Maricopans Struggle with Soaring Housing Costs; Economists Urge for Denser, Affordable Units

On May 20, 2025, Senior Economist Danny Court from Elliott D. Pollack & Company addressed the Maricopa City Council, emphasizing the urgent need for affordable housing in the city. His presentation, part of the Maricopa Housing Needs Assessment, highlighted critical trends affecting local residents.

Court underscored that a significant portion of the population faces housing cost burdens. He noted that approximately one-third of Maricopa residents struggle with housing expenses, a situation that has worsened due to escalating home prices since the pandemic, which have risen nearly 60% compared to a mere 20% increase in wages.

“With a rapidly growing population, the demand for affordable housing options will only intensify,” he warned. Nearly 30% of homeowners and close to 70% of renters now find themselves spending a disproportionate amount of their income on housing. Court attributed the problem to broader state and national trends that Maricopa has not been able to escape.

To tackle the issue of housing affordability, Court proposed seven strategies, including:

• Encouraging smaller lots and homes priced below $325,000.
• Allowing higher density rentals to accommodate the growing segment of renters.
• Permitting secondary dwelling units on existing lots to create affordable rental options.
• Embracing manufactured homes as a cost-effective ownership option.
• Supporting subsidized programs for multi-family housing targeting low-income households.
• Enhancing government voucher and tax credit programs to broaden subsidies available to low-income families.
• Promoting the construction of senior living facilities to cater to aging residents.

Maricopa’s Development Services Director, Rudy Lopez, noted that these recommendations could inform updates to the city’s General Plan. “We will incorporate a housing element to guide our discussions,” he said.

The comprehensive housing assessment, which first appeared before the Maricopa Planning and Zoning Commission in March, reveals profound insights into the city’s housing trends and demographics, marking the first in-depth analysis since 2017.

As the report detailed, Maricopa has seen a historic increase in single-family home prices, severely affecting rental rates and affordability. Court expressed concern about residents with incomes between $40,000 and $70,000 struggling to find affordable housing options, a stark contrast to previous years when homes in the $200,000 range were more accessible.

Despite the analysis, some council members, including Amber Liermann and Bob Marsh, voiced interest in attracting wealthier residents. Marsh cited affluent individuals relocating from California as potential contributors to the local economy.

Court clarified that the focus of the study remained on affordability, urging the council to consider separate discussions for attracting wealthier demographics. He emphasized the need for more density and less regulatory burden on developers to effectively address the ongoing housing crisis.

The discussion reflects the complexities of balancing housing needs across various income levels in a rapidly evolving Maricopa landscape.