Neighborhood Spotlight: Sun City, AZ

Sun City is home to the Sun Bowl, an open-air amphitheater that hosts concerts, live performances, and other events. Sunday night shows are free to residents and gourmet food vendors are on site before the show to tempt you with their tasty treats.

You can explore all your interests and learn new skills in one of the more than 130 special-interest clubs in Sun City. Some of the clubs you’ll find here include the Armchair Travel Club, the Birding Club of Sun City, the Classic Rock Dance Club, the LGBT Club of Sun City, the Monday Night Pinochle Club, the Sun City Community Orchestra, the Sun City Calligraphy Society, and the Ukulele Club.

The amenities listed above are just what you’ll find within the borders of Sun City. Residents can also enjoy nearby amenities including the Challenger Space Center, Wildlife World Zoo, Lake Pleasant, West Valley Art Museum, and the Arrowhead Mall. In addition, there are several Major League Baseball training camps nearby where you can catch a pre-season game.

Known as The Original Fun City, Sun City, Arizona was the very first 55+ active adult community in the country. This is the retirement community that set the standard for retirement communities around the United States, and it’s rich with amenities. If you’re looking for a world-class place to spend your golden years, then Sun City is it!

Sun City at a glance

Sun City is an unincorporated community in Maricopa County. It is located in the Phoenix metropolitan area about 16 miles northwest of downtown. The community has a population of approximately 45,000. Sun City and its adjoining sister city, Sun City West, are extremely popular with snowbirds. The community is chock full of amenities, including one of the highest per-capita rates of golf holes of any retirement community in the U.S. The community caters to active adults ages 55 and older, and at least one person in the home must be at least 55 years old, with no residents younger than 19.

Sun City real estate and neighborhoods

Sun City is well-known for its affordability. The median home price is currently $119,000. Homes here date back as far as the 1960s, though many of the older models have been remodeled. When the community was first built, there were more than 100 different floor plans to choose from, though many have been updated to suit current tastes and trends. Buyers of Sun City real estate can choose from ranch-style single-family homes, Gemini Twin homes, patio homes, and garden condominiums. Many of the homes feature golf course views and sizes range from 730 to 3,200 square feet. Annual property taxes are low in Sun City and usually fall within a range of $300 – $1,300. Sun City is divided into nine distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique character. All homeowners are required to comply with the city’s CC&Rs.

Sun City history

Sun City was the very first retirement community in the United States. Del Webb had the radical idea of building a community that catered to the needs of older adults and provided a variety of leisure and recreational activities. Though common today, it was revolutionary at the time. His development company opened the first five model homes in 1960. By the end of the first weekend, more than 100,000 visitors had come to see what all the fuss was about. The community was a huge success from the beginning, selling 2,000 homes in the first year alone. It was featured on national news shows, and Del Webb even graced the cover of Time magazine in 1962. 60 years later, Sun City is still a desirable and sought-after place to live.

Sun City amenities

One of Sun City’s defining features is its abundance of amenities. It is within easy reach of a multitude of options including major sports arenas, natural wonders, entertainment venues, cultural institutions, shopping destinations, and recreational facilities.

There are a whopping eight golf courses in Sun City, so you can play a different course every day of the week! This includes five championship golf courses and three executive golf courses which are all within six miles of each other.

In addition, Sun City has seven recreation centers. These include fitness centers, social halls, and swimming pools. You can enjoy a round of miniature golf or play pickleball, tennis, racquetball, softball, shuffleboard, billiards, or darts — the choice is yours. Or perfect your bowling game at either of the two first-class bowling centers in Sun City, which each have full-service restaurants.

Explore Sun City today

Are you ready to find out why Sun City remains the gold standard of retirement communities? Then view available properties in Sun City and schedule your private showing today!