Census-designated place · Arizona
Sun Lakes, Arizona
Sun Lakes, census-designated place, in Maricopa County, Arizona. Sun Lakes had 13,924 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±819). GEOID 0470530.
Residents, 2020-2024
13,924
±819 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 14,868
Median household income
$67,853
±$6,052 (90% margin)
Arizona: $79,964
Median home value
$455,200
±$10,089 (90% margin)
Arizona: $394,500
Median gross rent
$1,938
±$280 (90% margin)
Arizona: $1,543
Where is Sun Lakes and what county is it in?
Sun Lakes 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 5.4 square miles of land, 2,766 residents per square mile in 2020.
Sun Lakes 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 Lakes, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Sun Lakes's population at 13,924 (±819). The 2020 Census counted 14,868 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Sun Lakes is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Sun Lakes | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 13,924±819 | 4,559,748 | no clear change |
| Households | 8,538±551 | 1,730,696 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.62±0.06 | 2.59 | −0.07 |
| Housing units | 10,232±544 | 1,884,334 | no clear change |
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 Lakes?
The median resident of Sun Lakes is 73.5 years old. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.1%. 7.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Sun Lakes | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 73.5±0.9 | 37.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 22.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 78.9%±2.9 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 42.6%±2.0 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.1%±0.8 pts | 31.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.2%±1.2 pts | 52.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.7 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.9%±0.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.7%±2.5 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.7%±1.1 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 13.4%±2.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 24.8%±2.6 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.2%±1.0 pts | 10.6% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.8%±1.2 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 39.4%±3.6 pts | 36.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.2%±2.2 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.5%±2.6 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.0%±1.6 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 Lakes earn?
Half of Sun Lakes's 8,538 households earn less than $67,853 a year (±$6,052), against $89,300 in Maricopa County and $79,964 in Arizona. In 2015-2019 it was $69,878 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Sun Lakes | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,853±$6,052 | $89,300 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $89,344±$7,493 | $120,016 | – |
| Per capita income | $54,895±$4,093 | $46,183 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4%±2.9 pts | 11.0% | +3.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.9%±1.2 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.5%±1.4 pts | 97.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.9%±3.3 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 Lakes?
Owners occupy 88.0% of Sun Lakes's occupied homes and renters 12.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $455,200 by its owner (±$10,089). The median renter pays $1,938 a month including utilities, and 59.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Sun Lakes | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $455,200±$10,089 | $452,800 | +$119,959 |
| Median gross rent | $1,938±$280 | $1,708 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 59.0%±15.4 pts | 43.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,611±$118 | $1,931 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 88.0%±3.2 pts | 65.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 12.0%±3.2 pts | 34.8% | – |
| Housing units | 10,232±544 | 1,884,334 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 19.7%±12.5 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.8%±2.4 pts | 64.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.7%±1.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.8%±1.6 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.6%±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.6%±1.6 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 Lakes work and get to work?
70.4% of Sun Lakes's workers drive alone and 21.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.5%.
| Measure | Sun Lakes | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 21.2%±3.0 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5%±2.9 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 70.4%±8.0 pts | 64.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 1.7%±1.6 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.0%±1.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.5%±6.7 pts | 20.8% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.5 min±3.5 | 26.0 min | −7.9 min |
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 Lakes?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Sun Lakes, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $49,136 (Tract 8174) to $75,652 (Tract 8175).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8173Maricopa County | 5,303 | $67,578 |
| Tract 8174Maricopa County | 2,829 | $49,136 |
| Tract 8175Maricopa County | 2,595 | $75,652 |
| Tract 8137Maricopa County | 2,435 | $73,882 |
| Tract 8130Maricopa County | 5,827 | $160,333 |
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 Lakes) · Census block assignment files
How does Sun Lakes compare with other places in Arizona?
Sun Lakes ranks 87th 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) | 57th | 210 |
| Residents per square mile | 16th | 210 |
| Median household income | 87th | 196 |
| Per capita income | 23rd | 209 |
| Median home value | 44th | 189 |
| Median gross rent | 19th | 168 |
| Poverty rate | 125th | 164 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39th | 175 |
| Median age | 4th | 208 |
| Owner-occupied share | 53rd | 206 |
| Work from home | 39th | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 157th | 206 |
Sun Lakes's figures with every place in Arizona (CSV)
Every place in Arizona, sortable · Compare Sun Lakes 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 Lakes?
11 of the 56 figures for Sun Lakes 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 Lakes 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.