Aging in Place in Phoenix and the Valley: Residents 65 and Over, by City
Where a bathroom was built for a 40 year old and is now used by an 80 year old, the plumbing is usually the first thing that needs to change. This page shows how many residents are 65 and over, and 75 and over, in 16 Valley cities and communities, using the latest U.S. Census data available as of September 2026, which covers 2020 to 2024.
85%
of Sun City West residents are 65 or older, the highest share of any community here
40%
of Sun City residents are 75 or older, which is 15,116 people
200,993
Phoenix residents are 65 or older, the largest number in the Valley even at 12% of the city
472,154
residents 65 and over across all 16 places on this page, 200,965 of them 75 and over
Share of residents 65 and over
Darker circles mean a larger share of older residents. Larger circles mean more older residents in total. Click any circle for the numbers.
Every city and community, ranked, latest Census data as of 2026
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five year estimates, table B01001, Sex by Age, retrieved September 20, 2026 through Census Reporter. Sun City, Sun City West and Anthem are census designated places, not incorporated cities. Figures are survey estimates with a margin of error. Map positions are approximate city centers.
The plumbing changes that matter most
Walk in tubs and curbless showers.
Stepping over a tub wall is the single most common fall point in a bathroom. A walk in tub or a shower with no curb removes it. Both need the drain, the valve and often the water heater looked at together.
Comfort height toilets.
A bowl that sits 17 to 19 inches high is far easier on knees and hips than the older 15 inch standard. It is usually a same day swap.
Grab bars.
They only work when they are anchored into framing or solid blocking. A bar screwed into tile and drywall alone will pull out under a fall.
Anti scald valves.
A pressure balancing or thermostatic valve holds the temperature steady and caps the maximum. It is the fix for a shower that turns scalding when a toilet flushes.
Lever handles and handheld showers.
Levers can be worked with a closed fist or an elbow, which matters with arthritis. A handheld shower on a slide bar lets someone bathe seated.
Bidet seats.
They help people stay independent longer. Most need a nearby outlet and a small supply line change.
Questions about this data and this work
It means changing the bathroom and kitchen so they stay safe and easy to use as you get older, instead of moving out of the home. In plumbing terms that usually covers a walk in tub or a curbless shower, a taller toilet, grab bars anchored into framing, lever handles in place of round knobs, a handheld shower on a slide bar, and a valve that stops the water from scalding.
It is a shower or tub valve that holds the water temperature steady when someone flushes a toilet or starts the washer, and caps how hot the water can get. Older skin burns faster and reaction time slows with age, so it matters more for seniors than for anyone else in the house. Many Valley homes built before the 1990s still have plain two handle valves with no protection at all.
Original Medicare generally does not cover walk in tubs or grab bars, because it does not class them as durable medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a home safety benefit, and Arizona's long term care system and the VA have their own home modification programs for people who qualify. Check with your plan before you order anything. We can give you a written estimate to submit.
Often not without a change. Many walk in tubs hold 50 to 80 gallons, and a standard 40 gallon tank cannot fill one with warm water. We check the tub size against your water heater before anything is ordered, and if the heater falls short we price the options, which are usually a larger tank or a tankless unit.
Both were built as age restricted retirement communities, where at least one resident in most homes must be 55 or older. Sun City opened in 1960 and Sun City West in 1978. That is why their share of residents 65 and over is several times the figure for the cities around them.
Every figure comes from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024 five year estimates, table B01001, Sex by Age. We added the male and female counts for each age group from 65 upward and divided by total population. These are survey estimates with a margin of error, which is larger for small towns such as Carefree and Cave Creek. This was the newest release available in September 2026, and the next one is due in December 2026.
For information purposes only. This page is a general guide compiled from public sources as of September 2026. It is not professional, legal, financial or engineering advice, and it is not a quote or a guarantee. Nothing here is medical, insurance or benefits advice. Figures, rules and programs change, and your own home, bill or project may differ. Confirm anything important with the source linked on this page or with the agency or utility concerned before you act on it. American Discount Plumbing accepts no liability for decisions made using this page.
Making a bathroom safer for yourself or a parent?
American Discount Plumbing has worked in Sun City, Sun City West and every community on this page since 2000. Owner Pavel Farcas looks at the bathroom himself, checks the water heater against the tub you want, and gives you a written price before any work starts. Licensed, bonded and insured, AZ ROC #150707.
Related: walk in tubs, bidet installation, plumber in Sun City, how old the plumbing is in each city.
