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Living in
New River.
New River is an unincorporated community in Maricopa County, AZ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in New River
About 36 miles north of Phoenix, New River feels like you've stepped back into a quieter version of the Valley while still having access to the city when you need it. The median household income sits at $134,000+, and the job market is solid with just a 3.8 percent unemployment rate, though most people do commute into Phoenix or surrounding areas (plan on about 33 minutes on average). What keeps people here is the actual lifestyle.
New River at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
50.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Foreign-Born
2.6%
Broadband Internet
96.8%
of households
Median household income
Demographics2.6% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in New River: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In New River, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (32.2%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.7%
of residents
65 and Older
21.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.6%
of households
Married Couples
66.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% above AZ average
Rent, home values, and income in New River
In New River, rent runs 26% above the AZ average, and home values are 62% above the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,357
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
94.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $758,272 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below AZ average
Unemployment in New River and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Maricopa County, which includes New River, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
New River: Maricopa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Maricopa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
New River is less than 1% of Maricopa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What New River Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metro area
Commute34 min avg
How New River residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In New River, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 33% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Major hub25.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 24% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in the area policed by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, which covers New River, runs 24% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
276.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
901.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Policed by Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 44 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Maricopa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Maricopa County, which includes New River, the most common type is flash flood, with 44 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.9M |
| 2024 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.8M |
| 2023 | 58 | Heat | $7.8M |
| 2022 | 106 | Flash Flood | $6.8M |
| 2021 | 77 | Thunderstorm Wind | $29.5M |
| 2020 | 55 | Heat | $1.5M |
| 2019 | 90 | Heat | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 120 | Flash Flood | $4.5M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Maricopa County, county-wide
New River is less than 1% of Maricopa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality73 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Maricopa County, which includes New River, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
73
Good Days
32
per year
Moderate Days
295
per year
Unhealthy Days
6
per year
Maricopa County, county-wide
New River is less than 1% of Maricopa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate104°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
New River has hot summers (avg high 104°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
85°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
104°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
89°/60°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
70°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
155
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
4
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
27
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°F | 43°F | 2.03" |
| Feb | 71°F | 45°F | 2.15" |
| Mar | 77°F | 49°F | 1.55" |
| Apr | 84°F | 54°F | 0.40" |
| May | 93°F | 62°F | 0.18" |
| Jun | 102°F | 70°F | 0.06" |
| Jul | 105°F | 77°F | 1.34" |
| Aug | 104°F | 77°F | 2.31" |
| Sep | 99°F | 71°F | 1.14" |
| Oct | 89°F | 60°F | 0.93" |
| Nov | 78°F | 50°F | 0.74" |
| Dec | 68°F | 43°F | 1.45" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in New River
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside New River's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Honorhealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · Phoenix
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in New River
New River's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 31.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Montezuma Castle National Monument, 52 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for New River
New River has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Montezuma Castle National Monument (52 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Montezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
52 mi awayTuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
60 mi awayTonto National Monument
National Monument
62 mi awayCasa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awayWalnut Canyon National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayCities Near New River
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to New River?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
New River FAQ
Is New River, Arizona affordable?⌄
New River's median rent is $1,948/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $134,289/year. Median home value is $640,600.
Is New River, Arizona safe?⌄
New River is policed by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 277 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is below the national average of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 901 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in New River, Arizona?⌄
Maricopa County, which includes New River, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in New River, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in New River is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,948/month and median household income is $134,289/year. The median home value is $640,600. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in New River, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in New River is 34 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from