Phoenix Demographics

People looking to purchase Scottsdale real estate or Phoenix homes will want to know something about the people whom they'll have as neighbors. Fortunately, there is plenty of demographic information available.

With a population of well over 1.5 million, Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. The entire metro area is home to over four million, making it the 13th largest urban region in the country, just behind the San Francisco Bay area and ahead of Puget Sound. Covering 515 square miles, Phoenix proper has a housing density of almost 1,100 people per square mile - so you definitely won't be short of neighbors! The Phoenix is divided into 15 districts or boroughs, known as "Urban Villages." The most recently created one is "New Village;" a planning committee is currently being formed for this area.

If you're a single woman looking to purchase Scottsdale property, you'll be interested to know that on the average, there are almost 104 men for every 100 women. Age distribution is fairly close to the U.S. average overall; the typical Phoenix resident is between 25 and 44 years of age.

Arizona was originally part of the far-flung Spanish Empire, and then later part of Mexico. This is reflected in the sizable number of Spanish-speakers living in the area, making up over 34% of the population as of 2006. The Hispanic population of the area is exceeded only by the number of Cauasians, who make up nearly 62% of Phoenix residents; people of African descent are around 20%. The rest are mix of Asian, Native American and Pacific Islanders, numbering a little over 4%.

Phoenix real estate agents report that most Phoenix households consist of married couples, and over 35% of Phoenix households have children under age 18. According to the most recent figures, the average Phoenix household has two or three people, and the average family has three or four members.

The median family income in Phoenix in 2006 is $46,467; the per capita income is $19,833. Phoenix is the home base for three Fortune 1000 companies, as well as military contractor Honeywell and computer manufacturer Intel, which employs about 11,000 workers. Phoenix is also known as the international headquarters for the rental and moving supply company U-HAUL. The University of Phoenix is also a major employer in the area.

Since the Second World War, the Army Air Corps - which became the U.S. Air Force in 1947 - has maintained a presence in the area. Of the three air bases, Luke Field is still operated by the military; the other two, Falcon Field and Williams Gateway have been converted to civilian use.

Several foreign governments maintain consulates in Phoenix, including most Latin American countries as well as Canada, a number of states of the European Union, and Japan and Sri Lanka.