AZMap-doton-Sun Lakes, 2006
Sun Lakes’s story
Sun Lakes in pictures
Census counts: 1,925 in 1980, 14,868 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2006 and 2 maps from 1914 on.
Explore the history →Sun LakesAZ
A town of 13,924. Public schools that outperform most of Arizona.
Population
13,924
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$455K
Census ACS
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
73.5
years
Jobs based here
2,188
A commuter town
TownGrade
B−
#57 of 139 in AZ
Is Sun Lakes a good place to live?
Sun Lakes grades B− overall, 57th of 139 graded towns in Arizona, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Its schools outperform 80% of the state's. On the other side, homes are expensive, about $455K for a typical one and 5.2 times the Phoenix metro’s $88K median household income. Only 2 of the 140 Arizona towns we compare have a higher median age than Sun Lakes.
What makes Sun Lakes stand out
Where Sun Lakes beats most towns.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Sun Lakes for work
Where Sun Lakes’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,188jobs based in Sun Lakes
4%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Sun Lakes grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arizona), ordered by how far Sun Lakes is from typical.
Cost of livingC−Open →SchoolsA−Open →HealthHealthier than 70% of U.S. towns; Banner Ocotillo Medical Center 5 miles awayB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.5 of 20; 4.6% of households have no car; 0.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Jobs & income$68K median household income; 2,188 jobs based hereBOpen →
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.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 58 attractions →State Farm Stadium and 52 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Sun Lakes. Close and well known come first.
Big draw31 mi Stadium & arenaState Farm Stadium
20 mi Stadium & arenaMortgage Matchup Center
20 mi Stadium & arenaChase Field
15 mi Stadium & arenaMountain America Stadium
32 mi Stadium & arenaDesert Diamond Arena
15 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 · 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 · Desert Diamond Arena: Unknown, CC BY 2.0 · Mullett Arena: Kyvuh, CC0
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Getting set up
Moving to Sun Lakes: who provides what
Sun Lakes is unincorporated, so Maricopa County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerCity of Mesa20.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPima Utilities2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMaricopa CountyMaricopa County provides services here
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 code8524885248 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 Lakes.
Sun Lakes has a longer frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and pairs an A− for schools with high home prices.
Who lives here
79% of residents are 65 or older
People 65 and older are 79% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 1% of residents (23% statewide). 40% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Arizona.
73.5median age · AZ 39
Sun LakesArizonaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
45%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school19%
Some college28%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s23%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
57% women, 43% men
About 74 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.5 points). Across Arizona, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 72.8, men 74.6.
| Sun Lakes | AZ | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 0.2% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 0% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 0.7% | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 0.7% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 0.8% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 4% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.8% | 12% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 34% | 10.8% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 44.9% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.2% | 10.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18.6% | 23.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 28.3% | 23.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.5% | 9.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.3% | 20.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16.2% | 13% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
SchoolsA−
Sun Lakes’ grade for schools is an A−
Its A− for schools comes with a C− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $455K.
Its one school is below.
80%of AZ districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risen Savior Lutheran School PrivateLargest elementary schoolGrades PK–K | Grades PK–K | 131 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AZ on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsB
Conserved land covers 0.3% of Sun Lakes
6.8 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The trail density in Sun Lakes is 1.3 miles per square mile. Among 136 Arizona towns, just 10 have a lower share of conserved land than Sun Lakes.
#59for trails in AZ
| Sun Lakes | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.3% | 15% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.3 miles per square mile | 1.1 | 0.4 |
0.3%
conserved · 9 of 3,446 acres
6.8 mi
of trails · 1.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sisk Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
With 0.6 jobs for every working resident, most of Sun Lakes’ workers commute out
Most working residents leave Sun Lakes for work: only 4% work in town. Sun Lakes’ average trip to work is 21 minutes. The top destinations are Phoenix (32%), Chandler (15%) and Scottsdale (9%).
4%work in town
| Sun Lakes | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.1% | 10% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Sun Lakes4%
Phoenix32%
Chandler15%
Scottsdale9%
Tempe9%
20 mi
median commute distance
2,188
jobs based in Sun Lakes
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 33% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
A smaller share of adults in Sun Lakes report frequent mental distress than in the typical Arizona or U.S. town
Against the 10,311 U.S. towns with household incomes like Sun Lakes’s, it is healthier than 89%, so its B+ isn’t only a matter of income.
8.6% of Sun Lakes adults report frequent mental distress. Among 140 Arizona towns, just 4 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Sun Lakes. 6.3% of Sun Lakes adults binge drink.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Sun Lakes | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 8.6% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 6.3% | 14% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 35% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 53% | 36% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Arizona
20 better4 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Sun Lakes | AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 3.4% | 12% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 2.2% | 7.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 22.7% | 8.8% |
Banner Ocotillo Medical Center
5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
63rd
percentile among AZ towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Sun Lakes, expect mild winters and hot summers
The Tempe Asu weather station, 15 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 298 days, longer than in 95% of U.S. towns. The Tempe Asu weather station, 15 miles away, records that about 179 days a year reach 90°, more than in 100% of U.S. towns.
Sun Lakes has mild winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 106°, January nights drop to 40° and snow is almost unheard of.
106°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter40–68°
Spring54–86°
Summer75–105°
Fall59–88°
Dec 5
typical first frost
Feb 13
typical last frost
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
106°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Sun Lakes
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 64% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Sun Lakes since 2014.
64risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat waves
1
paid flood claims since 2014
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C−
The median home in Sun Lakes sells for about $493K
72.5% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 51.4% across Arizona.
88% of households own their home in Sun Lakes.
$493Kmedian sale price
| Sun Lakes | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,938 a month | $1,190 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 88% | 76% | 73% |
Market temperature
70
days on market
96.7%
sale-to-list price
47
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sun Lakes
17pages on Sun Lakes
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
10 within 15 miles of the center of Sun Lakes
International Baptist College and SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Chandler4.1 mi$13,800 tuitionChandler-Gilbert Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Chandler6.9 mi$2,358 in-state tuitionArizona State University Campus ImmersionUniversity or college · Public · Tempe14.5 mi$12,223 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Sun Lakes residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Arizona.
About Sun Lakes
Census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Sun Lakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The population was 14,868 at the 2020 census. Sun Lakes is an active adult community comprising five country club communities in three homeowner associations. These include the gated communities of Oakwood and IronWood (IronOaks), the gated and non-gated communities of Palo Verde and Cottonwood (Cottonwood Palo Verde), and the non-gated community of Sun Lakes 1.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 5.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,194 ft
- Area code
- 480
Sun Lakes’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Sun Lakes.
ChandlerGoodyear VillageSun Lakes
How the neighbors grade
| Town | AZ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Lakes | #57 | B− | C− | — | A− | B+ |
| Chandler | #9 | A− | C− | B− | A− | A |
| Goodyear Village | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Sun Lakes reports no FBI crime data of its own. Goodyear Village isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Sun Lakes with a neighbor →
Questions about Sun Lakes
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sun Lakes, AZ a good place to live?
Sun Lakes grades B− overall, better than 45% of U.S. towns and #57 of 139 in Arizona. It grades B+ for health and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Sun Lakes, AZ expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $455,000, 9% above the Arizona typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.