Population 3,867 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Carefree
Household size in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.04 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.90 | 2.91 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.94 | 2.91 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.96 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Carefree are small: just 1.96 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.1 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 58.9 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 66.4 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 65.1 | 39.1 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.0 | +3.5 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 65.1, Carefree is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 58.1, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.4% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.5% | 14.0% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 2.2% of households in Carefree, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Carefree
Renters in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 37.7% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 36.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 33.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.4 pts | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Carefree is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 9.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 45.5% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.4% | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.4% | 14.1% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 28.9% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 8.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −15.8 pts | −5.6 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Carefree: 18.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1992 | 1988 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1994 | 1989 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1990 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Carefree has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of the Phoenix area.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,414 | $1,123 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $864 | $1,158 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,443 | $1,342 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,597 | $1,927 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$183 | +$804 | +$694 | +$606 |
Rent in Carefree runs $1,597 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the wider Phoenix area ($1,927). Rent takes 44.9% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Carefree
Bachelor's degrees in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 56.1% | 27.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 57.3% | 28.5% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.8% | 31.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.8% | 35.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Carefree: 61.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.7% | 85.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.9% | 86.0% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.7% | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.6% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Carefree: 98.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Carefree
| Period | Carefree | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.6% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.1% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.3% | 5.3% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Carefree than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Carefree compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carefree | 1.96 | 65.1 | 2.2% | 9.3% | 18.6% | 1993 | $1,597 | 61.8% | 98.6% | 4.0% |
| Cave Creek | 2.52 | 50.5 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 7.6% | 2001 | $2,762 | 56.6% | 98.4% | 1.8% |
| New River | 2.71 | 48.4 | 5.1% | 6.2% | 5.6% | 2003 | $2,248 | 34.2% | 95.3% | 2.4% |
| Anthem | 2.73 | 43.8 | 12.0% | 17.3% | 8.6% | 2005 | $2,447 | 46.9% | 97.1% | 3.9% |
| Rio Verde | 1.93 | 65.0 | 10.1% | 4.7% | 22.0% | 2010 | $2,353 | 61.9% | 99.3% | 5.3% |
| Tonto Basin | 2.08 | 61.4 | 3.5% | 9.1% | 38.3% | 1997 | $1,036 | 22.0% | 88.8% | 0.0% |
| Wittmann | 2.66 | 45.1 | 9.3% | 6.7% | 6.9% | 2005 | $1,394 | 20.9% | 90.2% | 2.1% |
| Jakes Corner | 1.83 | 62.1 | 6.0% | 3.8% | 20.3% | 1989 | $1,260 | 14.0% | 89.8% | 0.0% |
| Circle City | 2.47 | 54.4 | 5.9% | 12.1% | 10.6% | 1999 | $1,339 | 23.1% | 95.5% | 4.8% |
| Morristown | 2.48 | 49.9 | 5.8% | 16.6% | 15.4% | 1999 | $1,336 | 26.6% | 94.8% | 2.7% |
| Wickenburg | 2.01 | 60.5 | 4.5% | 21.3% | 12.3% | 1990 | $1,238 | 33.8% | 94.8% | 0.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Vernon, AL · Benson, MN · Arthur, IL · Burkeville, VA · Taylorsville, MS · Eagle Grove, IA · St. Paris, OH · Elysburg, PA · Keeseville, NY · Greenfield Center, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Carefree. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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