City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Carefree, AZ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Carefree - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,672
Residents
$141,331
Median income
$1,066,600
Median home
$1,839
Median rent (state)

Carefree - the verdict

Nationally, Carefree sits in the 93rd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

93rd
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
77th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Carefree, AZ

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,672 residents in Carefree, a small town within Arizona. Carefree households earn a median of $141,331 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 10.8%. Carefree's housing stock carries a median value of $1,066,600, and the median resident age is 64.5 years. Educational attainment runs 61.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 41.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 19 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 27% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 70.6°F with 12.6 inches of precipitation per year.

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,839 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across Arizona, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

3,672 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$141,331 /yr

Poverty 10.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Carefree compare to other US cities?

Where Carefree sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 93% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 77% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Carefree against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Arizona only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Arizona-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Carefree's strongest outlier among Arizona cities

Among the 327 Arizona cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Carefree ranks #2 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Carefree only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#4 of 333
99th percentile in Arizona
Median Gross Rent
#29 of 394
71st percentile in Arizona
Median Home Value
#2 of 327
99th percentile in Arizona
Poverty Rate
#177 of 393
54th percentile in Arizona
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#10 of 394
97th percentile in Arizona

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Arizona only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

93rdIncome percentile

93rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Carefree's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,066,600 2nd percentile more affordable than 2% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Carefree $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Carefree, AZ Carefree, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Carefree, AZ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Carefree, AZ median $141,331/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Carefree, AZ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Carefree, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 61.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 41.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,672
Median Income
$141,331
Median Home Value
$1,066,600
Median Age
64.5
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Labor force participation
41.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
61.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
70.6°F
Annual Precipitation
12.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,550 residents3,600 residents3,650 residents3,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,685 residents 3,600 residents ▼ -2.3%
Carefree's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
19
housing units authorized
Single-Family
19
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 15
2020 17
2021 15
2022 24
2023 8
2024 19

Permit volume increased 27% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
44.3%
Carpool
1.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.1%
Work from Home
50.9%

Based on 1,334 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arizona - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$34
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arizona state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arizona state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Carefree sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.7
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,839/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arizona

Fort Defiance
3,614 people
Ajo
3,783 people
Avenue B and C
3,831 people
Clifton
3,845 people
St. Johns
3,409 people
Parker
3,379 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Carefree's 3,672 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bajadero comunidad, PR
3,672 people
Putnam Lake, NY
3,673 people
Eastlawn Gardens, PA
3,671 people
Guilford, PA
3,673 people
Hemlock Farms, PA
3,671 people
Leo-Cedarville, IN
3,670 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Carefree's $141,331 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hamorton, PA
$141,329 median income
The Woodlands, TX
$141,353 median income
Dayton, NJ
$141,308 median income
Northport, NY
$141,378 median income
Rehoboth Beach, DE
$141,250 median income
Buckeystown, MD
$141,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Carefree, AZ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Carefree, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 96.9% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Carefree compares to nearby Arizona cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Carefree (this city) 3,672 $141,331
Fort Defiance 3,614 $56,250
Ajo 3,783 $56,364
Avenue B and C 3,831 $40,554
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ NOAA Normals Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Carefree, AZ?

What is the population of Carefree, AZ? +

3,672 people live in Carefree, AZ according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Carefree, AZ? +

In Carefree, the typical household earns $141,331 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Carefree? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Carefree; the closest available measure is the Arizona state average, a cost of living index of 100.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arizona vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Carefree, AZ? +

Carefree's median home value sits at $1,066,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Carefree? +

Climate normals put Carefree's yearly average temperature at 70.6°F, 12.6 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.