Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The everyday basics are strong; the price of a home is the catch. Its strongest subject is health: it is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns. It is strong on incomes as well (A−): the median household earns $134K. What holds it back is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $758K, 8.6 years of the Phoenix metro’s $88K median household income. Hazard risk is weaker too (C−): FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than nearly three quarters of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Put together, the subjects come to a B+ overall, ranking 15th of 139 in Arizona. Nationally, it does better than 70% of U.S. towns. 52% of the land in New River is conserved, above both Arizona’s towns (14%) and U.S. towns (4.3%).
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow · FEMA National Risk Index · USGS PAD-US.
Where New River beats most towns.
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Mountain School | PK–8 | 438 |
| Stepping Stones Academy | K–8 | 221 |
| New River Elementary School | PK–6 | 162 |
14,952 counted in 2010 and 17,290 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arizona), ordered by how far New River is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 10,740 in 2000, 17,290 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2008 and 2 maps from 1964 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
New River is unincorporated, so Maricopa County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in New River.
New River has schools in the top 5% of Arizona, has a longer frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns and keeps more of its land conserved than most of Arizona.
At 8.6 years of the Phoenix metro’s $88K median household income, the typical home (about $758K) costs more against local pay than in 93% of Arizona towns; that ratio is one input to that grade. The median property tax bill is $3,357, against $1,879 across Arizona, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical rent for New River comes to $1,948 a month. Zillow values the typical New River home at about $758,000, up 1.8% in a year, 82% above the Arizona typical home. For households in the town, the share who live in a home they own is 95%.
| New River | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,948 a month | $1,190 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 95% | 76% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its A− ranks #6 of the 139 Arizona towns we grade for schools. Its A− for schools comes with a C− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $758K.
The Deer Valley Unified District runs its public schools. Two of its 3 schools are shown below, with the reason for each. 3 public schools serve New River, with 821 students in all.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Mountain SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 438 | A− |
| Stepping Stones AcademyTop results in townGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 221 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AZ on state tests and graduation
Its 18,536 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 85% of Arizona towns.
128 miles of trail wind through 4 parks and preserves. State Trust Land, at 13,903 acres with 80.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. In New River, the trail density is 2.3 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. State Trust Land | 80.3 mi | 13,903 |
| 2. New River Nature Reserve | 0.3 mi | 22 |
| 3. New River Community Park | 0.1 mi | 19 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Its widest gap with Arizona is tooth loss: 7.4% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 14.7% statewide. Against the 4,117 U.S. towns with household incomes like New River’s, it is healthier than 63%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
Among adults in New River, 20% have been diagnosed with depression. Against the Arizona average, New River comes out ahead on 12 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 3. 12% of adults in New River report frequent physical distress; 14% report frequent mental distress.
| New River | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 24% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 21% | 19% |
| What stands out | New River | AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.4% | 14.7% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.1% | 13.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11% | 8.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
New River has 2,262 jobs for its 8,034 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. The average commute takes 34 minutes, against 25.4 across Arizona.
Among 140 Arizona towns, just 5 have a higher middle household income than New River. Jobs based in New River grew to 2,262 in 2023, 1,150 more than in 2013. Also worth knowing: the town’s typical journey to work comes in at 34 minutes. Half of commuters travel less than 22 miles.
| New River | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 27% | 12% | 11% |
| Median household income | $134,000 | $68,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 34 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 12% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The median household earns $134,289, against $79,964 across Arizona, one input to its A− for jobs and income.
Nearly a third of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Arizona. Adults 18 to 34 are one in ten residents (23% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 49% of residents (36% statewide). In New River, the median age is 50.7 years.
| New River | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.7 years | 41.8 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 20% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 32% | 24% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 22% | 22% | 18% |
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3 points. Across Arizona, 50.1% of residents are women.
| New River | AZ | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.7% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4% | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.1% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.6% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 20.5% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 17.5% | 12% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14.9% | 10.8% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.8% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.3% | 10.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.2% | 23.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.1% | 23.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.9% | 9.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.1% | 20.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.5% | 13% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Of the losses FEMA expects in New River, 51% come from inland flooding and 28% from heat waves. Since 2014, New River has seen 6 flood insurance claims paid out.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The Carefree weather station, 11 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 313 days, longer than in 95% of U.S. towns. The Carefree weather station, 11 miles away, records that about 153 days a year reach 90°, more than in 99% of U.S. towns.
July afternoons reach 103°, January nights drop to 42° and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around New River. Close and well known come first.
Big draw27 mi Stadium & arenaState Farm Stadium
30 mi Stadium & arenaMortgage Matchup Center
30 mi Stadium & arenaChase Field
26 mi Stadium & arenaDesert Diamond Arena
33 mi Stadium & arenaMountain America Stadium
11 mi Park & preserveLake Pleasant Regional ParkState Farm Stadium: Taken by en:Flickr user MCSixth, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Mortgage Matchup Center: Troutfarm27, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chase Field: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tyler J. Bolken, Public domain · Desert Diamond Arena: Unknown, CC BY 2.0 · Mountain America Stadium: Clintus McGintus, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Lake Pleasant Regional Park: Tony the Marine (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
1 within 15 miles of the center of New River
About 3 of every 100 New River residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Arizona.
51.8% of the town is conserved land, across 4 parks and preserves.
CDP in Maricopa County, Arizona
New River is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The population was 17,290 as of the 2020 census, up from 14,952 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
3 towns share a border with New River.
| Town | AZ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New River | #15 | B+ | C− | — | A− | A |
| Phoenix | #65 | C+ | C | D | B+ | B+ |
| Anthem | #7 | A− | D | — | A− | A+ |
| Cave Creek | #13 | B+ | D | — | A− | A |
New River, Anthem and Cave Creek report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare New River with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
For most people who can afford it, yes. New River grades B+ overall, better than 70% of U.S. towns and #15 of 139 in Arizona. It grades A for health and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
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