City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Sun City West, AZ

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

27,003
Residents
$63,792
Median income
$350,500
Median home
$1,839
Median rent (state)

Sun City West - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Sun City West lands in the 41st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

41st
percentile, household income
72nd
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: Sun City West, AZ

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 27,003 residents in Sun City West, a small city within Arizona. Sun City West households earn a median of $63,792 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.5%. Sun City West's housing stock carries a median value of $350,500, and the median resident age is 74.9 years. Educational attainment runs 35.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 12.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Arizona at 100.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,839 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Arizona's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

27,003 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$63,792 /yr

Poverty 4.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Sun City West compare to other US cities?

Here's how Sun City West stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 41% higher than other cities
Home value 72% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Sun City West's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Arizona, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

41stIncome percentile

41st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sun City West's home value compares nationally

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

$350,500 28th percentile more affordable than 28% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sun City West $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 - Sun City West, AZ Sun City West, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sun City West, 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 Sun City West, AZ median $63,792/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%
Sun City West, 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 Sun City West, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 12.5%

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

Population
27,003
Median Income
$63,792
Median Home Value
$350,500
Median Age
74.9
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Labor force participation
12.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.3%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.7%
Carpool
2.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
22.1%
Other
3.9%

Based on 3,243 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 Sun City West 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

Drexel Heights
27,636 people
Florence
25,961 people
Fortuna Foothills
28,227 people
Fountain Hills
23,768 people
Anthem
22,622 people
Rio Rico
21,798 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sun City West's 27,003 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Belmont, MA
27,009 people
Wooster, OH
27,012 people
Fulshear, TX
26,986 people
Lemoore, CA
27,023 people
Ossining, NY
26,979 people
Waukee, IA
26,974 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sun City West's $63,792 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Terrell, TX
$63,795 median income
Cedar City, UT
$63,789 median income
Ross, OH
$63,788 median income
Lawson, MO
$63,799 median income
Morris, MN
$63,807 median income
Corvallis, OR
$63,807 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sun City West, 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 Sun City West, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 95.0% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 1.6% 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 Sun City West 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
Sun City West (this city) 27,003 $63,792
Drexel Heights 27,636 $75,152
Florence 25,961 $76,259
Fortuna Foothills 28,227 $57,583
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sun City West, AZ?

What is the population of Sun City West, AZ? +

The population of Sun City West, AZ stands at 27,003 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sun City West, AZ? +

The median household income in Sun City West is $63,792 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sun City West? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sun City West; 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 Sun City West, AZ? +

A typical home in Sun City West is worth $350,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.