Adjacent to nearby cities like Gilbert, Mesa, and San Tan Valley, the pleasant area of Queen Creek, AZ is one of the best places to live in the East Valley. Found about 38 miles southeast of Phoenix, Queen Creek is known for being the location of San Tan Mountain and its easy access to over 10,000 acres of the Sonoran Desert.
The community was named after the Queen Creek Canyon and River, which can be found to the east near the town of Superior, AZ. Everyone living in Queen Creek has fallen in love with this small but growing suburb.
Anybody who is interested in moving to Queen Creek, AZ will greatly benefit from learning more about the area, what it has to offer, and how much it costs to live here.
1. People of Queen Creek, AZ – Population & Demographics
The town of Queen Creek is a family-friendly area that offers an enjoyable and comfortable lifestyle for people of all ages. With a current population of 49,865 and a median age of 33 years old, the suburb has seen huge growth over the last 10 years as it has nearly doubled its residency in that time.
Queen Creek demographics show locals are made up of about 71% Caucasian, 11% Hispanic or Latino, 2% Black or African American, and 2% Asian. The gender split is a near-even ratio with about 49.67% of the population being female and 50.33% being male. And with Queen Creek crime rates being about 37% lower than the Arizona average, it is also considered a safe place to live.
2. Things to Do in Queen Creek
While it is a fairly decent distance from the big city of Phoenix, you won’t have to head downtown to find fun activities. There are plenty of enjoyable things to do in Queen Creek including the San Tan Mountain Regional Park, where people can explore more than 10,000 acres of local desert landscape. Go for a hike with your family, take a mountain bike ride along a dirt trail, or simply wander around looking at the various wildlife.
San Tan Mountain Regional Park
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San Tan Mountain Regional Park, 6533 W Phillips Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 (602) 506-2930
Arguably the most popular attraction in Queen Creek is the local Olive Mill. It is a well-known market that grows olives and produces various flavors of olive oil. They offer people living in Queen Creek access to a gourmet market filled with delicious foods and their own small cafe.
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Queen Creek Olive Mill, 25062 S Meridian Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 (480) 888-9290
Additional Queen Creek Attractions
- Schnepf Farms, 24810 S Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
- Mansel Carter Oasis Park, 19535 E Appleby Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
- Founder’s Park Splash Pad, 22407 S Ellsworth Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
- Desert Mountain Park, 22201 Hawes Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
- Goldmine Trailhead, 34316 Goldmine Gulch Trail, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
3. Queen Creek Restaurants
While the Queen Creek Olive Mill is one of the best places to eat around town, you’ll find a wide range of other top restaurants in Queen Creek as well. One such place is Sushi Creek, where visitors will enjoy a diverse menu of delicious sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri, as well as other items like pasta and juicy burgers. Enjoy the relaxed ambiance as you dine on their choice cuisine or even take a look at their “I Hate Sushi” menu.
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Sushi Creek, 21805 S Ellsworth Rd #103, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 (480) 677-4333
Next on the list of great Queen Creek restaurants is TC’s Pub & Grub. This fun location provides pub essentials like draft beer and wines, paired with live bands, trivia nights, and even karaoke. You’ll easily find mouthwatering options on their menu including ribs, burgers, sandwiches, soups, wings, sliders, tacos, and more.
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TC’s Pub & Grub, 7205 S Power Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 (480) 988-0313
4. Cost of Living in Queen Creek, AZ
Basic living expenses vary in Queen Creek as locals generally pay less for groceries, healthcare, and local utilities, but pay more for transportation and housing. Overall, the cost of living in Queen Creek is about 13% higher than the national average and about 11% higher than the Arizona state average.
Looking through lists of Queen Creek, AZ homes for sale, you’re sure to find great choices to pick from across the city. With about 84% of residents being homeowners, people looking to purchase can expect an average listing price of a home in Queen Creek of about $425,000. Most homes close with a median sale price per square foot of $164 and you’ll typically need to put a down payment of at least 3.2%.
Will you be one of the other 16% of people residing in Queen Creek who leases instead? The average price of rent in Queen Creek is $1,357 per month, which is an increase of about 4.27% since last year. A one-bedroom place will average about $1,156 per month and a two-bedroom will be closer to $1,317 per month.
5. Queen Creek Neighborhoods
The comfortable and clean communities in Queen Creek span a total area of about 32.4 square miles on the southeastern border of Maricopa County and Pinal County. People moving to Queen Creek can expect a zip code of either 85140, 85142, or 85298. And anyone who wants to update their phone number once they are residing in Queen Creek, plan on a 480 or 520 area code.
As you decide what part of town you want to live in, consider these popular neighborhoods in Queen Creek:
- Villages at Queen Creek
- Hastings Farms
- Queen Creek Pecans
- Montelena
- Pegasus Estates
- Ironwood Crossing
Queen Creek is also packed with convenient and popular places to go shopping such as Walgreens, Queen Creek Marketplace, Target, Walmart, TJ Maxx, QT, Sprouts, Home Goods, Kohls, and Queen Creek Village Center.
6. Queen Creek Schools
Young students living in Queen Creek are served by three local school districts including the Queen Creek Unified District, Higley Unified School District, and Legacy Traditional Charter Schools. These educational programs teach more than 9,203 children between the ages of 5 and 17, which make up nearly 28% of the local population.
No matter what part of town you end up in, your kids will have easy access to top-rated schools in Queen Creek such as:
- Desert Mountain Elementary School
- Cortina Elementary School
- Legacy Traditional School – Queen Creek
- Sossaman Middle School
- Queen Creek High School
The area is also home to the local Communiversity at Queen Creek community college and is only about 5 miles away from the Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus nearby.
7. Jobs in Queen Creek
As more people are relocating to Queen Creek, the more job opportunities that are arising. With this recent growth, the median household income in Queen Creek is $92,917 with the most popular careers being business management, finance, and computer techs.
If you’re looking for nearby Queen Creek jobs, some of the top employers around are:
- American Express
- Queen Creek Unified School District
- Banner Health
- Salt River Project
Many residents living in the area also commute from Queen Creek to Phoenix for work. And while it is about 38 miles away, most of the trip is quick thanks to local freeways like the US-60 and Loop-202.
8. Queen Creek, AZ Weather
Thanks to beautiful weather in Queen Creek and an average of 330 days of sunshine each year, people can constantly spend their time enjoying local trails, parks, and other outdoor activities.
Queen Creek weather during the summer can get pretty hot for a few months with average temperatures between the low 80s and above 100°F. Winters, on the other hand, are very comfortable as temperatures drop to between the low 40s and mid-60s. The average rainfall in Queen Creek is generally around 10 inches per year.
Living in Queen Creek Pros & Cons
- Pro: A long list of fun things to do and local activities in Queen Creek.
- Pro: Aside from the housing market, the area is fairly affordable for its advantages.
- Con: Summers can get hot, but you can look forward to cooler temps during fall and wintertime.
Moving to Queen Creek, AZ?
If this list doesn’t convince you that living in Queen Creek is awesome, we’re not sure what else will. The area is beautiful, conveniently located, and very safe, making it a great place to live for anyone.
Once you’ve made the decision that relocating to Queen Creek was always the right answer, we would like to help you make it happen. Get in touch with the top-rated Queen Creek movers at Mentors Moving today by calling (480) 376-1009 or complete the Request a Quote form above for a free moving estimate!
