The typical owner-occupied home in Carefree is worth about $1,088,100, 2.8 times the Arizona median of $394,500 and 3.3 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,972 a year in property taxes, about 0.27% of their home's value, lower than the Arizona rate of 0.48%. The median household earns $147,165 a year, so the median home costs 7.4 times the median income (4.9 times for Arizona). 91% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 53% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Carefree at a glance
| Carefree | Arizona | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,088,100 | $394,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,972 | $1,879 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.27% | 0.48% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $147,165 | $79,964 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 91% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 53% | 62% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,500 | $1,803 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.5% | 20.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,538 | $1,543 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 46.0% | 30.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1988 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 20.3% | 10.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 3,683 | 7,378,838 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Carefree
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Carefree home of $1,088,100 with 20% down costs about $6,554 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $8,542, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $280,884 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 53% of the median Carefree household income of $147,165; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $570,000.
The median rent here is $1,538 a month, so owning the median home costs about $5,016 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $217,620 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $870,480 |
| Principal and interest | $5,856 |
| Property taxes (0.27% a year) | $245 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $453 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $6,554 |
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| Down payment | $38,084 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,068,392 |
| Principal and interest | $7,187 |
| Property taxes (0.27% a year) | $245 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $453 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $656 |
| Total per month | $8,542 |
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Questions about home buying in Carefree
What is the median home value in Carefree?
About $1,088,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Carefree?
Homeowners pay a median $2,972 a year, which is about 0.27% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Carefree?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $6,554 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $280,884 a year.
More about Carefree
- Mortgage Refinance in Carefree
- Debt Relief in Carefree
- Home Equity Loans in Carefree
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data