Sun Lakes, Arizona Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Sun Lakes is a small city located in Arizona, within Maricopa County. The total population is 13,924. It ranks as the 57th most populous out of 441 Census-designated places in Arizona.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sun Lakes is 73.5 years. This is 88% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 0.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 44.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sun Lakes is $67,853. This is 15% lower than the state median of $79,964. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.4%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.5%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $455,200. Housing costs are 15% higher than the state median of $394,500. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 88.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 67.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sun Lakes has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.2% vs 52.6%). The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 4.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 31.4%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.5%.

Education

39.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 33.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.8%. Notably, 16.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sun Lakes, Arizona is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Arizona state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 441 Census-designated places in Arizona. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.