Sun City West entrance sign, 2006
Sun City West’s story
Sun City West in pictures
Census counts: 3,772 in 1980, 25,806 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1957 on.
Explore the history →
Sun City WestAZ
A town of 27,425. Public schools that outperform most of Arizona.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Mark Wagner · CC BY 2.5
Population
27,425
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$375K
−1.5% in a year
Household income
$64K
median
Median age
74.8
years
Jobs based here
5,203
Balanced
TownGrade
B−
#35 of 139 in AZ
Is Sun City West a good place to live?
Sun City West is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades B− overall, 35th among Arizona's 139 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is schools: its public schools beat 73% of Arizona towns on state tests and graduation. It also does better than most on health: CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 70% of the country. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: the typical home is worth about $375K, 4.2 years of the Phoenix metro’s $88K median household income. 85% of residents are 65 or older in Sun City West, against 22% in Arizona’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns.
WeakestC−Hazard risk
What makes Sun City West stand out
Where Sun City West beats most towns.
1 schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Academy- the | 4–12 | 11 |
SchoolsB+
#21 of the 139 Arizona towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
32 measures vs. Arizona
21 better3 too close to call8 worse
| Widest gap | Sun City West | AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 3% | 12% |
HealthB+
Beats AZ on 21 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on 8
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
How Sun City West grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arizona), ordered by how far Sun City West is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →SchoolsB+Open →HealthBanner Del E. Webb Medical Center 1.2 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6 of 20; 4.2% of households have no car; 1.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Jobs & income$64K median household incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 105° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market64 days on market–Open →Who lives here–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Sun City West: who provides what
Sun City West is unincorporated, so Maricopa County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerCity of Mesa20.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEpcor - Sun City West water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMaricopa CountyMaricopa County provides services here
SchoolsDysart Unified DistrictPeoria Unified School District2 districts serve Sun City West; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Arizona you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMaricopa County RecorderMaricopa County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8537585375 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sun City West.
Sun City West has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and trades workers with Phoenix and other neighbors.
Who lives here
Compared with most of Arizona and the rest of the country, the median age in Sun City West is higher
Sun City West’s median age is 74.8 years. People 65 and older are 85% of residents (19% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 14% of residents (36% statewide). 35% of Sun City West adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more.
74.8median age · AZ 39
| Sun City West | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 74.8 years | 41.8 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 24% | 29% |
Sun City WestArizonaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
49%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school27%
Some college27%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
54.5% women, 45.5% men
About 83 men for every 100 women. Across Arizona, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 74.4, men 75.3.
| Sun City West | AZ | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 0.2% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 0.1% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 0.2% | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 0.7% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 0.4% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 2.2% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.2% | 12% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 35.9% | 10.8% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 49.1% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.8% | 10.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26.6% | 23.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 27.2% | 23.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.7% | 9.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.9% | 20.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.8% | 13% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
73%of AZ districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Academy- the PrivateLargest high schoolGrades 4–12 | Grades 4–12 | 11 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AZ on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsC−
0% of Sun City West is conserved land
31 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves. The trail density in Sun City West is 2.6 miles per square mile.
#18for trails in AZ
0%
conserved · 1 of 7,628 acres
31 mi
of trails · 2.6 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Sun City West
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Sun City West since 2005.
77risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat waves
1
paid flood claims since 2005
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Fewer of Sun City West’s adults report frequent mental distress than in the typical Arizona or U.S. town
Against the 9,680 U.S. towns with household incomes like Sun City West’s, it is healthier than 92%, so its B+ isn’t only a matter of income.
8.2% of adults report frequent mental distress in Sun City West. Only 5 of the 140 Arizona towns we compare have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Sun City West. 5.8% of adults binge drink in Sun City West.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Sun City West | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 8.2% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 5.8% | 14% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 35% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 20% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Arizona
21 better3 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Sun City West | AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 3% | 12% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 1.9% | 7.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 23.4% | 8.8% |
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center
1.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
65th
percentile among AZ towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Sun City West, expect mild winters and hot summers
The Youngtown weather station, 6 miles away, records that about 175 days a year reach 90°, more than in 99% of U.S. towns. January nights average 41.3°, milder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 105.3°.
Sun City West has warm winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
105°summer high
| Sun City West | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 105°F | 100°F | 85°F |
| January low | 41°F | 36°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter42–67°
Spring55–85°
Summer77–104°
Fall60–87°
Dec 15
typical first frost
Jan 20
typical last frost
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
105°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About one in three of Sun City West’s working residents commute to Phoenix
Sun City West has about as many jobs (5,203) as working residents, but only 400 people both live and work here.
Most working residents leave Sun City West for work: only 9% work in town. Jobs based in Sun City West grew to 5,203 in 2023, 628 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Phoenix (32%), Tempe (7%) and Scottsdale (6%).
9%work in town
| Sun City West | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $64,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Sun City West9%
Phoenix32%
Tempe7%
Scottsdale6%
Glendale5%
22 mi
median commute distance
5,203
jobs based in Sun City West
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 41% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C+
For cost of living, Sun City West earns a C+
The typical value, about $375K, is 13% below its August 2022 peak. 75.5% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 51.4% across Arizona.
The typical Sun City West home is worth about $375,000, down 1.5% in a year, 10% below the Arizona typical home.
$375KZillow home value
| Sun City West | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,672 a month | $1,190 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 88% | 76% | 73% |
Typical home value
Sun City West$375K
Arizona$417K
Market temperature
64
days on market
97.9%
sale-to-list price
−1.5%
value change, 1 year
95
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 55 attractions →State Farm Stadium and 52 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Sun City West. Close and well known come first.
Big draw11 mi Stadium & arenaState Farm Stadium
11 mi Stadium & arenaDesert Diamond Arena
23 mi Stadium & arenaMortgage Matchup Center
23 mi Stadium & arenaChase Field
30 mi Stadium & arenaMountain America Stadium
30 mi Stadium & arenaMullett ArenaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
State Farm Stadium: Taken by en:Flickr user MCSixth, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Desert Diamond Arena: Unknown, CC BY 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 · Mountain America Stadium: Clintus McGintus, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Mullett Arena: Kyvuh, CC0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sun City West
17pages on Sun City West
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
7 within 15 miles of the center of Sun City West
Ottawa University-SurpriseUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Surprise3 mi$35,880 tuitionMidwestern University-GlendaleUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Glendale10 miEstrella Mountain Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Avondale13.2 mi$2,358 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Sun City West residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Arizona.
About Sun City West
City in Arizona, United States
Sun City West is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The population was 25,806 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,234 ft
- ZIP code
- 85375, 85376
- Area code
- 623
Sun City West’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Sun City West.
SurpriseSun City West
How the neighbors grade
| Town | AZ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun City West | #35 | B− | C+ | — | B+ | B+ |
| Surprise | #18 | B+ | C | B | B+ | A− |
Sun City West reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Sun City West with a neighbor →
Questions about Sun City West
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sun City West, AZ a good place to live?
Sun City West grades B− overall, better than 54% of U.S. towns and #35 of 139 in Arizona. It grades B+ for health and B+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Sun City West, AZ expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.