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Maricopa County · Carefree, AZCarefree, AZ property taxes. A steady market. Check the details.
The typical home in Carefree was worth about $1,260,000 in January 2026, up 2.2% from a year earlier. In a steady market, an appeal works best for specific homes whose assessment ran ahead of what they'd sell for.
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What Carefree home values did
Carefree values rose 2.2% in the year to January 2026, reaching a new high. That's stronger than Maricopa County as a whole (-2.7%).
Values have been roughly flat since January, through August 2026.
| Month | Typical value | vs. a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| January 2021 | $831,000 | +13.4% |
| January 2022 | $1,086,000 | +30.6% |
| January 2023 | $1,154,000 | +6.3% |
| January 2024 | $1,205,000 | +4.4% |
| January 2025 | $1,233,000 | +2.4% |
| January 2026 | $1,260,000 | +2.2% |
| August 2026 (latest) | $1,272,000 | +1.0% since January |
January 2026 was the highest month since 2021.
What to check on your notice
The typical Carefree home gained 2.2% in the year to January 2026. A notice that rose far more than that, or a value above what similar homes nearby actually sold for, is the usual starting point for an appeal.
How Carefree compares nearby
Among 10 Maricopa County places, Carefree has the 10th largest drop from its peak and the 1st highest typical value. Statewide, its 1-year change ranks 123rd of 144 Arizona places, from weakest to strongest.
| Place | January 2026 | 1-year change | vs. peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $411,000 | -3.7% | -10.4% |
| Mesa | $433,000 | -3.0% | -8.6% |
| Chandler | $522,000 | -2.9% | -9.0% |
| Gilbert | $569,000 | -2.1% | -8.2% |
| Glendale | $406,000 | -3.7% | -10.0% |
| Scottsdale | $840,000 | +0.6% | -2.8% |
| Peoria | $485,000 | -2.5% | -9.7% |
| Tempe | $467,000 | -3.0% | -7.2% |
| Surprise | $422,000 | -3.1% | -13.9% |
| Carefree | $1,260,000 | +2.2% | At peak |
Deadline and where to file
Carefree values are set by the local county assessor. File a Petition for Review of Real Property Valuation with the county assessor within 60 days of the date the assessor mailed your Notice of Value. Notices can be mailed any time from January 1 to the end of February, so most deadlines fall between March 1 and April 28 or 29.
Reading this in fall 2026? Arizona's window for 2026 values has closed. The next chance is the 2027 Notice of Value, which counties mail between January 1 and the end of February 2027. You will have 60 days from the mailing date on that notice, so plan to file by roughly March to late April 2027. If you appealed in 2026 and lost, the court deadline of December 15, 2026 may still apply, so check your decision letter now.
The Maricopa County guide covers the full Arizona appeal process: forms, fees, hearing levels and what happens next.
Building a Carefree case
A citywide index shows the trend. Your case needs your house. Carefree is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro, but your evidence should be local. Sales a few streets away usually beat sales across the metro.
- Check whether your LPV is close to your full cash value. If it is far below, a lower full cash value may not change your primary tax bill.
Get your Carefree appeal report
Start with your address. Vulorean checks your assessment against recent comparable sales and builds a value report you can bring to your Arizona appeal. Eligible reports are free during launch; an account is required and local filing fees are separate.
Check my property and get a report →Vulorean was built for California first. Arizona forms, deadlines and filing rules vary, so confirm them with your local office before filing. If something in your report looks wrong, email support@vulorean.com and we'll get it fixed.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, mid-tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted, through August 2026, from Zillow Research. Rules: Arizona Department of Revenue, Property Tax Appeals (Feb 2024), A.R.S. 42-16051, Petition to assessor, Arizona Constitution Art. 9 Sec. 18, limit on increase in values, A.R.S. 42-13301, Limited property value. Vulorean is an independent service, not a government office. Confirm dates and forms with your local office.