Eloy
Pinal County agricultural city along I-10 -- home of Skydive Arizona, the world's largest skydiving center
Why People Move Here
Eloy is a ~72-square-mile Pinal County city sitting directly on I-10 roughly halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, with agricultural roots in the Santa Cruz River Basin (cotton, alfalfa, pecans) and a national identity as 'the Skydiving Capital of the World.' Skydive Arizona -- the largest full-service skydiving center in the United States -- operates a ~90-acre complex here, and the adjacent SkyVenture Arizona wind tunnel (14-foot open-flow flight chamber, ~160 mph max winds) has been in operation since 2005 and trains a significant share of the country's skydiving community. The city was founded in 1880 as a Southern Pacific Railroad camp on the Sunset Route; the name dates to 1902 ('East Line Of Yuma') and the city incorporated in 1949. Major employers today include CoreCivic (operator of the Eloy Detention Center and La Palma Correctional Center), industrial manufacturers along the I-10 corridor (Schuff Steel, Owens Corning, National Gypsum, Republic Plastics), and the logistics and skydiving-tourism clusters. Housing is among the most affordable in the Phoenix metro.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Eloy Elementary School District (EESD)
CNiche 2025 (overall district)
- K-8 district with 3 schools, ~750 students, 17:1 student-teacher ratio
- Eloy Junior High (grades 6-8), ~264 students, 14:1 ratio
- Serves the central city core; boundaries split by address
- Verify enrollment eligibility by address
Toltec School District
C-Niche 2025
- Separate K-8 district covering portions of unincorporated Eloy / Toltec
- Toltec Elementary School ~426 students
- Verify enrollment eligibility by address
Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District (SCVUHSD)
B-Niche 2025 overall district grade
- 9-12 district serving Eloy and surrounding Pinal County areas; ~384-415 students
- 21-23:1 student-teacher ratio
- Santa Cruz Valley Union HS: ~25% math and ~35% reading proficiency (state tests)
- Santa Cruz Center for Success (alternative HS) also operates under the district
- Verify enrollment eligibility by address
Central Arizona College — Signal Peak Campus
community college- Community college ~12-15 mi NW in Coolidge at 8470 N Overfield Rd
- On-campus housing, athletics, and the Don P. Pence Center for Performing and Visual Arts
- Serves Eloy, Casa Grande, Coolidge, Florence, Maricopa, Stanfield
FAQ — Eloy
What is the median home price in Eloy, AZ?
Redfin's June 2025 median sale price was $345,000 at ~$214/sqft (+11.7% YoY), Rocket reported $347,000 (+15.7% YoY), and Orchard reported a 30-day rolling median of $323,275 (+19.7% YoY). Zillow's ZHVI typical-value series sits lower at approximately $275,739 (down 5.9% YoY on the index). Movoto's February 2026 listing median was ~$359,000. Methodology differences (sale median vs. typical-value index) and thin monthly transaction volume drive the spread. Eloy is among the most affordable incorporated cities in the Phoenix metro.
What schools and parks are in Eloy?
Eloy is served K-8 by the Eloy Elementary School District (~750 students across 3 schools; 17:1 ratio; Eloy Junior High has ~264 students) and by the Toltec School District (Toltec Elementary ~426 students) in portions of unincorporated Eloy. High school is the Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District (9-12; ~384-415 students; Niche B-; ~25% math / 35% reading proficiency on state tests). Central Arizona College's Signal Peak Campus (~15 mi NW in Coolidge) handles community-college and transfer programs. Verify enrollment eligibility by address. Parks include Skydive Arizona's ~90-acre drop zone, North Toltec Park, Picacho Peak State Park (~15 mi S with the Hunter Trail up a 3,374-ft peak), and Ironwood Forest National Monument.
What is the commute from Eloy to downtown Phoenix?
Downtown Phoenix is 65 miles northwest via I-10 West -- approximately 63 minutes off-peak and 75-90 minutes in rush-hour traffic. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is at roughly the same distance. Tucson is 50 miles southeast (56 min off-peak, 60-75 min peak). Casa Grande is 15 miles northwest at about 23 minutes. Chandler's Price Road tech corridor is ~50 miles and runs 55-75 minutes depending on traffic. Eloy has no Valley Metro fixed-route transit; FlixBus and Greyhound operate along I-10 with stops in Casa Grande and Tucson.
What is Skydive Arizona and why is Eloy the 'Skydiving Capital of the World'?
Skydive Arizona is the largest full-service skydiving center in the United States, operating on a ~90-acre complex at 4900 N Taylor St in Eloy. The facility hosts the annual Skydive Arizona World Cup (week-long, every November, with competitors from 30+ countries) and has served as the venue for multiple national and world skydiving records. Adjacent to the drop zone, SkyVenture Arizona operates a 14-ft open-flow indoor skydiving wind tunnel -- one of the world's largest flight chambers when it opened in 2005 -- running four 400-HP fans and reaching ~160 mph max wind speeds. The year-round sunshine, low winds, and I-10 access make Eloy the busiest drop zone in the country.
What is the history of Eloy, Arizona?
Eloy began in 1880 as a Southern Pacific Railroad camp on the Sunset Route transcontinental alignment. The Southern Pacific named the stop 'Eloy' in 1902 -- commonly reported as an acronym for 'East Line Of Yuma.' In 1918, W.L. Bernard, J.E. Meyer, and John Alsdorf platted a town called Cotton City after cotton was proven viable in the Santa Cruz River Basin alluvial soils; the post office rejected 'Cotton City' and adopted 'Eloy' in 1919. The city incorporated in 1949. The economy built around cotton, alfalfa, and pecan agriculture and over the past 30 years has diversified into manufacturing (Schuff Steel, Owens Corning, National Gypsum, Republic Plastics), logistics (I-10 truck stops and industrial corridor), correctional facilities (CoreCivic), and the Skydive Arizona / SkyVenture cluster.
What are the property and sales tax rates in Eloy?
The effective median property tax rate is 0.74% in Eloy (Ownwell / Pinal County records), with a median annual bill of approximately $1,039 -- below the US national median of ~$2,400. Pinal County's countywide effective rate is 0.41%, so Eloy is somewhat above the county average. Combined sales tax is 9.7% (5.6% Arizona state + 1.1% Pinal County + 3.0% City of Eloy per Avalara 2025); some aggregator sources cite a 10.2% rate with a higher county component -- verify at the point of sale. Arizona levies a flat 2.5% state income tax (effective 2023+).
What are the crime statistics in Eloy?
CrimeGrade (2025) reports an overall crime rate of ~32.5 per 1,000 residents annually, with violent crime at 7.7 per 1,000 -- placing Eloy in the 29th percentile nationally for overall safety. NeighborhoodScout methodology reports different figures (violent crime 25.9 per 1,000; property crime 41.3 per 1,000) due to different FBI UCR aggregation choices. NeighborhoodScout reports the 2024 crime rate fell ~17% vs. 2023 and an overall downward 15-year trend. With ~16,000 residential population, a handful of incidents can move per-capita rates sharply; review source methodology. Crime statistics are presented here with source attribution and should not be interpreted as proxies for other characteristics of the community.
What healthcare and accessibility options are in Eloy?
Exceptional Community Hospital in Eloy provides 24-hour emergency care and inpatient services. Sun Life Health operates an Eloy clinic at 205 N Stuart Blvd as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) offering primary care, women's wellness, pediatrics, behavioral health, on-site lab and pharmacy, Monday-Friday 8a-5p. Banner Casa Grande Medical Center is ~20 minutes northwest, and Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, Mayo Clinic Phoenix, and Banner-University Tucson are all ~60-75 minutes by car. The Toltec Community Center, Sun Life clinic, Eloy Santa Cruz Library, and city hall are ADA-accessible.
What dining options are in Eloy?
Main Street concentrates a run of independent Mexican and Mexican-American operators. La Paloma Family Restaurant is ranked #1 on Tripadvisor for Eloy and is known for carne asada and house salsa. Nico's Mexican Food (919 N Main St) serves breakfast through dinner Monday-Saturday with fish tacos, quesadillas, and enchiladas. Other local Mexican operators include Casa Mora Mexican Grill & Seafood (mariscos), Karavela's Mexican and Peruvian Food, and Tacos Y Hotdogs Alvarado (Sonoran hot dogs). The Iron Skillet at Travel Centers of America on I-10 runs a 24-hour diner-style menu. For full-service chain dining, residents drive ~15 miles to Casa Grande.
What transit and highway options serve Eloy?
Eloy sits directly on Interstate 10 with four in-city interchanges (Exits 200, 208, 211, 212), providing direct freeway access to Phoenix (65 miles NW), Tucson (50 miles SE), Casa Grande (15 miles NW), and the Phoenix-Tucson industrial corridor. There is no Valley Metro or Sun Tran fixed-route transit service in Eloy; the city is outside both service areas. FlixBus and Greyhound operate intercity bus service along I-10 with the nearest stops in Casa Grande and Tucson. Car ownership is essential for daily trips; most households maintain two vehicles.
What utilities serve Eloy?
Electrical District No. 4 of Pinal County (ED4, a municipal electric district) provides electric service to most of Eloy; APS serves some sections. Southwest Gas provides natural gas. Arizona Water Company and the City of Eloy Water Division provide water depending on address. Internet service is available from Cox Communications (cable), CenturyLink/Lumen (DSL and limited fiber), T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, and Verizon 5G Home Internet; Starlink is used in rural outskirts. Trash and recycling are handled through a contract administered by the City of Eloy. Verify your specific provider by address before move-in.
What are the largest employers in Eloy?
CoreCivic is the largest private employer, operating the Eloy Detention Center (opened 1994) and La Palma Correctional Center (opened 2008; ~3,060 beds contracted to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry), with the nearby Red Rock Correctional Center and Saguaro Correctional Center under the same operator. Major industrial employers include Schuff Steel (structural steel), Owens Corning, National Gypsum, Republic Plastics, Otto Industries, and Arizona Pacific Wood Preserving. The I-10 truck-stop corridor (Travel Centers of America plus 4+ additional stops) adds logistics employment, and the Skydive Arizona / SkyVenture Arizona cluster supports a tourism base. Eloy Elementary and Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District are significant public employers. Lucid Motors' acquired former-Nikola operations in neighboring Coolidge (~15 mi NW) may add spillover hiring following Nikola's February 2025 Chapter 11 filing.