Home ownership picks up steam in East Valley cities, analysis shows

By Joanne Drilling and Mignon A. Gould

Even with an affordability crisis, elevated interest rates and investors in the housing market, several Arizona cities have seen a sharp rise in home ownership, including Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale and Mesa.

That's according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by PropertyShark, which found the national home ownership rate in 2024 held steady at 65.4%. The rate reflects the share of housing units occupied by the property owner.

Arizona, which ranked No. 3 among states for home ownership, came in higher than the national rate at 67.7% owner-occupied — a slight increase from 67.4% in 2023.

The data also reveals that in the past 10 years there was a minor increase in residence occupancy in Gilbert (1%) and Scottsdale (1.3%), while the increase was more substantial in Chandler (10.3%) and Mesa (7.1%). This is in stark comparison to the difference from five years ago when the combined average differential in occupancy for the cities was -1.8%.

The trend of increased home ownership in the Valley aligns with Arizona ranking as the No. 6 growth state of 2024 in a study by Phoenix-based U-Haul on migration trends. It also tracks with Arizona remaining as one of the fastest-growing states in the country based on recent Census Bureau data.

Per the PropertyShark study, affordable housing and pandemic-era migration may have fueled some of the most substantial growth. Home ownership gained traction in Arizona as one of the states that has seen a surge in migration since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of the top 10 cities with the highest home ownership rates in the Southwest, four were in the Grand Canyon State: Gilbert (70.7%), Chandler (68.3%), Scottsdale (66.2%) and Mesa (66.2%), all higher than the national average of 65.4%.

The popularity of the Valley enclaves is also due in part to people choosing to move away from city centers in favor of "tighter-knit communities," according to a January report from Opendoor on the hottest ZIP codes.

While all four of the top Arizona communities showed growth over time, Arizona also came out on top when looking at the change in home ownership over the past 10 years. Chandler (10.3-point gain) was tied with North Las Vegas for the top spot, followed closely by New Orleans (10-point gain).

Looking at the past five years only, Mesa recorded the most significant increase in home ownership out of all four Arizona cities, at 3.2 points, while Gilbert lagged behind at -5 points.

Final Thoughts

If you're considering a move to Arizona, the East Valley is quickly becoming one of the hottest homeownership destinations in the country. With Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, and Scottsdale all surpassing the national homeownership rate, it's clear that buyers—despite rising mortgage rates—see the long-term value in investing here.

Why? Job growth, affordability (compared to coastal markets), and a lifestyle that blends suburban comfort with city convenience. The migration trend is real—Arizona ranks #6 in U-Haul’s growth study, and these East Valley cities are seeing the biggest homeownership gains.