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.
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.
Chandler 55+ communities 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.
The communities
Tiny and low-key (~73 homes), gated. Easy to miss and rarely comes up — ask us when one does.
Affordable, guard gated, with owned-land options and its own 18-hole course.
An established Del Webb community (~742 homes), guard gated, with its own 18-hole course.
Fuller amenities (~1,149 homes), gated, playing the Lone Tree course right at its entry.
Just south of Chandler — five country clubs and multiple golf courses. A world of its own.
Common questions
Which Chandler 55+ community is the most affordable?
Lone Tree and SunBird are usually the most affordable ways in, and SunBird has owned-land options. Prices move constantly, so tell us your budget and we’ll pull current numbers for the ones that fit.
Are they all gated?
Almost. Lone Tree and Solera are gated (a gate, no guard). SunBird and Springfield are guard gated (a guard on duty). Sun Lakes is mixed by club. If the difference matters to you, we’ll walk you through exactly what each one means day to day.
Which one has the best golf?
Several have their own: SunBird and Springfield each have an 18-hole course, Sun Lakes has multiple across its five clubs, and Solera plays the Lone Tree course at its entry. “Best” really depends on your game, your budget, and whether you want golf included or nearby.
Why is Chandler a good place to retire?
It’s classic East Valley — close to freeways, the airport, shopping, and strong healthcare — and the Riggs Road cluster lets you compare several very different communities in one afternoon. Few places make the search this easy.
See them all in one afternoon
I’m Jarl Kubat, a licensed Arizona REALTOR® with 22+ years in the Valley’s 55+ communities. Because these sit minutes apart on Riggs Road, we can tour several in a single day — we burn my gas, not yours — and quickly find your fit.
Coming in from out of state? Most of my buyers are. Tell me when you’re visiting and I’ll help lay out the trip so no day gets wasted.
Not sure which Chandler community fits you?
Tell us how you want to live and what you want to spend, and we’ll point you to the right ones — then show them to you in person.
Call or Text: (480) 710-6326 Contact PageCommunity details (home counts, gated status, amenities, and golf) are summarized for general guidance and can change. Age rules and fees vary by community and are subject to change — always verify with the association before you buy. Jarl Kubat is a licensed Arizona real estate agent with West USA Realty.