Each of the Northeast Phoenix communities offers distinct experiences, but they all enjoy the combination of rural relaxation and city sophistication. Northeast Phoenix provides an unbeatable quality of life, along with the exceptional climate and breath-taking scenery. The exclusive planned communities in the area provide every possible facet of ‘the good life’ while maintaining a deep appreciation and full enjoyment of the nature all around them. It would be hard to find a better place to live. 

Location
Greater Phoenix encompasses several unique cities. In the northeast area are found the towns of Carefree, Cave Creek and Fountain Hills. 

Cave Creek is a town in the Arizona desert foothills in northern Maricopa County, in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area. Cave Creek is located 3.3 miles from Carefree, 8.8 miles from New River, 17.2 miles from Scottsdale, 19.8 miles from Paradise Valley, 20.5 miles from Black Canyon City, 21.1 miles from Rio Verde, 22.3 miles from Phoenix, and 22.5 miles from Fountain Hills.  

The town of Carefree is located in the upper section of the Northeast Valley, in the desert foothills, about 22 miles northeast of Phoenix and directly north of the city of Scottsdale. It is bordered by the Tonto National Forest on the north and east and the Mazatzal Mountains and Sonoran Desert on the south.  

Scottsdale Road and Pima Road travel north from Phoenix and Scottsdale into Carefree. Residents can also access Carefree Highway, east and west, near the town’s southern boundary. Carefree is located 3.3 miles from Cave Creek, 12.0 miles from New River, 15.8 miles from Scottsdale, 17.9 miles from Rio Verde, 19.1 miles from Paradise Valley, 19.7 miles from Fountain Hills, and 23.1 miles from Black Canyon City. 

Cave Creek and Carefree are separated from each other by the Continental Mountains. 

Fountain Hills is also part of the Northeast Valley area of greater Phoenix. It is a community located just east of Scottsdale and west of the McDowell Mountains. Fountain Hills is situated 8.9 miles from Rio Verde, 11.5 miles from Scottsdale, 13.4 miles from Mesa, 16.2 miles from Paradise Valley, 18.2 miles from Gilbert, 18.3 miles from Apache Junction, 19.7 miles from Carefree, 20.3 miles from Tempe, and 24.5 miles from Phoenix. 

Airports
Northeast Phoenix area is served primarily by Sky Harbor International Airport.  

Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix is located north of the I-10. It is the largest airport in the Southwest and is used by 21 major airlines with more than 1,500 flights arriving and departing daily. It offers non-stop service to 114 cities worldwide. Serving over 35 million passengers yearly, Sky Harbor has one of the highest percentages of on-time flights of any US major airport.  

Phoenix Deer Valley Airport is a small Phoenix facility used for private planes and to relieve congestion at Sky Harbor International. It boasts over 900 aircraft and an 8,500 foot runway. 

Northeast Phoenix is also served by Williams-Gateway Airport. It is located in Mesa, and serves as a commercial airline.  

Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Scottsdale and Falcon Field Airport in Mesa are two local airports that mainly handle private and corporate jets. Scottsdale Municipal Airport offers full services for corporate jet traffic, as well as tours, charters and commuter flights. It is currently the second busiest single-runway airport in the country and the busiest corporate jet facility in the state. Its two private terminals allow traveling VIPs to avoid the Sky Harbor International crowds. 

Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, and Pleasant Valley Airport in Peoria are additional public-use airports in the area. 

Terrain
Northeast Phoenix terrain is a desert area with spectacular views, native plants and wildlife.

The town of Cave Creek covers an area of 28.2 square miles. 

Fountain Hills covers 18.2 square miles and sits at an elevation of 1,500 to 3200 feet above sea level, 500 feet above the city of Phoenix. 

Carefree covers just over 8.8 square miles. The terrain includes large piles of granite boulders, surrounding sharp mountain tops, and tall saguaro cactus. It sits at an elevation of 2,395 feet making it generally eight degrees cooler than the city of Phoenix in the valley below. Black Mountain Summit offers amazing desert views. 

Population
Cave Creek has a population of approximately 4,546.  

There is a well-educated population in Cave Creek. Of those over 25 years old, 93.8 percent have a high school education, 40.9 percent have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, and 16.7 percent have a Graduate or other professional degree. The unemployment rate is an extremely low 1.9 percent. 

The town of Carefree has a population of approximately 3,484. Carefree has a well- educated populace. Of those over 25 years old, 96.8 percent have a high school education or higher, 50.3 percent have a Bachelor’s degree or higher and 17.6 percent have a Graduate or other professional degree. The unemployment rate in the town is a mere 1.2 percent. 

Fountain Hills has a population of approximately 25,251. It also has a well-educated population. Of those over 25 years old, 95 percent have a minimum of a high school degree, 37.8 percent have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, and 13.7 percent have a Graduate or professional degree. The Fountain Hills unemployment rate is 2.2 percent. 

Jobs
The industries providing employment in Cave Creek are: educational, health and social services (15.5%), finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing (14.4%), construction (12.1%), professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (12.1%), retail trade (11.4%), arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (10.2%). The average time to travel to work in Cave Creek is 32.5 minutes. 

Industries providing employment in Fountain Hills are: educational, health and social services (18.9%), Retail trade (12.0%), professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (11.0%), arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (10.6%), finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing (10.4%). The average time to travel to work in Fountain Hills is 28.8 minutes. 

The industries providing employment in Carefree are: professional, scientific, management, administrative (20.6%), finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing (16.8%), educational, health and social services (12.1%), and retail trade (10.1%).  

The average time to travel to work in Carefree is 34.2 minutes. 

Colleges/Universities
There are many fine colleges and universities in the Northeast Phoenix area. Those with an enrollment of over 2,000 in Phoenix are: Paradise Valley Community College, with an enrollment of 3,410; Devry Institute of Technology, with an enrollment of 3,165; Phoenix College with an enrollment of 5,911; Universal Technical Institute, with an enrollment of 2,091; and Grand Canyon University with an enrollment of 2,207.  

In the city of Glendale there is Arizona State University-West, with an enrollment of 3,334 and Glendale Community College, with an enrollment of 9,981. 

Fountain Hills is home to the American Institute of Interior Design, and in Scottsdale is found Scottsdale Community College, with an enrollment of 5,345. 

Colleges with over 2,000 students in Tempe are Rio Salado Community College, with an enrollment of 4,472; Al Collins Graphic Design School, with an enrollment of 4,057; and Arizona State University-Main Campus, with an enrollment of 37,174. 

Mesa is home to Mesa Community College, with its enrollment of 11,928 and Chandler is home to Chandler/Gilbert Community College with an enrollment of 2,990. 

Housing
Fountain Hills, the largest of the Northeast Valley cities, began as a master-planned community and offers upscale living as well as excellent entertainment possibilities. The median value of the homes in Fountain Hills is $275,274.  

In Carefree, the natural environment has been beautifully integrated into a planned residential community. Open space has been maximized, with large lot sizes and "desert friendly" landscaping. The custom homes blend into the unusual setting of rocks and surrounding mountain. The town ensures that residential areas or commercial development does not overpower the desert but rather enhances its untouched beauty. The average median home price is $323,038 but can be priced as high as $4 million. 

Cave Creek's western tradition is obvious in its southwestern architecture and ranch homes. Here you can find small horse ranches. Their communities are family oriented enclaves and more than 80 percent of the housing is single family dwellings. Many homes are part of master planned communities with full resort amenities. The average median price for homes in Cave Creek is $331,494. 

Historic Buildings
Cave Creek has a strong Western heritage that it is proud of. It attracted settlers in the 1870’s who were searching for peace and solitude. The bed-and-breakfast inns in Cave Creek are historic buildings preserving Cave Creek's Western charm to which modern amenities have been added. 

The foothills of Cave Creek have a spectacular history, preserved and on display at the Cave Creek Museum. There are Indian artifacts and pottery, cowboy memorabilia from the Old West, and items from the Gold Rush days.  

Cave Creek Mistress Mine is found about 10 miles northeast of Carefree. It is an 1883 gold mine featuring an old-style rock shop, specializing in local rocks and a museum section that includes a display of antique mining tools and equipment. It is actual working mine still done by hand, as in the 1880s. 

Recreation
Northeast Phoenix area features the 2.8 million-acre Tonto National Forest, three lakes for water sports, river rafting on the Verde River and tubing on the Salt River.  

Horseshoe, Bartlett and Saguaro lakes all can be reached via paved roads and provide marinas, watercraft rentals, fishing supplies and campsites nearby.  

The 2,100-acre Spur Cross Ranch is the newest addition to the county's park system, offering archaeological treasures and lush vegetation.  

Bikes can be rented in Cave Creek to explore the whole area, or you can go on a guided hike, or go horseback riding.  

Several stables offer horseback rides into the nearby Continental Mountains. There are also single and double-track bike trails through the mountains at a variety of skill levels. 

Fountain Hills offers golf courses, hiking, biking, jeep tours in the desert, fine dining and spas. 

The town of Carefree has many outstanding recreational activities available. Nearby Bartlett Lake offers boating and fishing. The Verde River gives visitors an opportunity to swim. Carefree Recreational Area has hiking, biking, camping and picnicking.
Tennis and, of course, world-class golf courses are located nearby. These courses have been noted as some of the most picturesque golf course in the entire state, hidden away in the rock and towering Black Mountain. Another great outdoor spot is the Carefree Recreational Area. Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to choose from hiking, camping and picnicking. It is just a short mile and a half drive from town. 

Special Attractions/Events
Some of the annual special events in the town of Carefree are: the Annual Fiesta Days in April, the Annual Fireworks Extravaganza in July, and the Oktober West Fest in October. 

The El Pedregal Festival Marketplace at the Boulders offers art galleries, restaurants and shops with items from all around the world. It specializes in African, Mediterranean, and Southwestern objects and architecture and includes the Heard Museum North, the only extension of Phoenix's world-famous museum. Cave Creek and Carefree are home to a growing arts community of hundreds of artists and numerous galleries. 

There are numerous exceptional shops, fine restaurants, and boutiques located throughout the Carefree area. Resort/spa style living, complimented by incredible golf courses draws many to this area. 

There are two rather new resorts in northeast Phoenix include the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, which has two 18-hole championship golf courses, 950 rooms and the Revive Spa, and The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. 

The Boulders Resort, situated at the base of a 250-foot pile of boulders, is one of the top resorts in the nation. The Boulders features the Golden Door Spa and two Jay Morrish 18-hole championship golf courses. 

Carefree Resort & Villas, sitting amid towering saguaros, offers tennis, swimming pools and a wide array of recreational activities. It boasts the new Breathe Spa, a fully integrated facility that focusing on the elements of nature. 

The Town of Fountain Hills is nationally renowned for its two major art shows --- February’s Great Fair and Balloon Race, and November's Fountain Festival. Each event attracts over 100,000 people annually. Next to its famous fountain is the park, used frequently for concerts and other main events. 

Fountain Hill’s CopperWynd Resort and Club features a European-style spa and superb tennis facilities.  

Located east of Carefree is Tonto Hills, home of a giant Kachina. 

Giant Sundial is a Carefree Landmark that has been attracting people to the town since 1959. It is the third largest working sundial in the Western hemisphere. It measures 90 feet in diameter and is made from a steel frame and covered in anodized copper. The metal gnomon, or shadow casting part of the dial, rises 35 feet above the base and extends 72 feet. 

Interesting Facts
The City of Fountain Hills was named for the highest fountain in the world. It shoots water 562 feet into the air for 10 minutes, on the hour, 12 hours a day. 

The Carefree town motto is “Home of cowboys and caviar, where the Old West meets the new”. 

Carefree had its beginnings as a mining camp and has grown to a popular location for tourists, artists and celebrities. 

Carefree was one of the earliest planned communities in Arizona.