Country living at the base of Santa Rita Mountains
Elephant Head shares its name with the quarts monzonite landmark pushing out of the western foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains. The community sits close to the Elephant Head peak, and hikes to it lead to sweeping views of the valley and range. Natural attractions aside, this place gives its residents ample room and quiet desert living on the fringes of the Tucson metro. For David Katen, who moved here in the 1980s, Elephant Head proposed an alternative to nearby Green Valley, where age-restricted properties and homeowners association fees are common. “The Realtor said … ‘I have a place in an area in Elephant Head I’d like to show you.’ He drove us out. It’s country, pretty rough roads getting out there, but we fell in love with it all,” says the owner of the antique store Dave’s Place in the desert.
A large custom built home with a front balcony sits on a barren lot with striking views of the nearby Elephant Head Butte in Elephant Head.
Many homes in Elephant Head sit on large parcels of land with wide-open views of the Santa Rita Mountains and few nearby neighbors.
1/2
Manufactured and custom homes with generous acreage
Homeowners here owe their extra land to a requirement that properties span at least 5 acres. Lots here allow some to keep horses, as the Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary most visibly shows. The nonprofit keeps 67 horses on 25 acres of land. Homes here also rely on well and septic systems. “The dwellings are all different. They go from manufactured homes to beautiful custom homes. It kind of depends on what you want to build. Some people have pools out there,” says Kim Anderson, a Realtor with Tierra Antigua Realty. Depending on a mix of size and type, homes here mainly run between $200,000 and $600,000. Open land also goes from about $50,000 to $200,000.
This low-set manufactured house includes a shaded entrance and is nestled in a small clearing among mesquite trees in Elephant Head.
A two-story stucco home with Southwest-style architecture stands against a backdrop of wide desert plains and mountain views in Elephant Head.
1/2
Journeys to the Elephant Head
On the eastern end of the community, a dirt trail leads bikers directly toward Elephant Head. The massive rock draws various outdoor enthusiasts, some with cameras in hand to take panoramic photographs of the desert. Elephant Head sits just west of Madera Canyon, which offers plenty of birdwatching and over 100 miles of trails. Hikers can continue to Mount Wrightson, the range’s highest point. This part of Pima County also provides trails and grounds for off-roading activities and horseback riding. “I’m at the foothills of the mountains, so I love all the nature. We have deer, javelinas. We even had a bear come visit us once. I love that part, the nature part, because I’m a nature girl,” says Karen Harkson, the founder of the Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary.
Informational signs mark the entrance to a local trailhead in the Elephant Head area, offering access to scenic desert landscape.
A couple poses for a selfie near a trailhead in Madera Canyon, capturing the moment before heading out on one of the area's scenic forest hikes in Green Valley.
1/2
Supporting Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary
Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary hosts various fundraising events, although they don’t necessarily occur within Elephant Head. One of the nonprofit’s massive celebrations occurs in the fall, with the 2024 iteration titled the Black, Blue and Boots Gala. For that event, those in attendance dressed up, danced to live music and participated in silent auctions. The nonprofit also hosts a fundraiser in the spring at the Longhorn Grill and Saloon in neighboring Amado. The March 2025 event, Harmony and Horses, featured a live band and raffle. Throughout the year, those seeking to meet the rescued horses can schedule tours of the sanctuary.
Horses roam in shaded corrals at Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting equines from abuse, neglect, and slaughter in Elephant Head.
The entrance to Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary welcomes visitors to its peaceful ranch setting just outside Elephant Head.
1/2
Sahuarita High’s STEM focus
Students may start at Sopori Elementary School, which gets a B-minus from Niche. They may then attend Sahuarita middle and high schools, which respectively get B-plus and B grades from Niche. All those campuses fall under the Sahuarita Unified School District, which receives a B-plus from Niche. The district boasts an 88% graduation rate, about 11 percentage points above the state and slightly ahead of the country. Sahuarita High’s extracurriculars include NJROTC — Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. The school also offers AP classes in computer programming and dual-enrollment engineering courses with the University of Arizona.
Sahuartia High School spans a large campus in Rancho Sanhuarita, featuring athletic fields, modern buildings, and nearby neighborhoods.
Grass fields near Sahuarita Middle School provide open space for PE, recess, and after-school activities.
1/2
Dining and shopping in nearby Green Valley and Amado
Although some shopping exists in Elephant Head, residents must leave to find eateries and more stores. The Los Agaves Restaurant is among a few options in nearby Green Valley for Mexican fare. Marti’s Bistro serves Southwestern specialties and other comfort foods in a casual setting. The Longhorn Grill and Saloon outside Amado neighbors few businesses and is hard to miss with the massive bovine skull at its entrance. Safeway in Green Valley is among the nearest chain grocers.
The Safeway in nearby Green Valley provides convenient grocery shopping for local residents.
Inside the Longhorn Grill and Saloon, guests enjoy a relaxed, rustic atmosphere complete with Southwestern decor, a full-service bar, and comfortable dining areas in Green Valley.
1/2
Convenient I-19 commute to Tucson
Elephant Head is right off Interstate 19, a major commuter route for the Green Valley area. I-19 later merges with Interstate 10 and goes toward downtown Tucson, about 39 miles north. I-19 also passes by the Tucson International Airport, about 36 miles north of Elephant Head. Both located in Tucson, Banner - University Medical Center South and St. Joseph’s Hospital Annex are among the closest hospital facilities.
Important to know
Elephant Head's overall CAP Index crime score is 1 out of 10, putting it well below the country's average of 4.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
$530,000-$555,000 -- Seller will counter offers between this range! Instant equity awaits with a Dec. 2024 appraisal of $650,000. This 2022-built modern desert home offers 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 3‑car garage on 4.78 acres with no HOA--room to expand and create your dream property. Enjoy sweeping Mt. Wrightson views from the covered deck and direct access to the Elephant Head trail
Are you looking to get out of the city? Gated, unique rare tiny home ranch, 4.89 acres ranch for sale, with 3 separate bdrms and two baths. Plenty of room for the goats, chickens, horses and kids, greenhouse and any vision you may have. Boasting gorgeous Elephant head views to the east and stunning sunsets to the West. Enjoy while sitting around the outside fire pit. This property has No
Country Living! Majestic Santa Rita views from your own front porch. This manufactured home features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and sits on 4.78 acres. The home does need some TLC, offering a great opportunity to make it your own. Enjoy the quiet rural lifestyle with plenty of space to roam. The property includes a shared well (50/50 split--only two parties on the well).**Property sold as is.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Samuel Peele,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
545
Median Age
63
Population under 18
13%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
46.6%
Significantly above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$74,999
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$112,752
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
91.9%
College Graduates
36.1%
Advanced Degrees
22.2%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
28.5%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
13''
Average Winter Low Temperature
36°F
Average Summer High Temperature
100°F
Annual Snowfall
3''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
23/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
