Census-designated place · Arizona
Sun City, Arizona
Sun City, census-designated place, in Maricopa County, Arizona. Sun City had 37,486 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,537). GEOID 0470320.
Residents, 2020-2024
37,486
±1,537 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 39,931
Median household income
$54,586
±$2,548 (90% margin)
Arizona: $79,964
Median home value
$280,900
±$6,777 (90% margin)
Arizona: $394,500
Median gross rent
$1,569
±$96 (90% margin)
Arizona: $1,543
Where is Sun City and what county is it in?
Sun City is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Maricopa County, Arizona. It covers 14.4 square miles of land, 2,770 residents per square mile in 2020.
Sun City is in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Sun City, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Sun City's population at 37,486 (±1,537). The 2020 Census counted 39,931 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Sun City is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Sun City | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 37,486 ±1,537 | 4,559,748 | no clear change |
| Households | 22,718 ±869 | 1,730,696 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.63 ±0.04 | 2.59 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 26,626 ±890 | 1,884,334 | −2,101 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Sun City?
The median resident of Sun City is 72.7 years old; 1.3% are under 18 and 74.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.6%. 5.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Sun City | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 72.7 ±0.7 | 37.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 1.3% ±0.4 pts | 22.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 74.7% ±2.4 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 43.0% ±1.5 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.6% ±1.7 pts | 31.2% | +2.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.1% ±1.7 pts | 52.5% | −4.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±0.6 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.4 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±0.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.5% ±1.0 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.4% ±1.3 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 16.3% ±1.4 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 32.9% ±2.4 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.2% ±0.6 pts | 10.6% | +0.9 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.6% ±1.1 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.0% ±2.2 pts | 36.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.0% ±1.5 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.4% ±1.8 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.9% ±1.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Sun City earn?
Half of Sun City's 22,718 households earn less than $54,586 a year (±$2,548), against $89,300 in Maricopa County and $79,964 in Arizona. In 2015-2019 the median was $49,949 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,637 after inflation. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sun City | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,586 ±$2,548 | $89,300 | +$4,637 |
| Mean household income | $66,036 ±$2,775 | $120,016 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,620 ±$1,771 | $46,183 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.2% ±1.4 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 62.5% ±19.7 pts | 14.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.5% ±1.5 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.1% ±1.6 pts | 97.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.8% ±2.0 pts | 93.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Sun City?
Owners occupy 84.2% of Sun City's occupied homes and renters 15.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $280,900 by its owner (±$6,777). The median renter pays $1,569 a month including utilities, and 64.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sun City | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $280,900 ±$6,777 | $452,800 | +$84,112 |
| Median gross rent | $1,569 ±$96 | $1,708 | +$230 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 64.4% ±6.8 pts | 43.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,154 ±$45 | $1,931 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 84.2% ±1.8 pts | 65.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 15.8% ±1.8 pts | 34.8% | – |
| Housing units | 26,626 ±890 | 1,884,334 | −2,101 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.9% ±1.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.7% ±2.1 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.3% ±2.1 pts | 64.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.4% ±0.6 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.9% ±1.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Sun City work and get to work?
67.1% of Sun City's workers drive alone and 19.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.
| Measure | Sun City | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 20.0% ±1.6 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% ±2.5 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 67.1% ±5.1 pts | 64.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.2% ±3.6 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.0% ±4.4 pts | 20.8% | +7.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.1 min ±1.9 | 26.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Sun City?
11 census tracts lie mostly in Sun City, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $41,340 (Tract 718.02) to $66,258 (Tract 6174).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 715.05Maricopa County | 6,541 | $52,022 |
| Tract 6174Maricopa County | 7,358 | $66,258 |
| Tract 718.01Maricopa County | 4,982 | $46,109 |
| Tract 715.03Maricopa County | 4,382 | $53,339 |
| Tract 715.06Maricopa County | 4,091 | $51,888 |
| Tract 715.04Maricopa County | 3,382 | $59,244 |
| Tract 717.02Maricopa County | 3,289 | $46,906 |
| Tract 6175Maricopa County | 4,066 | $64,671 |
| Tract 718.02Maricopa County | 3,202 | $41,340 |
| Tract 715.16Maricopa County | 4,514 | $55,972 |
| Tract 6154Maricopa County | 2,722 | $60,725 |
| Tract 717.01Maricopa County | 3,281 | $94,611 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Sun City) · Census block assignment files
How does Sun City compare with other places in Arizona?
Sun City ranks 143rd of 196 places in Arizona with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 30th | 210 |
| Residents per square mile | 15th | 210 |
| Median household income | 143rd | 196 |
| Per capita income | 62nd | 209 |
| Median home value | 92nd | 189 |
| Median gross rent | 39th | 168 |
| Poverty rate | 117th | 164 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76th | 175 |
| Median age | 6th | 208 |
| Owner-occupied share | 75th | 206 |
| Work from home | 48th | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 107th | 206 |
Sun City's figures with every place in Arizona (CSV)
Every place in Arizona, sortable · Compare Sun City with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Sun City?
8 of the 57 figures for Sun City on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Sun City are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.