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Living in
Sun City.
Sun City 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 Sun City
If you're retiring and moving to Arizona, Sun City will feel familiar immediately—it's built entirely around that lifestyle, with golf courses, lawn bowling clubs, and recreation centers woven throughout. That said, living here means accepting that you're in a place designed for one life stage: nearly 76% of residents are seniors, so if you're younger or raising kids, the social fabric won't match your needs. The job market exists but isn't robust—unemployment is manageable at 3.8%, though opportunities are limited if you need work.
Sun City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
72.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Foreign-Born
5.5%
Broadband Internet
89.8%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.5% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Sun City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sun City, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (22.1%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
1.3%
of residents
65 and Older
74.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
1.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
46.4%
of households
Married Couples
40.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.63
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 about average for AZ
Rent, home values, and income in Sun City
In Sun City, home values are 29% below the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$977
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
84.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $295,702 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below AZ average
Unemployment in Sun City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Maricopa County, which includes Sun City, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
Sun City: Maricopa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Maricopa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Sun City is less than 1% of Maricopa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Sun City 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
Commute24.1 min avg
How Sun City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sun City, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 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 Sun City, 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 Sun City, 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
Sun City 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 Sun City, 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
Sun City is less than 1% of Maricopa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate104°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sun City has hot summers (avg high 104°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
85°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
104°/77°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
86°/60°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
9.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
176
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
4
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
31
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 41°F | 0.98" |
| Feb | 69°F | 44°F | 1.25" |
| Mar | 77°F | 49°F | 1.03" |
| Apr | 84°F | 55°F | 0.29" |
| May | 93°F | 64°F | 0.11" |
| Jun | 102°F | 72°F | 0.03" |
| Jul | 105°F | 80°F | 0.84" |
| Aug | 104°F | 79°F | 0.97" |
| Sep | 98°F | 73°F | 0.74" |
| Oct | 87°F | 60°F | 0.59" |
| Nov | 74°F | 48°F | 0.61" |
| Dec | 64°F | 40°F | 0.90" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sun City
Sun City has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Banner Boswell Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Banner Boswell Medical Center · 13632 N 99th Ave
- Outpatient center: Banner Health Clinic · 10401 W Thunderbird Blvd, Sun City
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Destiny Springs Healthcare
Psychiatric · 3.6 mi away · Surprise
Abrazo Arrowhead Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Glendale
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Sun City West
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education26.0% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in Sun City
Public Schools
0
none inside city limits; students attend nearby district schools
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sun City (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 73,371 students · in-state tuition $17,900 · 44% graduate · median earnings $50,609 (10 yrs after entry)
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc
12.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 1,957 students · 72% graduate · median earnings $62,466 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix
9.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 1,229 students · in-state tuition $26,733 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,165 students · in-state tuition $35,348 · 48% graduate · median earnings $55,315 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 836 students · in-state tuition $36,550 · 33% graduate · median earnings $59,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 712 students · 55% graduate · median earnings $37,804 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, 61 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sun City
Sun City has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (61 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
61 mi awayTonto National Monument
National Monument
67 mi awayMontezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
74 mi awayTuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sun City
Fairway Branch Library
10600 W Peoria Ave, Sun City
Sun City Branch Library
16828 N 99th Ave, Sun City
Cities Near Sun City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sun City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sun City FAQ
Is Sun City, Arizona affordable?⌄
Sun City's median rent is $1,569/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $54,586/year. Median home value is $280,900.
Is Sun City, Arizona safe?⌄
Sun City 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 Sun City, Arizona?⌄
Maricopa County, which includes Sun City, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sun City, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in Sun City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,569/month and median household income is $54,586/year. The median home value is $280,900. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sun City, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in Sun City is 24 minutes, which is about 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