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Retirement community in Fountain Hills, Arizona

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Fountain Hills, Arizona Retirement Guide

established retirement community
58

Retirement Score

Fountain Hills, Arizona at a Glance

Median Home Price
$518,200
State Income Tax
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; limited pension exemption.
Avg January Low
41.9°F
Cost of Living Index
100 (US avg = 100)
Best For
established retirement community
RetireCityIQ Score
58 / 100

Overview

Explore the key retirement factors for Fountain Hills, Arizona, including cost of living, taxes, healthcare quality, and climate data.

Cost of Living

Affordability Metrics

Cost of Living Index
100 (U.S. avg = 100)Medium confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated May 2026
Median Household Income
$100,317High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026

Fountain Hills's cost of living is 0% below the national average. For a detailed breakdown of expenses, see our cost of living methodology.

Housing

Real Estate & Housing

Median Home Price
$518,200High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$1,624High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Owner-Occupied Housing
84.9%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026

10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)

Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Fountain Hills using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.

Estimated monthly carrying cost

$1,123

Stress-case monthly carrying cost

$1,261

Median home price used: $518,200

Median rent reference: $1,624 / month

Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.

Budget validation

Calculate if your savings last in this city

Use RetireFree to test whether your portfolio can support retirement in Fountain Hills, Arizona after local housing costs, taxes, healthcare, inflation, and withdrawal timing.

Open the RetireFree Calculator →

Healthcare

Access & Quality

Healthcare Access Score
Care Access (Proxy)
100 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Aging-in-Place Score
40 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026

Quality of care and specialist availability are critical for a successful retirement. Fountain Hills scores 100 out of 100 for healthcare access.

Care planning link

Find local assisted living in Fountain Hills

If your city research includes aging parents, future care needs, or a move closer to family, compare local care options alongside housing and healthcare access.

Assisted living in Fountain Hills

Taxes

State Tax Climate

Retirement Tax Score
45 / 100High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated September 2026
Tax Details
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; limited pension exemption.High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated September 2026

Arizona has a tax environment that is moderate for retirees.Read more in our detailed Arizona tax guide.

Arizona 2026 Outlook

Arizona Retirement Tax Benefits 2026

Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits and generally has low property taxes compared with many coastal states. Other retirement income may still be taxable under Arizona's income-tax rules, and local sales taxes can vary by city and county.

For Fountain Hills, compare the tax picture with housing costs, summer cooling bills, healthcare access, and insurance before treating Arizona as automatically lower-cost than another Sun Belt state.

Climate

Weather & Environment

Avg July High
106°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated September 2026
Avg January Low
41.9°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated September 2026
Annual Precipitation
14.3"High confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated September 2026
Sunny Days / Year
350 daysHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated September 2026

With 350 sunny days a year and an average January low of 41.9°F, Fountain Hills offers a mild winter climate.

Safety & Walkability

Community Safety

Safety Score
89.1 / 100Medium confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated June 2026

Walkability

Walk Score (proxy)
9.7 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
0 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026

Demographics

Population Profile

Population
23,739High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Median Age
60.2High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Age 65+
38.0%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Veterans
9.7%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
50.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026

Diversity Breakdown

White
91.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Black
2.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Hispanic/Latino
3.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026
Asian
2.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated September 2026

Frequently asked questions about retiring in Fountain Hills

Is Fountain Hills, Arizona a good place to retire?

Fountain Hills, Arizona is one of the US retirement-friendly cities tracked by RetireCityIQ. Notable retirement-relevant traits include established retirement community. See the at-a-glance card on this page for the cost of living, state tax treatment, climate, and healthcare access metrics.

What is the cost of living in Fountain Hills, Arizona for retirees?

The cost-of-living index is 100, roughly 0% above the national average of 100. Median home price is around $518,200.

Does Arizona tax Social Security or retirement income?

For Arizona residents: State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; limited pension exemption.

What is the climate like in Fountain Hills, Arizona?

Fountain Hills, Arizona has January average low around 42°F, July average high around 106°F. Climate normals are based on 30-year averages from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.

What is healthcare access like in Fountain Hills, Arizona?

Fountain Hills scores 100/100 on the RetireCityIQ healthcare access index — a top-tier score. The index combines CMS hospital quality ratings, Medicare Advantage plan availability, and hospitals per 100,000 residents (KFF + CMS data).

Local Professionals

Financial Advisors

KEY GROUP MANAGEMENT, INC.

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ACRYLIC FINANCIAL, INC.

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KEY GROUP MANAGEMENT, INC.

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