Anthem, AZ
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What Anthem is actually like
Anthem was built from scratch starting in 1998, when Del Webb Corporation (later part of Pulte Homes) master-planned nearly 10 square miles of land straddling Interstate 17 at the base of Daisy Mountain, about 30 miles north of downtown Phoenix. Unlike Del Webb's earlier Sun City communities, Anthem was designed as an all-ages, family-oriented development, alongside a smaller age-restricted country-club section. The community remains unincorporated: its eastern half sits in unincorporated Maricopa County while its western half falls within Phoenix city limits. Construction and build-out continued through the 2000s and 2010s, filling in around Anthem's central park and commercial core.
Anthem's population runs roughly 22,000-23,000 across about 10,000 homes in six neighborhoods, ranging from 1,122-square-foot starter houses to two-story homes over 4,300 square feet, many with pools. It's a family-heavy suburb zoned to Deer Valley Unified School District and known for HOA-run amenities: the 63-acre Anthem Community Park, a recreation center, and the Anthem Veterans Memorial, whose five pillars are aligned so sunlight spotlights the Great Seal of the United States at 11:11 a.m. every Veterans Day. The Outlets at Anthem shopping center, along I-17, displays Arizona's tallest fresh-cut Christmas tree each winter and draws shoppers from across the North Valley.
Home values in Anthem
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) put the typical home value in Anthem at $566,866 as of May 2026, down 1.6% year-over-year.
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Explore Specialty Resources →Getting around
No light rail, and Valley Metro does not run fixed bus routes to Anthem, though it can arrange vanpool service; the community is effectively car-dependent via I-17.
Neighborhood FAQ
Who built Anthem?
Del Webb Corporation began master-planning Anthem in 1998; it's one of the largest unincorporated communities in the Phoenix area, straddling I-17 at the base of Daisy Mountain.
Is Anthem an incorporated city?
No — Anthem is unincorporated. Its eastern half sits in unincorporated Maricopa County and its western half falls within Phoenix city limits.
What's the flood risk in Anthem?
A July 31, 2012 storm dropped 5.01 inches of rain on Anthem in 90 minutes, an event investigators called a "one-in-1,000-year" rain catastrophe; monsoon flash flooding near washes remains a seasonal risk.
Does Anthem have Valley Metro bus service?
No — Valley Metro doesn't run fixed bus routes to Anthem, though it offers vanpool coordination; the community is effectively car-dependent via I-17.
Nearby alternatives*
Cave Creek
About 9 miles west via Carefree Highway, typically 15-18 minutes. Zillow puts Cave Creek's typical home value at $1,051,546, well above Anthem's $566,866. Cave Creek is also largely car-dependent, with no fixed-route transit to speak of.
Sun City
About 14 miles south via I-17 to Loop 101, typically 20-25 minutes. Zillow puts Sun City's typical home value at $299,904, well below Anthem's $566,866. Sun City has at least some Valley Metro bus service, more than you'll find here.
Carefree
About 11 miles west via Carefree Highway, typically 18-20 minutes. Movoto puts Carefree's typical home value at $1,150,000, well above Anthem's $566,866. Carefree is also largely car-dependent, with no fixed-route transit to speak of.
*We're not ranking these — every neighborhood has real trade-offs, and which ones matter is up to you.