Real Estate Investing in Queen Creek, Arizona (85142)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Maricopa County • Population: 87,201 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85142 (Queen Creek, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Queen Creek, AZ (85142)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $588,606
Avg Monthly Rent $2,137
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $116,587
% Renters 12.5%

Market Analysis: 85142 Queen Creek

Meanwhile, ZIP 85142 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $589K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $2,137/mo on a $589K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 85142 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 85142's metrics run below Maricopa County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 85142 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. healthy returns are possible in 85142, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Queen Creek:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,137/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
64 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 85142

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$143,661/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $419,625 $2,470 4.2% +7.1% $209,812
3BR $461,550 $3,290 5.1% +6.9% $153,850
4BR $574,645 $3,650 4.6% +7.7% $143,661
5BR $757,891 +8.9% $151,578

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$666K$558K$451K$344K$236K$129KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,280$2,038$1,795$1,553$1,310$1,068Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85142 Compare?

Metric 85142 Queen Creek Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Arizona
Home Value $588,606 $588,606 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 3.1% 3.1% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $2,137 $2,137 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85142? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85142 (Queen Creek, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Maricopa County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Active Renter Property Management offers rental property management services in Phoenix, Arizona, including a 6-month tenant guarantee. summary from their website

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Arête Realty and Property Management, LLC offers property management services and real estate expertise in Glendale, Avondale, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Sun City, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and Peori summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Arizona Community Management Services offers a comprehensive suite of services for Association leaders, including board training, financial management, and covenants enforcement, with decades of exper summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $588,606
Monthly Rent $2,137
Price-to-Rent 23.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 6.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
3.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85142

Population: 87,201

💰 Median Household Income
$116,587
This area
$116,587
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.5%
This area
12.5%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
37.0%
This area
37.0%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.6 years
This area
35.6 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.2%
Other/Mixed 18.1%
Hispanic/Latino 12.5%
Black/African American 3.9%
Asian 2.8%
👶 Under 18
29.6%
This area
29.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.7%
This area
10.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 85142

C+ Avg School Grade
36 Schools
17.4:1 Avg Class Size
$50,896 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good
👥
186 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
A Very Good

Desert Mountain Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
740 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
A Very Good

Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
611 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
A Very Good

Jack Barnes Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
630 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
A Very Good

Queen Creek Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
735 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
582 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,696 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Queen Creek Junior High School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
562 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
819 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Schnepf Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
840 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
B Good

CAVIT - San Tan Foothills High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$92,362 Per Student
B Good

EVIT - American Leadership Academy Queen Creek

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$268,451 Per Student
B Good

EVIT - Casteel High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$268,451 Per Student
B Good

EVIT - Crismon High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$268,451 Per Student
B Good

EVIT - Queen Creek High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$268,451 Per Student
B Good

Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
1,163 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,300 Per Student
B Good

Queen Creek Virtual Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
👥
239 Students
💰
$17,300 Per Student
B Good

Ridgeview College Preparatory High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
245 Students
💰
$17,913 Per Student
B Good

Cortina Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
664 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,123 Per Student
B Good

EVIT - Heritage Academy Gateway

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
2 Students
💰
$268,451 Per Student
B Good

San Tan Heights Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
718 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$9,579 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 3,401 Off-Campus Students
D
American InterContinental University System
10,997 students · 9.9 mi
C
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
14,725 students · 10.2 mi
C
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley
373 students · 12.7 mi
C+
International Baptist College and Seminary
81 students · 13.5 mi
C
Studio Academy of Beauty
668 students · 14.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,401 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do experienced investors play Queen Creek, AZ?

Most investors in Queen Creek, AZ run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Queen Creek, AZ?

Queen Creek, AZ draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $2,137/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is Queen Creek, AZ good for landlords?

Landlord-friendliness in Queen Creek, AZ is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What does house hacking look like in Queen Creek, AZ?

Queen Creek, AZ is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $589K price point reasonable to enter.

What is the typical home price in Queen Creek, AZ?

Queen Creek, AZ median home values land near $589K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $2,137/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 85142 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 85142 ranks in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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