Avondale
West Valley I-10 city anchored by Phoenix Raceway and the 1,150-acre Alamar master plan
Why People Move Here
Avondale is a ~45-square-mile Maricopa County city about 17 miles west of downtown Phoenix, built around the I-10 Papago Freeway and the Agua Fria River. Its identity pivots on two landmarks: Phoenix Raceway -- the 1-mile NASCAR tri-oval that hosts the Cup Series season-ending Championship Race each November and a spring race weekend each March -- and Alamar, the 1,150-acre Brookfield Residential master-planned community whose Highland Ridge and Highland Sage neighborhoods opened in 2024-2025 with miles of trails, 20+ parks, and an on-site elementary school. Incorporated in December 1946 and upgraded to city status in 1959, Avondale grew from Billy Moore's 1880s Coldwater stagecoach stop into a West Valley suburb, with Historic Old Town preserved around Central and Western Avenues and newer growth concentrated along Dysart Road, McDowell Road, and the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway. The Agua Fria Union High School District earns a Niche A- and ranks #12 among Arizona school districts; Abrazo West Campus in adjacent Goodyear is the Level 1 Trauma center, and The BLVD -- a six-district mixed-use entertainment hub next to the Avondale Transit Center -- serves as the modern downtown.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Agua Fria Union High School District
A-#12 Best School Districts in Arizona (Niche 2025)
- 9-12 district serving Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, and portions of adjacent West Valley
- 9,855 students across 6 schools; 21:1 student-teacher ratio
- State test proficiency: ~48% math, ~44% reading
- Agua Fria HS is the flagship Avondale campus
- Verify enrollment eligibility by address
Avondale Elementary School District
CNiche 2025 overall grade C for K-8 district
- K-8 district serving much of the city
- 9 schools; ~5,960 students total enrollment
- Primary elementary district for Historic Avondale and south-central sections
- Verify enrollment eligibility by address
Pendergast Elementary School District
C- K-8 district serving portions of north Avondale
- State test proficiency at district flagship ~14% math, ~23% reading
- Boundary overlaps with northern Avondale and adjacent Phoenix
- Verify enrollment eligibility by address
Tolleson Union High School District (secondary 9-12 for some Avondale addresses)
B#23 Best School Districts in Phoenix Area / #53 of 139 in Arizona (Niche 2025)
- 9-12 district covering Tolleson, Goodyear, portions of Phoenix and east Avondale
- University HS (district magnet) ranks #17 Best Public HS in Arizona on Niche 2025
- Boundary splits with AFUHSD within Avondale -- verify which high school district applies at the address
- Verify enrollment eligibility by address
FAQ — Avondale
What is the median home price in Avondale, AZ?
Redfin's December 2025 median sale price in Avondale was $420,682 at $221 per square foot, up 0.2% year over year. Zillow's late-2025 typical home value was $389,377, reflecting mix shifts as Alamar (Brookfield Residential) brings larger new-construction inventory online -- Highland Ridge floor plans start around $403,000 for 1,998 to 3,094 square foot homes. Homes go to pending in about 30 days, and the city averages roughly 235 active Zillow listings.
What schools and parks are in Avondale?
The Agua Fria Union High School District (9-12) earns a Niche A- and ranks #12 among Arizona school districts for 2025, serving 9,855 students across 6 schools at a 21:1 ratio; Agua Fria HS is the flagship Avondale campus. K-8 service is split: Avondale Elementary School District (Niche C; 9 schools; ~5,960 students) covers most of the city, with Pendergast ESD serving portions of the north and Tolleson Union HSD serving some east Avondale addresses at the high-school level. Verify enrollment eligibility by street address. Parks include the 55-acre Friendship Park (9 soccer fields, 2 baseball fields, splashpad, lake, 1.7-mile loop, fenced dog park, new pickleball courts), Festival Fields Park (the Billy Moore Days venue), the Alamar master-plan trail network (20+ parks), and Estrella Mountain Regional Park's 19,840 acres about 10 miles southwest.
What is the commute from Avondale to downtown Phoenix?
Downtown Phoenix is approximately 17 miles east via I-10 -- about 22 minutes off-peak and 35-45 minutes in peak rush hour. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is ~21 miles and 25-35 minutes. Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) provides a 10-15 minute run north to Westgate and State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Valley Metro runs Express Route 563 from the Avondale Transit Center at The BLVD to downtown Phoenix (9 stops, about 50 minutes), plus Route 562 RAPID and local fixed-route buses; WeRIDE microtransit handles on-demand short trips.
What is Phoenix Raceway and when does NASCAR come to Avondale?
Phoenix Raceway is a 1-mile NASCAR tri-oval located in Avondale that hosts two major weekends per year. The season-ending Cup Series Championship Weekend was October 31 - November 2, 2025: a 150-lap Craftsman Truck championship Friday at 7:30 p.m., a 200-lap/200-mile Xfinity championship Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and the 312-lap/312-mile Cup Series Championship Race Sunday at 3 p.m. -- the single race that decides the title. The Spring Race weekend typically runs in March. Race weekends draw 100,000+ attendees and significantly impact I-10, Loop 101, and southern Avondale traffic.
What is the history of Avondale, Arizona?
William 'Billy' G. Moore arrived in Arizona in the late 1860s and settled near the Agua Fria River in 1880, calling his site 'Coldwater' after the river and a nearby spring. He bought land, opened a saloon and general store, and served as Coldwater postmaster from 1901 to 1905. In the early 1900s the post office moved to a site near Avondale Ranch and adopted the Avondale name, retiring 'Coldwater.' The town was incorporated in December 1946 and upgraded to city status in 1959. Historic Old Town around Central and Western Avenues preserves the stagecoach-stop character, and Billy Moore Days (established 1954) is the city's signature heritage festival.
What are the property and sales tax rates in Avondale?
The effective property tax rate is 0.60% (Ownwell / Maricopa County), below the national median of 1.02% but slightly above Arizona's state median of 0.56%; the median annual Avondale property tax bill is about $1,715. Combined sales tax is 8.8% (5.60% Arizona state + 0.70% Maricopa County + 2.50% City of Avondale). Groceries are exempt from local sales tax. Arizona levies a flat 2.5% state income tax (effective 2023+).
What are the crime statistics in Avondale?
CrimeGrade's 2025 report lists Avondale at an overall crime rate of 22.06 per 1,000 residents with a B- grade, placing the city in the 56th percentile nationally. Violent crime is 2.854 per 1,000 (C+; 51st percentile), and the total projected cost of crime for 2025 is $34.7 million ($380 per resident; $1,185 per household). Incidents concentrate in the west part of the city (~412 per year) while the southeast sector has the fewest (~125 per year). CrimeGrade aggregates FBI UCR and supplemental reporting -- review source methodology at CrimeGrade.org.
What healthcare and accessibility options are in Avondale?
Abrazo West Campus in adjacent Goodyear (~5 miles west) is a Level 1 Trauma Center with a 24/7 emergency department, cardiovascular services, orthopedics, obstetrics, neurology, robotic-assisted surgery, and stroke/vascular programs. Banner Estrella Medical Center in west Phoenix (~5 miles northeast) is a full-service hospital with a 24/7 ED. Urgent-care operators include Banner Urgent Care (Van Buren and McDowell locations), NextCare, and Alliance Urgent Care within city limits. Banner -- University Medical Center Phoenix and St. Joseph's Hospital are ~25 minutes east downtown, and Mayo Clinic Phoenix is ~40 minutes. Avondale Civic Center, both public libraries, Friendship Park, and The BLVD district are ADA-accessible, and Valley Metro Paratransit is contracted through the city.
What dining and nightlife options are in Avondale?
The BLVD is Avondale's mixed-use entertainment district -- six sub-districts adjacent to the Avondale Transit Center with restaurants, bars, retail, and walkable public space. Notable restaurants include Poca Madre (modern Mexican), Roma 23 (wood-fired pizza), The Stillery (brick-fired pies and mason-jar cocktails), Litchfield's (upscale wine-focused), Pier 88 (Cajun seafood boil), Spitz (Mediterranean), Tacos Chilangos, and Papa Paul's. Saddle Mountain Brewing Company is the anchor local craft brewery and taproom. Phoenix Raceway event weekends bring rotating food trucks and concert programming.
What is the Alamar master-planned community in Avondale?
Alamar is a 1,150-acre master-planned community developed by Brookfield Residential in Avondale, about 18 miles from downtown Phoenix. Its Highland Ridge and Highland Sage neighborhoods opened in 2024-2025 with floor plans from 1,998 to 3,094 square feet and up to 6 bedrooms, starting around $403,000 for Highland Ridge. The community features miles of trails, more than 20 neighborhood parks, a private community pool, dog parks, ballfields, basketball courts, and an on-site elementary school. Buildout is planned over multiple years.
What utilities serve Avondale?
The City of Avondale Water Division provides water service, blending SRP surface water with local groundwater under a 100-year assured water supply designation from the Arizona Department of Water Resources. SRP (Salt River Project) provides electric service as a community-owned not-for-profit, with some APS territory on the periphery. Southwest Gas provides natural gas service at 877-860-6020. Residential internet is available from Cox Communications (cable and fiber up to 2 Gbps), CenturyLink/Lumen (DSL and Fiber up to ~940 Mbps), T-Mobile Home Internet, and Verizon 5G Home Internet. City of Avondale Public Works handles trash and recycling.
What are the major employers in Avondale?
Phoenix Raceway is Avondale's signature employer, running a 1-mile NASCAR oval year-round with race-weekend workforces in the thousands during Championship Weekend (October/November) and the Spring Race (typically March). Amazon and Amazon Data Services list 120+ Avondale-based positions across fulfillment and data center operations. The City of Avondale, Avondale Elementary School District, and Agua Fria Union High School District are major public-sector employers. Abrazo West Campus in adjacent Goodyear (~5 miles west) is a Level 1 Trauma Center and the largest healthcare employer for Avondale residents, and Luke Air Force Base in adjacent Glendale (~8-10 miles northwest) is a significant military employer drawing from the city. The BLVD and Gateway Pavilions anchor retail and hospitality employment.
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