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Central Glendale

General

This neighborhood is made up of some of the oldest parts of Glendale and the fast-growing new areas. Historic ranch-style and new urban-style homes can all be found here. Colleges, big sports venues and a well-traveled airport are also in central Glendale. Newer freeways have opened up this area and made it a more central Valley hub for growth. This area stretches from near the city’s original charming downtown to its new urban center, Westgate. 

This neighborhood guide - like every one on Street Scout - was researched and written by experts from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. It's based on public records, census data and on-the-ground reporting. Our Emmy-winning photographers and videographers have brought images of each neighborhood to life. We know our neighborhoods. If you want to live here, you want to read this.

Transportation

U.S. 60 runs through Glendale. Loop 101 runs along this area’s western side. Interstate 10 is to the south and Interstate 17 to the west.

School Map
Walk Score

Explore the 6 Areas of Central Glendale

Downtown Glendale: 85301

Downtown Glendale is where the city’s historic downtown and neighborhoods can be found. Olde Town and Catlin Court are two of the charming and popular areas that can be found here. Antique shops and boutiques are a plenty.

Glendale College: 85302

Glendale College is home to the city’s community college. Several established neighborhoods with houses built in the 1960s and ’70s can be found here. Large trees shade the streets.

Desert Springs: 85303

Desert Springs has several big parks and a popular canal area. This area’s many schools and affordable homes draw families and longtime residents.

ASU West: 85304

ASU West is named after the campus of the large state university located in this West Valley neighborhood. Several neighborhoods with classic ranch-style homes surround the school. Thunderbird Paseo Park ends in this area.

Westgate: 85305

Westgate is Glendale’s sports and entertainment district. New homes, shopping and offices can all be found here. The University of Phoenix Stadium and Gila River Arena anchor the area.

Glendale Airport: 85307

Glendale Airport is home to the city’s airport. This area with fewer neighborhoods than other parts of central Glendale stretches to Luke Air Force Base.

Housing

Housing

Ranch-style houses with mature landscaping can be found in many parts of central Glendale. Historic neighborhoods are part of the area’s downown. Condos and townhomes are also part of most neighborhoods. Newer homes and urban-style condos are popular around the Westgate area. New and old apartments are plentiful for the area’s renters, especially students.

The Market

Downtown Glendale85301

Glendale College85302

Desert Springs85303

ASU West85304

Westgate85305

Glendale Airport85307

  • Home prices are still affordable in this area, though they are climbing.

  • The typical home in central Glendale sells for less than $200,000. Newer and more expensive houses can be found in the Westgate area. Upscale apartments are also located there.

  • Central Glendale has many longtime residents and retirees, but the area is drawing more younger buyers and families.

  • Home sales are stable here but not high by Valley standards.

  • Investors purchased foreclosures here during the crash and turned them into rentals. Some of those homes are now being sold again. Buyers are purchasing the houses to live in.

Living Here

Living here

Expect both mature West Valley neighborhoods and a big growth hub with two of the Valley’s top sports venues. Desert Springs is within metro Phoenix’s inner loop of freeways now and considered an infill spot. The area’s two colleges draw many students, who typically live in the area. Shopping, restaurants and sports venue at Westgate draw many visitors. Super Bowl XLIX was played here. Glendale Airport is popular with private pilots. The freeways help with commutes, but the drive west can be tough when the sun sets.

Things To Do

Downtown Glendale85301

Glendale College85302

Desert Springs85303

ASU West85304

Westgate85305

Glendale Airport85307

Main attractions

Downtown Glendale has a lot of old-fashioned charm with its antique stores, ice cream shops and vintage street lamps. But it’s also got plenty of attractions for modern families, including two popular annual festivals: Chocolate Affaire and Glendale Glitters. Close by is Glendale Community College, which is part of the largest community college district in the country.

Out on the town

Downtown Glendale is home to some serious destination dining. Haus Murphy’s serves authentic German cuisine in its biergarten, where you can quaff your thirst with a stein of German beer. Right down the way is La Piazza al Forno, a brick-oven pizzeria that serves some of the tastiest pies in the Valley. This neighborhood is also home to one of America’s fading treasures: a drive-in theater. By day, it’s an open-air market, but by night the nine towering screens of West Wind drive-in light up with first-run features.

Main attractions

Nearby downtown Glendale has a lot of old-fashioned charm with its antique stores, ice cream shops and vintage street lamps. But it also has plenty of attractions for modern families, including two popular annual festivals: Chocolate Affaire and Glendale Glitters. Glendale Community College is part of the largest community-college district in the country.

Out on the town

Downtown Glendale, which is nearby, is home to some serious destination dining. Haus Murphy’s serves authentic German cuisine in its biergarten, where you can quaff your thirst with a stein of German beer. Right down the way is La Piazza al Forno, a brick-oven pizzeria that serves some of the tastiest pies in the Valley. This neighborhood is also home to one of America’s fading treasures: a drive-in theater. By day, it’s an open-air market, but by night the nine towering screens of West Wind drive-in light up with first-run features.

Main attractions

Nearby Glendale Community College is part of the largest community-college district in the country. Also close by is the scenic Arizona State University West campus, with shuttle service to the main campus in Tempe. Sahuaro Ranch Park is the jewel of this community. One of the Valley’s oldest ranches, its 13 original buildings have been preserved and restored. Enjoy guided tours, citrus groves, wildlife and the scenic backdrops that make it the area’s prettiest wedding venue.

Out on the town

Downtown Glendale is just a short drive away – that means first-class antique shopping, destination dining and some of the Valley’s most anticipated events. The annual Chocolate Affaire and Glendale Glitters are popular. The main branch of the Glendale Public Library is not only well stocked but beautiful. Keep an eye out for the brightly colored peacocks roaming the grounds. This family-oriented neighborhood is flush with nicely kept community parks with play areas and basketball and tennis courts.

Main attractions

Arizona State University’s West campus is so close, you can bike to it, and there’s a shuttle service to the main campus in Tempe. Also nearby is Glendale Community College, part of the largest community-college district in the country. And it’s right down the street from Saguaro Ranch Park, a Glendale jewel. One of the Valley’s oldest ranches, its 13 original buildings have been preserved and restored. Enjoy guided tours, citrus groves, wildlife and the scenic backdrops that make it the area’s prettiest wedding venue.

Out on the town

If you’re looking for a place to play, you need go no farther than Castles N’ Coasters. The amusement park is home to Desert Storm, a double-looping roller coaster. There are also go-karts, bumper boats, an arcade and miniature golf. For a more relaxing time, take a stroll through Thunderbird Paseo Park. With nearly four miles of desert trails, expect to see horseback riders, cyclists, joggers, dog walkers and families at play.

Main attractions

This neighborhood is home to two of the Valley’s best and biggest venues. There’s Gila River Arena, home to the Arizona Coyotes hockey team and host to big-name concert tours. And University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, is here.

Out on the town

Westgate is the West Valley’s central hub of choice retail, dining and entertainment. There you’ll find a sprawling complex full of shops, bars and restaurants and a 20-screen AMC theater. Just across the street you’ll find Tanger Outlets, home to dozens of stylish stores. Golfers will enjoy Desert Mirage Golf Course, with its nine-hole public course, driving range, golf academy and restaurant.

Main attractions

This neighborhood is a short drive away from two of the Valley’s best and biggest venues including Gila River Arena, home to the Arizona Coyotes hockey team and host to big-name concert tours. Also look for the University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. Right next door is Luke Air Force Base; keep your eyes peeled for cool planes and occasional air shows.

Out on the town

Westgate is the West Valley’s central hub of choice retail, dining and entertainment. There you’ll find a sprawling complex full of shops, bars and restaurants and a 20-screen AMC theater. Just across the street, there’s Tanger Outlets, home to dozens of stylish stores. The 13,000-seat stadium Camelback Ranch is home to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox for spring training.

Explore the Outdoors

Outdoors

The Arizona Canal Trail, an off-street multiuse path, cuts across the northeast quadrant of this area, providing a great place to run or ride a bike. The path runs from Rio Vista Park in Peoria all the way to the Biltmore area of north Phoenix. To the west of Central Glendale, White Tank Mountain Regional Park offers a maze of hiking, biking and running trails, plus camping and picnicking. To the east, some challenging hikes await at the much smaller North Mountain Park with two summits to test the legs.

Stats & Facts

Downtown Glendale85301

Glendale College85302

Desert Springs85303

ASU West85304

Westgate85305

Glendale Airport85307

Who lives here

Relatively young and lower-income residents inhabit many of the older houses that make up much of the central Glendale area. Incomes tend to be higher in the ASU West (85304) and Westgate (85305) neighborhoods. Other neighborhoods are closer to average incomes.

5 Things To Know About Glendale

It’s a city with agricultural roots.

The area’s many acres of farmland have been transformed by newer development along Loop 101. The city still has farm fields and a historic, walkable downtown with shops and restaurants.

Its residents like recreation.

A city plan in 2015 to relocate one of three city libraries was met with intense opposition and the proposal was quickly dropped. The city has two aquatic centers, more than 50 small parks of fewer than 10 acres, nine community parks and six regional parks.

It had financial problems.

The city invested $500 million in sports facilities, including the Gila River Arena and the Camelback Ranch Glendale baseball stadium and spring training complex. Unexpected expenses for sports teams and facilities and the recession forced steep cuts in city staff and services. Over the past few years, Glendale has stabilized its budget and improved its bond rating.

It plans to grow.

More residential development is expected along the Loop 303 and Northern Parkway. Glendale is also considering annexing some areas west of Loop 101.

It was the hub for metro Phoenix’s early growth.

Construction of both the Arizona Grand Canal and Grand Avenue started in Glendale during the 1880s.