Cities and Towns
This guide provides a clear overview of the cities and towns in Maricopa County, with population figures arranged from the largest municipality to the smallest. It can help residents, people planning a move, property researchers, and visitors quickly compare communities across the county and understand how population is distributed among its incorporated cities and towns.
Maricopa County Cities and Towns by Population
Maricopa County contains 24 incorporated cities and towns with substantial differences in population and community size. Phoenix is by far the largest municipality in the county, while several smaller towns have populations below 10,000. The table below uses 2026 population figures and is sorted from highest to lowest population.
| City | Population |
|---|---|
| Phoenix | 1,677,947 |
| Mesa | 515,855 |
| Gilbert | 291,713 |
| Chandler | 279,399 |
| Glendale | 262,540 |
| Scottsdale | 243,713 |
| Peoria | 202,571 |
| Tempe | 191,590 |
| Surprise | 181,107 |
| Buckeye | 131,812 |
| Goodyear | 130,332 |
| Avondale | 102,760 |
| Queen Creek | 95,338 |
| El Mirage | 35,899 |
| Fountain Hills | 23,624 |
| Paradise Valley | 12,205 |
| Tolleson | 9,737 |
| Wickenburg | 8,493 |
| Youngtown | 7,029 |
| Litchfield Park | 6,708 |
| Cave Creek | 5,222 |
| Guadalupe | 5,052 |
| Carefree | 3,588 |
| Gila Bend | 1,803 |
Largest Communities in Maricopa County
Phoenix is the county's largest city, with a 2026 population of 1,677,947. Its population is more than three times that of Mesa, the second-largest municipality at 515,855 residents. Gilbert, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Peoria also rank among the county's major population centers, each exceeding 200,000 residents.
Tempe and Surprise form the next population tier, with more than 180,000 residents each. Buckeye and Goodyear have also grown into sizable communities, both exceeding 130,000 residents. Avondale is above 100,000, while Queen Creek is approaching that level with a population of 95,338.
Smaller Cities and Towns
Outside the largest population centers, Maricopa County includes a number of smaller incorporated communities. El Mirage has 35,899 residents, followed by Fountain Hills with 23,624 and Paradise Valley with 12,205. These municipalities are considerably smaller than the county's major cities but remain distinct incorporated communities with their own local identities.
Several places have populations below 10,000. Tolleson has 9,737 residents, Wickenburg has 8,493, and Youngtown has 7,029. Litchfield Park, Cave Creek, Guadalupe, Carefree, and Gila Bend also fall within this smaller-community group. Gila Bend is the least-populated incorporated municipality in the county, with 1,803 residents.
City and Town Designations
Although people often use the word “city” as a general term for incorporated communities, Maricopa County includes both cities and towns. Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, Peoria, Tempe, Surprise, Buckeye, Goodyear, Avondale, El Mirage, Tolleson, and Litchfield Park are designated as cities. Gilbert, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, Wickenburg, Youngtown, Cave Creek, Guadalupe, Carefree, and Gila Bend are designated as towns.
Population Differences Across the County
The population range among Maricopa County municipalities is unusually broad. The county includes a major city with more than 1.6 million residents, several communities with populations above 200,000, fast-growing suburban municipalities above 100,000, and small towns with only a few thousand residents. This range is useful to keep in mind when comparing housing markets, local services, development patterns, commuting needs, and the general scale of different communities within the county.