San Tan Valley, in the far south east corner of the Valley of the Sun, is located in Pinal County. Nestled in the eastern foothills of the San Tan Mountains, close to 100,000 people call this unincorporated rural community home.

The population of San Tan Valley has grown significantly in the last 20 years. That growth is bringing an increasing number of stores and restaurants for residents; but anything you can’t find here, you can find 15 minutes away in Queen Creek, or a further 10 to 15 minutes away in Gilbert or Mesa.

Unless you work from home, or work in the service or retail industries, or are retired, you will probably have to commute to work. Employment opportunities here have yet to catch up with the population growth. However, if you work in Gilbert, Chandler, or east Mesa, the drive isn’t too far. But if you work in Tempe or Phoenix, or need to get to Phoenix Sky Harbor regularly, be prepared for a good hour of driving each way.

The town is serviced by two school districts, each with high schools within the area. J. O. Combs Unified School District (Combs High School) and the Florence Unified School District (Poston Butte High School, San Tan Foothills High School) service students and families in the area.

If you enjoy hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding, then if you buy a home in San Tan Valley you will love having the beautiful San Tan Mountain Regional Park on your doorstep. This scenic desert park covers more than 10,000 acres; it ranges in elevation from about 1,400 feet to over 2,500 feet with both gentle desert hiking paths and more strenuous mountain hikes.

With the exception of race day at the Arizona Speedway, a popular racetrack north of the community, life here is typically pretty quiet; a place to enjoy your home, the sunsets, the outdoors, and the blue desert skies. If you are looking for a larger range of entertainment options and family activities, Queen Creek is only a 15-minute drive away, and much of the rest of the southeast valley can be reached in 30 to 40 minutes.

Being at the outer limits of the Valley, property is definitely more affordable than in other parts of the Valley. So, if you’re looking for more of a rural, suburban lifestyle with only occasional trips to the bright lights of the big cities, then this could be the place for you!

The area used to be described as Queen Creek. Interestingly it was never actually part of the town, but as mail was delivered to this area by the Queen Creek post office, it had to be called something!

That changed in 2009, when the area was renamed to San Tan Valley which is officially a “census designated place” rather than an official town or city. You will find a variety of master planned communities here, such as the family friendly Pecan Creek South, and San Tan Heights, golf communities like Johnson Ranch, and active adult communities such as Solera at Johnson Ranch.