City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Best Cities Overall Rank: 44
About Phoenix: The Phoenix Zoo is the largest, privately owned nonprofit zoo in the country, founded by appliance magnate Robert E. Maytag.
Phoenix has an average rainfall of 7.66 inches, an average annual temperature of 72.6 degrees, and an annual high temperature of 85 degrees.
Phoenix, located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, boasts 40,454 acres of parkland, ranking it 88 amongst our recreational cities. America's fifth-largest city also acts as the gateway to the Grand Canyon.
County: Maricopa
Population: 1,567,924
Official website for city visitors' bureau/city: Visitor's bureau city
Newspaper with the largest circulation: Arizona Republic
Phoenix blogs: AZ Central
Phoenix's Facebook page: Follow Phoenix on Facebook
Phoenix's Twitter page: Follow Phoenix on Twitter
Education rank: 86
High School graduation rate 2008: 76%
Blue Ribbon Schools, 2003-2009: 3
Blue Ribbon Schools per 100,000 people: 0.19
NEAYC-accredited preschools: 28
NAEYC schools per 100,000 people: 1.786
NAEP State proficiency reading, grade 8: 258
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 17.79
Total Expenditures Per Student: $12,871
Health rank: 75
Quality children's hospitals: 3
Hospitals per 100,000 people: 0.19
Quality Pediatricians: 2
Quality Pediatricians per 100,000: 0.13
Average number of Unhealthy Air Quality days between 2006-2008, by county: 3.33
Safety rank: 11
Violent Crimes, 2008: 10,465
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000: 667.44
Sex Offenders: 807
Sex Offenders per 100,000: 51.47
Economy rank: 87
Travel time to work, 2006-2008, in minutes: 25.3
Percent of labor force unemployed, January 2010: 9.19
Best Performing Cities Job Index: 952.96
Median Home Sale Price: $123,800
5-Year Home Value Index: -6.62%
Percent of homes sold for a loss: 46.96%
Recreation Rank: 14
Parkland acreage, 2008 (includes pools and playgrounds): 40,454
Parkland per 100,000: 2580.09
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