San Carlos 55 Below average
San Carlos Livability #258 ranked city in Arizona#23,180 ranked city in the USARanks better than 20% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in San Carlos

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Employment Employment

    This area earns a low score in the employment category due to low household income levels and high unemployment rates, which may pose challenges in seeking job opportunities.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score might be a result of factors like lower than average education levels, lackluster reading and math scores and the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in San Carlos?

San Carlos, Arizona is a small-sized city with a population of 4,691 people. The median age of all San Carlos residents is 26, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for a younger demographic. San Carlos is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 39% married, this city falls well below the national average. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in San Carlos, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 24 minutes.

Are you trying to figure out if living in San Carlos is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a fulfilling experience before moving to any new city in Arizona, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around San Carlos, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, cost of living, housing and more.

The livability score in San Carlos is 55 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 21st percentile of all cities across America. This is a lower than the United States average livability score as San Carlos does not rank well for most categories. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that San Carlos has higher than average grades for the following: housing (A+). Regrettably for San Carlos, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (D), education (F) and employment (F).

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their San Carlos apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to San Carlos is real estate affordability. The median home price for San Carlos homes is $88,929, which is 71.4% lower than the Arizona average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in San Carlos, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 1.8, which is 56.1% lower than the Arizona average.

Best Places to Live in and Around San Carlos

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      San Carlos transportation information

      Statistic San Carlos Arizona National
      Average one way commute24min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work72.9%76.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool19.8%10.9%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%2.0%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%1.0%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.9%2.0%2.8%
      Working from home4.3%5.7%4.6%
      Source: The San Carlos, AZ data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.