The Town FilesSun City, Arizona
Community in Maricopa County · population 39,931 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $280,900
- Household income
- $54,586
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 105°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 72.7
Sun City is a community of 39,931 people in Maricopa County, Arizona. The median home is worth $280,900, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Arizona towns, more vibrant than 87% of Arizona towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Arizona towns.
How Sun City ranks
Percentile among Arizona towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arizona towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sun City is worth $280,900, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $54,586, which is more affordable than 23% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,569 a month. 84.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sun City | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,900 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,569 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $54,586 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 84.2% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.0% | — |
Who lives in Sun City
| People | Sun City | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 72.7 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 74.7% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 1.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 16.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.0% |
Weather in Sun City
July highs average 104.9°F and January lows 41.1°F. About 8.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 176 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 4 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sun City since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 8, 1983 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 23, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 15, 2003.
Severe weather in Maricopa County since 1996
Maricopa County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Fire | FM-5501: Boulder View Fire |
| June 12, 2024 | Fire | FM-5496: Rose Fire |
| June 28, 2023 | Fire | FM-5466: Diamond Fire |
| June 27, 2020 | Fire | FM-5315: Avondale Fire |
| June 23, 2020 | Fire | FM-5314: Aquila Fire |
Jobs and pay in Maricopa County
Maricopa County had 2,280,645 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,840 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Sun City itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Sun City
2 public schools with 1,216 students, about 28.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zuni Hills Elementary School | PK-8 | 841 | 19.6 |
| Peoria Traditional School | K-8 | 375 | — |
Towns near Sun City
- Youngtown, AZ2.5 mi · 7,056 people · home $320,000
- El Mirage, AZ3.1 mi · 35,805 people · home $321,900
- Sun City West, AZ5.8 mi · 25,806 people · home $377,800
- Glendale, AZ7.8 mi · 248,325 people · home $387,500
- Litchfield Park, AZ9.0 mi · 6,847 people · home $577,000
- Surprise, AZ10.5 mi · 143,148 people · home $435,100
- Citrus Park, AZ11.0 mi · 5,194 people · home $722,500
- Phoenix, AZ11.5 mi · 1,608,139 people · home $420,700
Sun City questions
Is Sun City, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sun City scores better for retirees than 55% of Arizona towns and quieter than 49%. 74.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 72.7).
How much does a house cost in Sun City?
The median owner-occupied home in Sun City is valued at $280,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,586, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,569 a month.
What is the weather like in Sun City?
July highs average 104.9°F and January lows 41.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Sun City get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sun City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 8, 1983. The typical Arizona town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)