Rent vs buy in Prescott Valley, AZ
In Prescott Valley, Arizona, a typical rent is $1,793 /mo and a typical home $454,799.
Renting comes out ahead by $11k over 7 years
The figures use Prescott Valley's typical rent, along with its home value, and assume today's mortgage rate and a 20% down payment. Break-even comes in year 9.
Our take, clearly marked, with the math shown. Numbers here are estimates, not quotes. Changing any number changes the stamp.
- Renting leads by
- $11k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- Year 9 when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- $3,733 a month year 1, against $1,793 rent
Change my numbers
The stamp relies on typical rent and home value figures for Prescott Valley's local market. Your rent, price and years can change the result.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Prescott Valley?
Across 7 years, renting costs $10,638 less, counting the money you get back when you sell. For the first 8 years, renting costs less. In year 9, owning catches up.
Rent. Buy. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Prescott Valley
A rent payment and a mortgage payment don't cover the whole story. Here's every monthly cost for year 1, based on Prescott Valley's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,793 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,480 | $2,186 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $163 | 0.43% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $77 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $379 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,099 | $294 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $739 | The yearly return on that cash, at 8.3% a year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $189 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,733 | Cash out, less the equity share, plus the two lines above |
The math behind the Prescott Valley verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $454,799
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,793 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Arizona, 1995 to 2025
- 5.2% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Prescott Valley
- 0.43% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Prescott Valley
- $77 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would change the result in Prescott Valley?
Each line marks where the 7-year verdict changes in Prescott Valley, with everything else held as it is.
Renting wins in these cases
- Home prices rise by less than 5.5% a year (our calculation applies 5.2%, Arizona's rate over the long run).
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.83%.
- For a home like this, monthly rent is below $1,910 (typical here: $1,793).
- Moving before year 9.
Buying wins in these cases
- Home prices grow at more than 5.5% a year.
- Today's rate is 7.24%, and you lock one below 6.83%.
- You would pay more than $1,910 a month to rent the same home.
- Your stay would last 9 years or longer.
Prescott Valley compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Prescott Valley | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $454,799 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,793 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 21.1 (#286 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.43% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 28% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Arizona
- Rent. In Phoenix, AZ, renting is ahead by $14k.
- Toss-up. Buying leads by $672 in Tucson, AZ.
- Rent. In Mesa, AZ, renting is ahead by $24k.
- Rent wins. Gilbert, AZ: renting wins by $26k.
- Rent wins. Chandler, AZ: renting wins by $25k.
- Rent wins. Glendale, AZ: renting wins by $17k.
- Rent wins. Scottsdale, AZ: renting wins by $129k.
- Rent wins. Peoria, AZ: renting wins by $17k.
- Rent. In Tempe, AZ, renting comes out ahead by $31k.
- Buying comes out ahead in Surprise, AZ, by $18k.
- Rent. Renting has the advantage in Goodyear, AZ, worth $28k.
- Buy. In Buckeye, AZ, buying leads by $29k.