$429,802Average Value$278Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Elephant Head
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Elephant Head Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Elephant Head, Green Valley sell after 113 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Elephant Head, Green Valley over the last 12 months is $348,000.
Set on approximately 10 acres in desirable Elephant Head, this rare dual-residence ranch offers space, privacy and endless possibilities. With two separate homes on the property, it's ideal for multi-generational living, guest retreat or rental income potential, surrounded by wide-open desert and panoramic mountain vistas. Designed for horse lovers, the property features a well-appointed tack
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
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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.
