Population 15,841 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Desert Hills
Household size in Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.64 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.78 | 2.63 | 2.91 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.81 | 2.62 | 2.91 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.68 | 2.52 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.12 | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
At 2.68 people per household, Desert Hills sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Cave Creek overall, where it has 2.52 people.
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 Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.3 | 44.3 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.8 | 46.1 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 48.1 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.3 | 50.5 | 39.1 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +6.3 | +3.5 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Desert Hills skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Even so, the population here is younger than in Cave Creek as a whole, where the median age is 50.5. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.3, mirroring the country.
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 Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 5.9% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 8.6% | 14.0% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 5.0% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 5.7% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Desert Hills: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Cave Creek as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Desert Hills
Renters in Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 10.2% | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 13.8% | 37.7% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.8% | 10.6% | 36.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 6.6% | 33.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −3.6 pts | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Desert Hills is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Even so, renters make up a bigger share here than in Cave Creek overall (6.6%). The renter share is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 17.7% | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 15.8% | 14.1% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 9.6% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 7.6% | 8.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −13.7 pts | −10.1 pts | −5.6 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Desert Hills: 6.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 13.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1998 | 1996 | 1988 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2000 | 1997 | 1989 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2001 | 1998 | 1990 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2004 | 2001 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Desert Hills is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2004, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1998 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,329 | $1,380 | $1,123 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,553 | $1,668 | $1,158 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,927 | $2,114 | $1,342 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,463 | $2,762 | $1,927 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,135 | +$1,383 | +$804 | +$694 | +$606 |
Rent in Desert Hills runs $2,463 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in Cave Creek as a whole ($2,762). Rents are up $1,135 a month from 2006–10, an 85% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.6% 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 Desert Hills
Bachelor's degrees in Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0% | 52.8% | 27.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.6% | 52.5% | 28.5% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.7% | 52.7% | 31.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 49.9% | 56.6% | 35.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +3.7 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Desert Hills: 49.9% 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. Locally, though, the share is lower than in Cave Creek as a whole (56.6%). The share with a degree has risen 5.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.6% | 97.8% | 85.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.6% | 97.2% | 86.0% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 97.4% | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.9% | 98.4% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +0.6 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Desert Hills: 96.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Cave Creek. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.3 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Desert Hills
| Period | Desert Hills | Cave Creek | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 4.4% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.0% | 5.3% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 3.4% | 5.3% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 1.8% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Desert Hills has been strong: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Still, the rate is higher than in Cave Creek as a whole (1.8%). Unemployment is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Desert Hills compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Hills | 2.68 | 44.3 | 6.3% | 14.6% | 6.1% | 2004 | $2,463 | 49.9% | 96.9% | 2.6% |
| North Gateway | 2.59 | 38.9 | 10.0% | 35.1% | 8.2% | 2009 | $1,950 | 52.0% | 96.5% | 3.6% |
| Desert View | 2.62 | 43.3 | 8.2% | 16.0% | 6.3% | 2003 | $2,809 | 61.8% | 98.4% | 2.9% |
| Deer Valley | 2.56 | 38.1 | 11.8% | 37.8% | 6.1% | 1992 | $1,929 | 36.7% | 93.5% | 4.6% |
| New Village | 3.21 | 38.9 | 8.3% | 14.1% | 4.0% | 2006 | $2,472 | 48.0% | 95.4% | 0.4% |
| Pinnacle Peak | 2.14 | 64.5 | 1.4% | 3.0% | 18.9% | 2002 | $2,838 | 66.4% | 98.5% | 3.0% |
| Paradise Valley | 2.43 | 43.0 | 9.1% | 33.2% | 7.7% | 1986 | $2,002 | 46.0% | 92.0% | 4.3% |
| North Mountain | 2.61 | 38.3 | 14.9% | 45.3% | 6.9% | 1976 | $1,667 | 28.6% | 86.1% | 7.2% |
| Camino Lago | 3.25 | 37.7 | 8.8% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 2015 | $2,338 | 54.5% | 92.4% | 1.8% |
| Cactus Gale | 2.93 | 33.9 | 13.9% | 8.2% | 4.6% | 1976 | $1,958 | 18.2% | 89.8% | 5.2% |
| Peacock Village | 2.20 | 48.7 | 5.9% | 47.8% | 9.8% | 1992 | $2,443 | 38.4% | 94.0% | 1.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Mountain View San Diego, San Diego, CA · salisbury, Allentown, PA · Rocky-Fork Blacklick Accord, Westerville, OH · Puritas Longmead, Cleveland, OH · Power Ranch, Gilbert, AZ · Pleasant Valley, Portland, OR · Old Aurora, New Orleans, LA · O'Hare, Chicago, IL · North Shores, North Bay Village, FL · North Park, Buffalo, 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 Desert Hills. 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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