Fountain Hills | $0.53 |
| 87 | Safford | $0.72 |
| 88 | Green Valley | $0.66 |
| 89 | Sun City | $0.69 |
| 90 | Litchfield Park | $0.82 |
| 91 | Tanque Verde | $0.68 |
| 92 | Sun City | $0.93 |
| 93 | Sun Lakes | $0.74 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
