Jerome, AZ

Perched high on Cleopatra Hill above the Verde Valley, Jerome is one of the most distinctive hillside communities in Arizona. With fewer than 500 year-round residents, the former mining camp clings to steep mountain slopes where historic brick storefronts, wooden staircases, and vintage cottages look out over the valley below. Living here means navigating winding switchback streets, taking in panoramic views of the Sedona red rocks in the distance, and settling into a colorful, tight-knit neighborhood.

ATTRBenjamin Cody / CC BY-SA 3.0

After the copper smelters closed in the 1950s, artists and preservationists stepped in to fill the old downtown buildings with galleries, wine-tasting rooms, and locally owned restaurants. Weekdays around town are quiet and relaxed, though weekends bring a steady stream of visitors exploring along Highway 89A. For everyday conveniences, major grocery runs, and local schools, residents make the fifteen-minute drive down the mountain to neighboring Clarkdale and Cottonwood, making Jerome an appealing choice for anyone seeking dramatic scenery, historic charm, and a creative small-town pace.