Chandler, AZ 55+ Communities: A Buyer’s Guide
Southern Chandler has one of the best clusters of 55+ living in the Valley — several golf communities strung along Riggs Road, minutes apart. Here’s how they compare, from the tiniest to the largest, so you can find the one that fits.
If you want the East Valley — close to freeways, the airport, shopping, and good healthcare — Chandler is one of the smartest places to look for 55+ living. And it has a happy quirk: several active-adult communities sit within about five miles of each other along Riggs Road in the south of the city. Locals call it “Retirement Row.” That means you can compare very different communities in a single afternoon.
The Chandler advantage: you’re in the heart of the East Valley — a straight shot to Sky Harbor and Mesa Gateway airports, the 202 and I-10, plus Chandler’s shopping, dining, and hospitals. You get quiet 55+ living without being far from anything.
The Chandler 55+ communities
SunBird Golf Resort
A guard-gated golf community built around its own 18-hole executive course, with a huge 43,000-square-foot clubhouse. SunBird also offers park-model and manufactured homes on owned land alongside single-family — one of the more affordable ways into a Chandler golf community.
SunBird guide →Springfield
A guard-gated Del Webb community of about 742 single-family homes from the late 1990s, built around an 18-hole executive golf course. Established, tidy, and well-located.
Springfield guide →Solera – Chandler
A gated Del Webb community of about 1,149 homes with a clubhouse and restaurant, wrapped around the public Lone Tree Golf Course right at the entrance. The fuller-amenity choice of the smaller communities.
Solera guide →Lone Tree
Tiny by design — about 73 single-family homes and a community pool, and that’s it. For the buyer who doesn’t want to pay for big amenities they’ll never use, with golf courses close by.
Lone Tree guide →Sun Lakes
Right next door — five separate country-club communities that many people mistake for one. Its own full guide covers all five, their golf, and their gates.
Sun Lakes guide →How they compare at a glance
| Community | Feel | Gate | Golf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Tree | Tiny, low-key (~73 homes) | Gated | Courses nearby |
| SunBird | Affordable, owned-land options | Guard gated | Own 18-hole course |
| Springfield | Established Del Webb (~742 homes) | Guard gated | Own 18-hole course |
| Solera | Fuller amenities (~1,149 homes) | Gated | Lone Tree course at entry |
| Sun Lakes | Five country clubs | Mixed | Multiple courses |
There’s a Chandler 55+ community for almost every budget and temperament here — from the pared-down (Lone Tree) to the amenity-rich (Solera, Sun Lakes). The trick is matching the community to how you actually want to live, and that’s where a tour beats a website.
See them all in one afternoon
I’m Jarl Kubat, a licensed Arizona agent with 22+ years in the Valley’s 55+ communities. Because these sit minutes apart on Riggs Road, we can tour several in a day — we burn my gas, not yours — and quickly find your fit.
Call or Text: (480) 710-6326 Contact PageFrequently asked questions
Which Chandler 55+ community is the most affordable?
SunBird is often the value entry point — it offers park-model and manufactured homes on owned land alongside single-family, at a lower buy-in. Lone Tree is small and low-fee too. We can match a community to your budget.
Are they all gated?
Mostly. SunBird and Springfield are guard gated; Solera and Lone Tree are gated (gate, no guard). Sun Lakes next door is a mix across its five communities. We keep the exact status straight for you.
Which one has the best golf?
SunBird and Springfield each have their own 18-hole executive course; Solera wraps around the public Lone Tree championship course. Sun Lakes has multiple courses across its five communities. Different golf for different players.
Why is Chandler a good place to retire?
Location. You’re in the East Valley with quick access to Sky Harbor and Mesa Gateway airports, the 202 and I-10, plus Chandler’s shopping, dining, and hospitals — all while living in a quiet 55+ community.
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Community information is summarized for general guidance and can change. Home counts, gated status, golf, age rules, and fees vary by community and are subject to change — verify current details with each association or your licensed agent before you buy. This page is independent buyer-focused information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any named community. Jarl Kubat is a licensed Arizona real estate agent.