Sun Cities & Northwest Valley

The original age-restricted Sun City -- America's first large-scale retirement community, opened in 1960 -- and its newer sibling Sun City West anchor a distinctive northwest pocket of the Valley. El Mirage and Youngtown provide smaller-scale alternatives, while Wickenburg offers a historic Old West atmosphere at the metro's far northwestern edge. Sun City's circular street grid and recreation centers remain iconic, and the area's lower price points and established community organizations continue to draw retirees and cost-conscious buyers.