Moving to the Phoenix area? You’ll definitely want to consider moving to Buckeye, one of the best Phoenix suburbs for families and outdoor enthusiasts! The city of Buckeye, AZ is a western suburb of Phoenix and it was recently one of the fastest growing cities in America.
Buckeye was originally called Sidney but the Buckeye Canal completed in 1886 proved so significant that the town was renamed Buckeye. The canal itself was named by an early settler, Malie Jackson, who named it after his home state of Ohio, the Buckeye State.
Today, Buckeye is known for its hiking, equestrian trails, and small-town ranch feel. It’s popular with families, hikers, horse owners, and cyclists with a great quality of life and plenty of options for recreation. Here’s what you’re going to love about living in Buckeye, Arizona!
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Where Is Buckeye, AZ?
Buckeye is in Maricopa County about 35 miles outside Phoenix. The drive from Buckeye to Phoenix takes about 43 minutes. Because of how close it is to Phoenix, Buckeye is a popular place to live for those who work in the city but prefer a more rural lifestyle with equestrian living and outdoor recreation.
Buckeye, AZ is located in the Sonoran Desert on the Hassayampa River with the White Tank Mountains starting in the northern part of the city. The city is served by I-10 with bus service and commuter service to downtown Phoenix provided by Valley Metro.
Buckeye is surrounded by Goodyear, Citrus Park, and several small unincorporated communities.
Buckeye, AZ Population & Demographics
Buckeye is one of the largest cities near Phoenix with a population of 91,502 according to the 2020 census. The Phoenix metro area has a total population of 4.95 million. The population density of Buckeye is just 232.84 per square mile.
The population of Buckeye, AZ is relatively affluent. The median household income in Buckeye was $$79,156 in 2020. This is significantly higher than the national median household income of $67,521 the same year.
Additional Buckeye demographics:
- Homeownership rate: 92%
- Median age: 35
- Sex ratio: 51% male to 49% female
- Racial and ethnic composition: 45% non-Hispanic white, 43% Hispanic of any race, 7% Black or African American, 2% Asian, and 1% Native American
- Educational attainment: 23% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Foreign-born population: 8.5%
Buckeye is a very safe place to live with violent crime 55% below the national average. The Buckeye AZ crime rate is 1,590 crimes per 100,000 people compared to 2,346 per 100,000 nationwide. The violent crime rate is 173 per 100,000 people, far below the Arizona violent crime rate of 485 per 100,000. The city of Buckeye is serviced by the Buckeye Police Department which has 91 officers on staff.
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Cost of Living in Buckeye
The Buckeye, Arizona cost of living index is 103.3, just slightly higher than the national and Arizona average. That means Buckeye is an affordable place to live.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four needs to earn $89,619 per year to live comfortably in Buckeye. Expect to spend $1251 per month on housing, $1195 on transportation, $1517 on childcare, $783 on childcare, and $1193 on healthcare.
The median home price in Buckeye is $442,950. If you’re looking to rent, the average monthly rent in Buckeye is $1,829 according to RentCafe.
Buckeye, AZ Typical Monthly Living Expenses
- Buckeye monthly cost of utilities: $300
- Gallon of milk: $1.99
- Loaf of bread: $2.50
- Pound of tomatoes: $.99
- Head of lettuce: $.99
- Oranges: $1.50
Source: Numbeo
Buckeye Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Buckeye
Whether you’re looking for an established, family-friendly neighborhood, a luxury 55+ community, or a master planned community near Phoenix with all the amenities you could want, you’ll find it in Buckeye.
There are more than 30 master planned communities in Buckeye AZ and the number keeps growing.
Douglas Ranch
In 2021, Douglas Ranch Buckeye finally got off the ground. This highly anticipated 37,000-acre master planned community that will eventually house up to 300,000 people was first announced in 2012 before a round of delays. The first village of Douglas Ranch, Trillium, will feature residential family homes and executive homes with a business park.
Douglas Ranch is still in the early stages of development, but it will undoubtedly be one of the best communities in Buckeye.
Verrado
Verrado is the largest suburban community in Metro Phoenix created with the New Urbanism concept. The Verrado Buckeye community offers the feel of a small town with winding, tree-lined streets, a walkable Main Street, hiking trails at the base of the White Tank Mountains, and over 70 neighborhood parks. There are several neighborhoods within Verrado from top home builders. You’ll find Western-style farmhouses, Ranch haciendas, Craftsman bungalows, and more with communities designed for families and retirees.
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Tartesso
Tartesso is a large master planned community in Buckeye with 49,000 planned units. This picturesque Buckeye AZ neighborhood is one of the best places to live for families with regular community events, beautifully landscaped grounds, and family-friendly amenities like a splash park, playgrounds, tennis courts, and pools.
Buckeye Climate | What’s the Weather Like in Buckeye AZ?
The Buckeye AZ climate is a hot desert climate which comes with extremely hot summers and warm winters. Buckeye is a great place to live if you love heat and sun because you’ll get plenty of both! You’ll get an average of 121 days per year with daytime highs of at least 100 °F. Temperatures exceeding 86 °F can happen any time of the year. July is the hottest month in Buckeye with an average high of 108 °F!
The Buckeye area experiences the Arizona monsoon weather but with less rain than other areas. You’ll get an average of just 8” of annual rainfall. The Southwest monsoon season is June to mid-September and brings thunderstorms with humidity and rainfall.
Winters in Buckeye are still warm with temperatures rarely dipping below 68 °F. Snowfall is incredibly rare.
Make sure you’re prepared for living in Buckeye. You will want to get in the habit of wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen every day and UV-protective sunglasses. The year-round sunshine and high UV radiation in the Phoenix region means you’ll be at a much higher risk of skin cancer without taking proper precautions. Another good habit to develop is keeping a filled water bottle with you whenever you leave the house to stay hydrated.
Things to Do in Buckeye AZ
Buckeye is paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. From gorgeous Sonoran Desert sunsets and mountain hikes to horseback riding, golfing, camping, and swimming, there are no shortage of fun things to do in Buckeye for families, couples, and retirees alike! You’ll also benefit from world-class shopping after moving to Buckeye. Sundance Towne Center is one of the region’s top shopping destinations along with Buckeye Marketplace.
Here are just some ideas of what to do in Buckeye, Arizona – you’re bound to find many more.
Skyline Regional Park
Skyline Regional Park is comprised of 8700 acres of land in the Southern White Tank Mountains. If you’re an avid hiker, you’ll adore spending a day roaming this park. It’s also a great place to bring kids to show them the range of nature the area boasts. The trails are open from sunrise to sunset. And did we mention it is entirely free?
530 E. Monroe Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-349-6000
Verrado Golf Club
If you’ve ever dreamed of playing golf in the desert, there’s an excellent opportunity to do so by joining Verrado Golf Club. Here, you can play a round in a scenic space with beautifully kept fairways and greens. Reviewers also love how kind the staff at this course is.
4242 N Golf Drive, Buckeye, AZ 85396 623-388-3000
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Buckeye Aquatics Center
If you have children, you should pay a visit to the Buckeye Aquatics Center, where you will find a great place to take a swim. You can also enroll your children in their learn to swim courses, or just cool off on a warm summers’ day.
207 N. 9th St, Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-349-6350
Additional Buckeye attractions:
- Buckeye Valley Museum
- Hidden Lake venue for boating, camping, fishing, and more
- Tartesso Community Sports Park
Buckeye Restaurants
Good news: if you’re moving to Buckeye, there are no shortage of delicious eateries to try! From Mexican food to Italian and beyond, you’re sure to find a Buckeye restaurant that you will love. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite places to eat in Buckeye.
- Rancheros Rodeo Restaurant. Rancheros has some of the best Mexican food in the city of Buckeye! Reviewers love that there really is something for everyone’s tastes on the menu, plus plenty of tasty drinks to choose from. This is a great restaurant to try with friends or for a night out to dinner with your family. 343 Monroe Ave Suite 105, Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-230-2325
- Wild West Cowboy Steakhouse. This steakhouse is another option for Mexican food in Buckeye, and you simply can’t go wrong by paying this local’s favorite spot a visit. Whether you order enchiladas, tacos, or something else, you’ll enjoy this extensive menu and selection of beverages. 104 Monroe Ave, Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-386-1400
- The Sheep Camp. This American restaurant is another locals’ favorite. The restaurant may appear modest from the outside, but if you give it a chance, you’ll find it has some of the best home-cooked grub in town. 304 MC 85, Buckeye, AZ 85326 623-386-2561
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Jobs in Buckeye
Because Buckeye is relatively close to Phoenix, you can definitely commute for economic opportunities if you would like to. However, you’ll also find job opportunities in Buckeye itself. You can start the search for jobs in Buckeye, AZ on Indeed.
The largest employers in Buckeye are The Odyssey Preparatory Academy, The City of Buckeye, and Duncan & Son Lines.
According to Payscale, the average salary in Buckeye is $18.04 an hour or $67,000 per year. The average wage in the Phoenix metro area is $27.22 according to the BLS.
City Schools in Buckeye
If you have children and you’re considering moving to Buckeye, you’ll definitely want to explore school districts. The primary school districts for the city are Buckeye Elementary and Buckeye Union High School District, but students may attend a handful of elementary schools or matriculate to other high school districts. Your choice of neighborhood will determine your school district.
Students can also attend the Odyssey Family of Schools, a group of charter schools serving K-12 students. All five campuses serve a total of 3,000 students.
You’ll find many options for private schools in Buckeye, AZ:
- Goddard School of Buckeye (Verrado community)
- Painted Desert Montessori Academy
- Pioneer Prep Girls Academy
- West Valley Christian School (Goodyear)
Buckeye Statistics & Information
- Buckeye County: Maricopa County
- Area: 640 mi²
- Buckeye zip codes: 85326, 85343, 85340, 85396, 85361
- Area Code: 623
- Elevation: 869’
- Time Zone: MST
- Closest airport to Buckeye, AZ: Buckeye Municipal Airport (BXK), 8.9 miles
Map of Buckeye, AZ
Get a taste of everything that life out west has to offer while staying close to a major metropolitan area.
Moving to Buckeye? We’re here to help
Because of Buckeye’s proximity to both nature and Phoenix, it’s an excellent place to live. Once you are ready to make your move, you can call our Buckeye movers at 480-376-1009 for a free quote. Happy moving!
