Part of the azcentral.com Network

Central West Valley

General

New and older neighborhoods, a nearby historic resort, a new freeway and Luke Air Force Base can be found in this growing area in the middle of metro Phoenix’s west side. The area includes several smaller Valley suburbs that have plenty of land for future growth.  

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

The Loop 303 runs through the middle of this area and ends at Interstate 10. This neighborhood is central to several freeways west of Phoenix.

School Map
Walk Score

Explore the 5 Areas of Central West Valley

Coyote Lakes: 85378

Coyote Lakes is surrounded by popular retirement communities. The Agua Fria River flows through the middle of this area.

El Mirage: 85335

El Mirage is a West Valley suburb known for its affordable homes. Highway 60 to Wickenburg runs through its northern edge. Large industrial parks near I-10 can be found on its southern end.

Marley Park: 85379

Marley Park is made up of newer home communities, parks and schools. This area is surrounded by Valley freeways. And it’s just south of the Cactus League spring training’s Surprise Stadium and the sports venues around it.

Surprise Farms: 85388

Surprise Farms has new-home communities, business parks and some large tracts of farm land. This neighborhood reaches the White Tank Mountain Regional Park on its western edge.

Waddell: 85355

Waddell is a large area that sweeps around the western and northern sides of Luke Air Force Base. The Loop 303 Freeway bisects this area. Larger homes surrounded by farmland can be found here.

Housing

Housing

This growing area has new and older neighborhoods. You’ll find older and more affordable houses in El Mirage and around Luke Air Force Base. The Central West Valley draws many people who want newer houses, near Valley freeways, for more affordable prices.

The Market

Coyote Lakes85378

El Mirage85335

Marley Park85379

Surprise Farms85388

Waddell85355

  • Home prices in many parts of the central West Valley have recently posted decent increases. But the area is still affordable by metro Phoenix standards.

  • The Coyote Lakes neighborhood has the most affordable. The area is drawing families, retirees, first-time buyers and investors.

  • Home sales are climbing in the Central West Valley as more people opt to buy bigger houses for lower prices. Homebuilding is also on the rise here. Several communities are planned on big tracts of former farmland in the Central West Valley.

  • Affordable rentals can be found in El Mirage and around Luke Air Force Base. Foreclosures have fallen in this area as they have throughout metro Phoenix.

Living Here

Living here

Expect a suburban lifestyle. More development is planned and underway along the Valley’s newest freeway, Loop 303. Look for big fields of farmland that could be turned into new neighborhoods. Expect construction traffic as this growing area draws more residents and builders. New subdivisions are interspersed between established neighborhoods, particularly in Surprise and El Mirage. New parks and schools are the norm, particularly around Marley Park. Several large business parks are drawing big and small employers. Neighborhoods close to Luke Air Force Base get some noise from flights.

Things To Do

Coyote Lakes85378

El Mirage85335

Marley Park85379

Surprise Farms85388

Waddell85355

Main attractions

Golf nuts, this community is for you. This area is flush with golf courses and country clubs, including Union Hills Golf and Country Club, a semiprivate club with an 18-hole golf course.

Out on the town

Arrowhead Towne Center and nearby complexes offer lots of shopping, dining and entertainment options. The large indoor shopping mall is outfitted with major department stores, independent retailers and AMC Theatres. Across the street is an 18-screen Harkins Theatre and Peoria Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.

Main attractions

Golf nuts will be pleased to know this area is surrounded by pristine golf courses and country clubs, including Union Hills Golf and Country Club, a semiprivate club with an 18-hole golf course. Right next door is Luke Air Force Base, so keep your eyes peeled for cool planes and occasional air shows. Wildlife World Zoo offers an up-close look at a large collection of exotic animals, including white tigers and a rare white alligator.

Out on the town

This is the place to be during spring training. Surprise Stadium is home to the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. Camelback Ranch is home to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. And Peoria Sports Complex is where the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres play. Close by are two major Valley shopping meccas with dozens of entertainment, retail and dining options: Westgate Entertainment District and Arrowhead Towne Center.

Main attractions

Golf nuts will be pleased to know this area is surrounded by pristine golf courses and country clubs, including Union Hills Golf and Country Club, a semiprivate club with an 18-hole golf course. Next door is Luke Air Force Base, so keep your eyes peeled for cool planes and occasional air shows. Wildlife World Zoo offers an up-close look at a large collection of exotic animals, including white tigers and a rare white alligator.

Out on the town

Come spring, enjoy a day at the ballpark at Surprise Stadium, the spring training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. Kick back at the end of a workweek at Uptown Alley, a grown-up lounge with 10 private bowling lanes, billiards, and a bar and dance floor. Or, for a uniquely Arizona experience, take a ride at Arizona Horseriding Adventures.

Main attractions

Golf nuts will be pleased to know this area is surrounded by pristine golf courses and country clubs, including Union Hills Golf and Country Club, a semiprivate club with an 18-hole golf course. Right next door is Luke Air Force Base, so keep your eyes peeled for cool planes and occasional air shows. Wildlife World Zoo offers an up-close look at a large collection of exotic animals, including white tigers and a rare white alligator.

Out on the town

Surprise Stadium is the spring training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. The immediate area offers popular dining and retail options, while easy access to major Valley freeways offers a quick trip to Westgate Entertainment District, 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.

Main attractions

Right next door is Luke Air Force Base so keep your eyes peeled for cool planes and occasional air shows. Wildlife World Zoo offers an up-close look at a large collection of exotic animals, including white tigers and a rare white alligator.

Out on the town

Come spring, enjoy a day at one of the area’s two nearby spring training stadiums. Surprise Stadium is home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. And Camelback Ranch is where the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox play. For special occasions, treat yourself to a night at the elegant Wigwam Resort and its high-class cuisine, golf and spa services.

Explore the Outdoors

Outdoors

These neighborhoods are close to the new Skyline Regional Park. It offers hiking, mountain biking, trail running and horseback riding. Stargazing and fitness programs will be offered there for families. Just north of there, the expansive White Tank Mountain Regional Park offers a maze of hiking, biking and running trails, plus camping and picnicking. A finished section of the Maricopa Trail, a planned 242-mile system that will connect the Valley’s regional and municipal parks, slices along the western boundary of these neighborhoods.

Stats & Facts

Coyote Lakes85378

El Mirage85335

Marley Park85379

Surprise Farms85388

Waddell85355

Who lives here

The central West Valley has above-average income with ordinary college attainment. Most neighborhoods have relatively new housing. The El Mirage ZIP code (85335) is among the Valley’s most racially and ethnically diverse.

5 Things To Know About the West Valley

It is made up of a few suburbs.

This growing area includes Litchfield Park, El Mirage, Waddell and parts of Surprise.

It neighbors Luke Air Force Base.

Both F-16 and F-35 fighter pilots are trained at the Valley’s only Air Force base. The base has a population of about 23,000.

It is a growing area.

Surprise’s population jumped 281 percent between 2000 and 2010. Waddell has lots of land for future development. And the Loop 303 is expected to bring much more growth to this area.

It has a long history.

Litchfield Park was founded by Paul Litchfield. In 1916, he was sent to Arizona by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. to buy a huge swath of land to grow cotton needed for tires.

It is expected to draw more jobs.

More than 50 percent of metro Phoenix future commercial growth is expected to happen in the West Valley, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council says.