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Sonoran Desert at Its Finest
The Town of Carefree is a rural, residential township of 3,580 residents (2016) living in approximately 1,900 homes. Located in Maricopa County, the Town is slightly more than 8 square miles in area, located in the northeast portion of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. It surrounds Black Mountain to the south and west, and its land mass also continues to the northeast of this prominent landmark. Residents cite the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert, clean air, less traffic, peace and tranquility as the top reasons to live in the area.
Area residents are active and involved in a broad cross-section of activities, and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle available in this region. Most residents participate in a variety of activities, including involvement with the Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD); events offered by one of the local churches or one of the numerous non-profits located in the Desert Foothills area; and dining at one of the many award-winning restaurants located in the Town.
(2016 demographic data provided by dataUSA/Deloitte)FAST FACTS
- Temperatures in Carefree are typically 5 to 7 degrees cooler than towns to the south. The Town sits at an elevation of approximately 2,400 ft., considerably higher than the City of Scottsdale at 1,250 ft. and the City of Phoenix at 1,100 ft.
- Average per capita income (2016) is $91,979. 42% of households earn over $100,000 annually.
- Median resident age (2016) is 65.6 years.
REAL ESTATE
- Median home/condo value (2016) is $645,800. 81% of the housing in Carefree is owner-occupied.
- Median area gross rent (2016) is $1,104.
- Carefree does not assess a local real estate tax. Overall, annual real estate taxes are approximately half of what area towns with local real estate taxes charge (county real estate taxes are assessed by Maricopa County.)
- Carefree does not apply any development fees to new construction.
- Carefree property owners are not subject to a Rural Metro Fire protection fee of $1,000 per home. The Town funds full fire and police coverage for its residents through tax dividends received from Maricopa County.
EDUCATION
School-aged children residing in Carefree attend public, charter or private schools within the Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD). Their main campus is just south of Carefree Highway, on 56th Street.
- Cactus Shadows High School
- Sonoran Trails Middle School
- Lone Mountain Elementary School
- Black Mountain Elementary School
- Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
- Desert Willow Elementary School
- Desert Sun Academy
Additional Education Resources
WORSHIP
There are many churches in the Desert Foothills area, located in or around Carefree
- Christ the Lord Lutheran Church
- Desert Hills Presbyterian Church
- Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church
- Our Lady of Joy Catholic Church
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS/RESOURCES
The Desert Foothills area boasts a number of long-established and locally-supported non-profit organizations. Most are continually seeking additional volunteer and financial help from area residents.
- Kiwanis Club of Carefree/Cave Creek
- Desert Foothills Land Trust
- Desert Foothills Library
- Desert Foothills Theater
- Desert Foothills YMCA
- Foothills Animal Rescue
- Foothills Caring Corps
- Foothills Community Foundation
- Foothills Food Bank
EMERGENCY/MEDICAL SERVICES
For Medical Emergencies, dial 911 for assistance
- Maricopa County Sherriff’s Office District 4
- Town of Carefree Fire Station No. 1 / Rural Metro Fire
- HonorHealth Sonoran Health and Emergency Center
- HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center
- Mayo Clinic Scottsdale
THINGS TO DO
- Carefree Desert Gardens in downtown Carefree, open year-round
- Kiwanis Splash Pad
- Playground
- Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion
- Area Events
- Hidden in the Hills/Sonoran Arts League in Nov.
- Thunderbird Artists Festivals in Nov., Jan. and March
- Boating
- Farmer’s Market on Friday morning under the Sundial, year-round
- Golf
- Hiking
- Spanish Village
- Shops, galleries and restaurants