City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Sun Lakes, AZ

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

14,079
Residents
$63,545
Median income
$425,500
Median home
$1,839
Median rent (state)

Sun Lakes - the verdict

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

41st
percentile, household income
79th
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 Lakes, AZ

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 14,079 residents in Sun Lakes, a small town within Arizona. Sun Lakes households earn a median of $63,545 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.6%. Typical homes in Sun Lakes are valued around $425,500, and the median resident age is 73.4 years. Educational attainment runs 39.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 20.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Arizona scores 100.7 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,839 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across Arizona, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Sun Lakes report an average commute of 17.7 minutes, with 69.8% driving alone and 21.2% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 93.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

14,079 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$63,545 /yr

Poverty 6.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Sun Lakes compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 41% higher than other cities
Home value 79% 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 Sun Lakes 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 places Sun Lakes toward the top of Arizona's cities

Among the 327 Arizona cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Sun Lakes ranks #41 - the 87th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sun Lakes only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#134 of 333
60th percentile in Arizona
Median Gross Rent
#29 of 394
71st percentile in Arizona
Median Home Value
#41 of 327
87th percentile in Arizona
Poverty Rate
#228 of 393
42nd percentile in Arizona
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#50 of 394
87th 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.

41stIncome percentile

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

How Sun Lakes's home value compares nationally

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

$425,500 21st percentile more affordable than 21% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Lakes $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 Lakes, AZ Sun Lakes, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sun Lakes, 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 Lakes, AZ median $63,545/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 Lakes, 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 Lakes, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 39.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 20.0%

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

Population
14,079
Median Income
$63,545
Median Home Value
$425,500
Median Age
73.4
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Labor force participation
20.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
39.8%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.7 minutes
Drive Alone
69.8%
Carpool
1.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
21.2%
Other
7.2%

Based on 2,761 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 Lakes 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
93.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arizona

Sierra Vista Southeast
14,213 people
New Kingman-Butler
14,281 people
Valencia West
13,834 people
Somerton
14,383 people
Chino Valley
13,372 people
Coolidge
15,300 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sun Lakes's 14,079 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lakewood Park, FL
14,077 people
Colesville, MD
14,075 people
Lakeland, TN
14,068 people
New Ulm, MN
14,066 people
Mill Valley, CA
14,064 people
Greece, NY
14,053 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sun Lakes's $63,545 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Morganfield, KY
$63,546 median income
Belton, TX
$63,544 median income
Durand, IL
$63,542 median income
Clifford, IN
$63,542 median income
Palestine, OH
$63,542 median income
Bangor, PA
$63,542 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sun Lakes, 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 Lakes, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.4% White 96.0% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.1% Two or more races 2.2% 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 Lakes 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 Lakes (this city) 14,079 $63,545
Sierra Vista Southeast 14,213 $70,958
New Kingman-Butler 14,281 $42,604
Valencia West 13,834 $90,758
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sun Lakes, AZ?

What is the population of Sun Lakes, AZ? +

The population of Sun Lakes, AZ stands at 14,079 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Sun Lakes households earn a median of $63,545 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sun Lakes? +

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

The median home value in Sun Lakes is $425,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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