Just 25 minutes west of Phoenix, the city of Avondale, Arizona is a suburb of Phoenix located in Maricopa County. Originally called Coldwater, Arizona for the river and water flowing from a local spring, the founder of Avondale, William Moore, established a stage stop, saloon, general store, and served as the postmaster from 1901 until 1905. Avondale was known for providing travelers with provisions between Tucson and California.
The city of Avondale was incorporated in 1946 as a once sparsely populated alfalfa and cotton field farming community, but since the 1980’s, the city has experienced rapid commercial and residential growth. Today, Avondale is a balanced mix of open spaces, recreation amenities, and family-oriented neighborhoods for people to live, work, and play.
Race fans love living in Avondale as it’s the location of the Phoenix Raceway and hosts two NASCAR Cup Series races annually, as well as several other races.
Avondale is also known for producing professional athletes, including Everson Griffen, a defensive end for Minnesota Vikings, and Shawn Gilbert, a professional baseball player, both attended Agua Fria High School.
Avondale Population and Demographics
Avondale, AZ population is 87,917 with 1,943 people living per square mile and spread out over 45 square miles. It’s a young and diverse city, with 59% of the population Hispanic, 26% white, 9% black, and 2% Asian – and nearly 39% of households speaking a language other than English at home.
The median age of Avondale residents is 29.5, and there are slightly more women than men in the city, at 52% women and 48% men.
The median household income in Avondale is $61,825, growing at a rate of nearly 5% per year. Just over 83% have graduated high school or higher, and over 20% of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Is Avondale, Az safe? While the crime rate in Avondale is higher than the national average – 3,841 crimes per 100,000 people in Avondale compared to 2,477 crimes per 100,000 people nationwide – the chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Avondale is actually 21.5% lower than the rest of the country. Most crimes in the city are property crimes. Since most people are concerned primarily about violent crime, Avondale is a very safe place to live.
The Avondale Police Department is dedicated to maintaining the safety of residents and employs 8 full time officers, several part time officers and a support staff of 3.
Cost of Living in Avondale
Wondering if you can afford to live in Avondale? The Avondale median sale price of homes is $415,000, growing at a rate of 38.4% year-over-year. The real estate market is competitive, with homes selling after just 27 days on the market and most selling for 1% over the list price and receiving multiple offers. Here’s a current list of Avondale, AZ homes for sale.
If you’re planning on renting an apartment after moving to Avondale, the average rent is $1,628 per month.
Avondale Everyday Expenses
Typical costs for expenses as provided by numbeo.com:
- Meal for 2 people in a mid-range restaurant – $40
- McDonald’s Combo Meal – $8.00
- Dozen eggs – $2.22
- Gallon of gas – $3.05
- Average cost of utilities (electric, heat, a/c, water, garbage) – $173.70 per month
Avondale Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Avondale
A good rule of thumb for choosing where to live in Avondale, AZ is that the further north in the city the neighborhood is located, the safer it is, with the safest communities located north of Route 10.
Garden Lakes – Family-Oriented Waterfront Oasis in the Desert
Located along the northern border of Avondale, Garden Lakes was developed as the first master plan in Avondale, intending to offer natural beauty and a village experience for everyone in the neighborhood. Garden Lakes is a safe place to live and the best neighborhood in Avondale for park-like living. Several miles of walking paths wind throughout the community and into the centralized park area, and the homes are positioned around North and South Lakes offering scenic views, boating, and fishing.
Crystal Gardens – Lakeview Homes Close to City Amenities
Located close to I-10, north of McDowell Road, and West of 107th Avenue, Crystal Gardens is a Homeowner Association community with 905 lake view homes on 72 acres of wetlands. There are parks and things to do in the neighborhood, including walking paths, playgrounds, bike lanes, and access to fishing within the neighborhood. Crystal Gardens is close to sporting arenas, restaurants, shopping, schools, and medical facilities making it one of the best places to live in Avondale.
Additional Neighborhoods North of Route 10:
- Corte Sierra
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Glenarm Farms
- Parkside Village
- Harbor Shores
- Corte Sierra
Avondale Weather & Climate
Avondale has a warm, dry climate with low humidity. Temperatures can even climb over 100 degrees in June and July, with a high of 107 degrees, you’ll definitely want a home with air conditioning when you’re living in Avondale!
There’s next to no precipitation and cloud cover year-round, but locals call July through September the monsoon season because when it rains, the sky opens up and drops buckets of rain very quickly, sometimes causing flash flooding. The storms only last about 20 minutes at a time.
There is some relief from the scorching heat in fall and winter, with highs of the 60s and lows in the 50s.
Things to Do in Avondale
The Avondale Parks and Recreation Department is proud to offer residents 10 parks with extensive amenities for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy. In addition to the city-sponsored parks, try some of the following fun things to do:
Phoenix Raceway
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Nascar fans can watch the races from their hometown, or if you’ve always wanted to be a racecar driver, now’s your chance to get behind the wheel yourself with the Nascar Racing Experience.
7602 Jimmie Johnson Dr., Avondale, AZ 85323 – 866-408-7223
Coldwater Golf Club
One of the best outdoor activities in Avondale for anyone who enjoys a round of golf, Coldwater Golf Club offers elevated tee shots, rolling terrain, and deep swells unlike most Phoenix-area golf courses.
100 N Clubhouse Drive, Avondale, AZ 85323 – 623-932-9000
Uptown Jungle Fun Park
A top destination for kids in Avondale, the fun park offers rock climbing, trampolines, super slides, play structures, Ninja course, zipline, and ball blaster arena. Perfect for when the weather is too hot outside to have fun!
1725 N. Dysart Rd. Avondale, AZ 85392 – 623-526-0160
Friendship Park
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Friendship Park offers a little bit of everything, including baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, walking trails, tennis courts, splash pad, dog park, and a Japanese Garden. Bring your fishing pole if you want to fish the Community Fishing Pond!
12325 W. McDowell Rd. Avondale, AZ 85323 – 623-333-2400
There are many events in Avondale. Click here for a calendar of events.
Other Major Avondale Attractions
- Base & Meridian Wildlife Area
- Main Event Avondale Amusement Center
- Estrella Star Tower
- 8-Bit Aleworks
Avondale, AZ Map
If you’re thinking about living in Avondale, AZ, explore more things to do, attractions, and sights to see with this map.
Avondale Restaurants
Hungry? You’re never far from a place to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Avondale.
Fiesta Mexicana
100% authentic Mexican experience with margaritas, tacos, carne asada, and more traditional Mexican recipes.
1733 N. Dysart Rd, Avondale, AZ 85392 – (623) 535 5010
Zeta’s Grill
100% authentic Lebanese experience in a casual setting. Dine inside or out, and enjoy an extensive Lebanese and Mediterranean menu.
2935 N. Dysart Rd. Avondale, AZ 85392 – 623-547-4612
Black Rock Coffee Bar
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Get your favorite coffee, hot or iced, to go or enjoy in the small, trendy dining area. The kids will appreciate a hot cocoa, milkshake, smoothie, or juice from the extensive beverage menu.
3015 N. Dysart Rd, Avondale, AZ 85392 – 623-471-4952
Eest Asian Bistro
Grab a quick lunch or dinner at the bistro for hearty portions of Cantonese and Mandarin classics. You can eat your authentic Chinese meal inside or take it to go.
3145 N. Dysart Rd. Avondale, AZ 85392 – (623) 535-0902
Jobs in Avondale
Most people living in Avondale commute to work in Phoenix. It’s a 25 minute drive down I-10 E
from Avondale to Phoenix. It’s a decent ride, the highway never gets backed up as there is always enough lanes to make the commute in a reasonable amount of time. There is even a commuter car-pool lane on the highway and public transportation throughout Phoenix.
The biggest employers in Avondale include:
- City of Avondale
- Avondale Toyota
- Arizona Machinery Company
- Harvest Enterprises
- Avondale Schools
The population of Avondale is served by Avondale School District 44 with schools located in Goodyear and Avondale, AZ.
An interesting aspect of the Avondale public school system is that most classes are offered in either Spanish or in English and many of the children are inherently bilingual. The schools, by and large, rank right around the national average for completion and attendance.
There are also 22 private schools nearby should you choose to send your kids to a private school, instead.
Avondale has a large, public library with plenty of learning events for both children and adults.
Avondale Statistics & Information
Avondale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona. It has seven zip codes ranging from 85323 to 85392, and the local area code is 623.
- Population = 87,917
- 25 minutes west of Phoenix down I-10 (20 miles)
- 45.2 square miles of land
- Mountain Standard Time (GMT-7)
- 974 feet above sea level
Tips for Moving to Avondale
- Get a job in Phoenix before you make the move. It shouldn’t be hard as there is a labor shortage for the growing city.
- Consider saving money by taking advantage of the special lanes on the highway and carpooling
- Remember the northern parts of the city are safer and have better schools than the southern side of the city
- Public transportation runs like a top so you can get by without a vehicle for a long time
- Don’t stress about the cost of living, it’s much more reasonable than most suburbs of large cities.
Moving to Avondale, AZ
There are many benefits to living in Avondale, AZ. If you’ve decided to make this area your new home, our helpful Avondale movers at Mentors Moving are prepared to make your relocation as smooth as possible. Call today at 480-376-1009 or complete the form for a free moving quote.
