Neighborhoods Archive - Retreats Living

Ahwatukee

Expect a suburban lifestyle near a large mountain preserve. Many neighborhoods look similar with mostly stucco homes and tile roofs. The area and its good schools draw many families. People are often out on the community’s trails and loop roads walking, hiking or biking. Shopping centers abound. Big job hubs are nearby in Chandler, Tempe and Phoenix.

Anthem

This neighborhood in the desert is almost 30 miles from Downtown Phoenix but the area’s residents don’t have to commute far for jobs and shopping. Schools and many things to do are also located close by. Traffic along I-17 can back up during popular commute times and when Valley residents travel back and forth from northern Arizona. The area has land available for future development and residents.

Arcadia

Expect a popular neighborhood where people flock to for restaurants and shopping. Or hiking Camelback Mountain and biking along the area’s cool canal. Houses are expensive. Streets are wide and tree lined. Jobs and freeways are close. This is a coveted address.

Biltmore

The Biltmore area encompasses two demographically distinct neighborhoods, each with aging housing. Median household income in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve neighborhood (85028) is higher than in the Biltmore (85016). Most Biltmore residents rent their homes; Phoenix Mountain Preserve residents overwhelmingly own.

Black Canyon

Expect a more central Valley neighborhood with a mix of big ranch-style homes and affordable older townhouses and condos. Christown Spectrum, an older Valley mall that has been renovated and is nearly full, is here. Metrocenter mall is here, too. I-17 runs through the center. Light rail treks through the southeastern corner and is being expanded north. There are plenty of business parks and jobs around the freeway. Turf Paradise is Arizona’s biggest racetrack.

Buckeye

Expect a small-town feel with a range of housing and incomes. Community events are popular and frequent. New homes can be found in central Buckeye, bisected by I-10. Smaller, older homes and farms are the norm in Lower Buckeye. High-end homes are in Verrado. More new development, including office and warehouse space to draw more employers is expected. The White Tank Mountains offer great views and hiking. Plus the recent widening of the freeway makes for an easier commute.

Carefree / Cave Creek

The surrounding area is heaven for golfers. There’s Desert Forest Golf Club, an 18-hole, desert-style private course. And Desert Mountain is a private golf and recreational community with six Jack Nicklaus courses. The Boulders resort is nearby for a spa day or round of golf. Each year, the streets of Carefree turn into works of art thanks to the annual Carefree Art & Wine Festival.

Central Chandler

Expect a suburban experience with many parks, jobs and plenty of shopping. This area has easy freeway access and is growing. Millennials are moving here for jobs. Young families like the area for its relatively affordable homes in the central East Valley. There’s plenty to do in this area, from Chandler’s historic downtown to the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino.

Central Glendale

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

Central Mesa

Expect to find many shopping centers, golf courses and affordable neighborhoods. Dobson Ranch is the neighborhood’s most prominent community, but older apartments and mobile-home parks can be found in parts of this area. Historic homes are in the Downtown neighborhood, which is being revitalized with new arts and culture venues. Hohokam Stadium draws baseball fans come February and March. This area attracts families, students and retirees.

Central Scottsdale

Expect an urban and upscale lifestyle with resorts, sought-after restaurants and shopping, golf courses and popular outdoor attractions. Central Scottsdale includes the city’s oldest and newest housing. It draws all kinds of residents and visitors.

Central West Valley

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.

Deer Valley

Expect lots of desert preserve land and access to multiple freeways. People move here for more affordable and bigger new homes and to be near the many large employers in the area. Shopping centers and restaurants can be easily found, particularly on the northern end of this neighborhood where there’s a lot of new development. Deer Valley Airport is a busy site for both personal and corporate aircraft.

Desert Ridge

Expect an urban feel in a suburban setting in this north Phoenix neighborhood. You will find plenty of jobs and shopping here. New homes are going up on the northern end of this area. Neighborhoods with houses built in the 1980s are on the southern end. There are plenty of apartments for renters. The easy freeway access draws many residents and companies. This is one of Phoenix’s big growth areas and more development is planned.

Downtown Phoenix

Expect a vibrant urban area that is drawing many visitors and new residents. Houses are mostly historic and look different block by block. Annual home tours showcase Downtown Phoenix’s most popular neighborhoods. New hip restaurants and bars can be found in this area. Busy streets are the norm on weekdays as people commute to jobs in the area. Light rail runs through this neighborhood.

Gilbert

Gilbert is the Valley’s fastest-growing town and suburb. But it hasn’t lost all of its agriculture roots. The town’s historic downtown is thriving with many local, popular eateries that draw people from across metro Phoenix. Man-made lakes are the norm in several neighborhoods. New homes are bigger and surrounded by parks and other recreation spots. Large employers are expanding here. The area is also home to a new Mormon temple.

Kierland

Expect an urban feel in a suburban setting in this north Phoenix/Scottsdale neighborhood. You will find plenty of jobs and shopping here. New homes are going up on the northern end of this area. Neighborhoods with houses built in the 1980s are on the southern end. There are plenty of apartments for renters.

Maryvale

Expect an older neighborhood with affordable homes. Grand Canyon University’s growth is helping revitalize that part of this west Phoenix area. Easy freeway access and low home prices are a draw for this area. Rentals are easy to find here.

Midtown

Expect an urban lifestyle with smaller eclectic neighborhoods and a variety of home designs. Houses looks different block by block and typically aren’t stucco. New hip and ethnic restaurants can be found in this area that draws families, Baby Boomers, young professionals and college students. Jobs are aplenty in this centrally located area.

North Glendale

Count on a suburban lifestyle with plenty of shopping, parks and jobs nearby. Commutes aren’t typically bad because the area has many jobs and easy access to freeways. This area has some upscale neighborhoods and millionaires. But the vibe is low key, even when Major League Baseball players are around for spring training. Higher-education options are easy to find here. Former orange groves gave way to neighborhoods. But the area has kept some of its farming roots.

North Scottsdale

North Scottsdale is located high in the Sonoran desert, with spectacular views of the rest of metro Phoenix. High-end restaurants and resorts add to this area’s lifestyle.

Northeast Mesa

This neighborhood is a golf course hub with both high-end and affordable homes. Parks are plenty. And views of the Superstition Mountains and Usery Mountain Recreation Park are a big draw. The area’s several RV parks are typically full in the winter and spring. Hikers love this area, and so do retirees. Loop 202 opened this area up to more residents.

Northwest Valley

Expect a luxury desert lifestyle with golf courses, resorts and views that stretch to downtown Phoenix. The McDowell Mountains and Tonto Forest flank this area. People don’t move here because it has easy freeway access or is near job corridors.

Papago

Expect the energetic vibe of living near one of the U.S.’s biggest universities. But also the peace of being near a big city park with sweeping views of ancient boulders, a zoo and desert garden.

Paradise Valley

Expect a resort-style atmosphere with many part-time and affluent residents as well as visitors. The mountains draw many hikers, particularly early in the morning. About a dozen restaurants and resorts are the only commercial development in this million-dollar-home enclave.

San Tan Valley

Expect a suburban lifestyle with a rural feel. A large desert mountain preserve is in the middle of this area. There’s plenty of land for future development in this neighborhood. Most houses here were built during the past 15 years and drew buyers with their affordable prices.

Scottsdale 85255

The Scottsdale 85255 area is next to the majestic McDowell Mountain range and offers both desert and city views. Friends from other parts of the Valley and world will be happy to come visit you to enjoy the sunsets, go out to eat, hike or hit the links in this neighborhood. Expect the luxury lifestyle with golf courses, more high-end eateries and resorts nearby.

South Chandler

Expect that living on the outskirts means plenty of room to stretch your legs. Enjoy the area’s golf courses including Bear Creek Golf Complex, a 36-hole public facility. For every other sport there’s Snedigar Recreation Center, a 90-acre sports complex with baseball fields, soccer fields, a full-size cricket field, a dog park and a skate park.

South Phoenix

Expect newer neighborhoods with golf courses near South Mountain. Former farmland has sprouted new subdivisions. But local organic farmers and dairies can still be found here. Many industrial and business parks are located in areas near the multiple freeways in and around this neighborhood. New shopping centers can be found near longtime, popular Mexican eateries. Living next to South Mountain, one of the biggest city parks in the country, is a big draw for many.

Southeast Mesa

Expect a suburban area with an urban feel around Eastmark. Other parts of this neighborhood are more low-key for retirees. This growing Mesa neighborhood is attracting new homebuyers and businesses. Millennials, families and retirees all flock to this area.

Southwest Valley

Those living in this area can expect a somewhat quiet suburban lifestyle. Many of the neighborhoods attract families with their affordable homes. Estrella Mountain Community College is based here, as well as Phoenix International Raceway.

Sun Cities

Expect a retirement lifestyle with many part-time residents who leave during the summer. You will find golf courses and large community centers can be found in all of this area’s neighborhoods. Restaurants, shopping and medical centers are on most busy intersections. Golf carts can be found in many driveways and cruising down residential streets.

Tempe

Expect the energetic vibe of a thriving downtown near one of the U.S.’s biggest universities. Neighborhoods can be eclectic. You’ll find different types and styles of homes and a wide range residents on any street. Tempe is a hub for local retail and restaurants. Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake draw visitors from across metro Phoenix. So do sporting and entertainment events at ASU. Crime rates are a little higher in some neighborhoods around the college.

Uptown

This central neighborhood in the city of Phoenix includes both urban and suburban areas. Ranch-style, historic brick or block and newer stucco homes can all be found here. Million-dollar estates dot the Northwest Central neighborhood. Mountain preserve areas surround and run through this area. Popular restaurants are plentiful. Many of its schools are top rated and draw students from other parts of the Valley. And light rail runs through the southern part