North Glendale

North Glendale Overview

North Glendale draws many families, business executives and professional athletes. Look for affluent suburban neighborhoods near parks, shopping and job hubs in this section of Glendale. Not only is it a great place to hang out, but it’s a higher-education hub as well. This neighborhood is centrally located on metro Phoenix’s west side with easy freeway access.

Transportation

The Loop 101 and Interstate 17 run through and around this neighborhood. Bell Road is also a major roadway.

Explore the 3 areas of north Glendale

Thunderbird: 85306

Many neighborhoods have larger homes, built in the 1970s and ’80s. The area is surrounded by Valley freeways.

Arrowhead Ranch: 85308

Arrowhead Ranch is one of the West Valley’s most sought-after addresses. Built on acres of orange groves, the community has million-dollar homes and a country club and golf courses. A large shopping center and hospital can be found here, too. Loop 101 runs through this area.

Hillcrest Ranch: 85310

Hillcrest Ranch is sandwiched between two large preserve areas. Home are newer here and on bigger lots. There’s still room for new development here.

Housing

Suburban neighborhoods with large homes, cul-du-sacs and desert open space can be found in north Glendale. Apartments and condominiums are located in this area The oldest houses are centrally located near the area’s universities. Bigger homes on large lots are farther north. Million-dollar houses surround Arrowhead Country Club.

The Market

This neighborhood’s universities, shopping and central West Valley location continually draws homebuyers and renters.
Home sales and prices are on the rise in this area.
Arrowhead’s mansions draw athletes who train nearby, as well as executives with businesses based in the area.

Bigger, new homes near desert preserves are drawing buyers to the Hillcrest area in the north.
Median home prices are higher than the Valley’s average in both Arrowhead and Hillcrest. Those areas are drawing families and second homebuyers.
The Thunderbird area is the most affordable neighborhood here. This area is drawing investors, who are turning houses into rentals for students.

Living here

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.

Things to do in Thunderbird: 85306

Main attractions

Arrowhead Towne Center and nearby centers are flush with 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. Arizona State University’s West Campus is close by. There’s a shuttle service to the main campus in Tempe. Also nearby is Glendale Community College.

Out on the town

Find food from the best chain dining to ethnic gems, including Pho Avina and Tokyo Lobby. Work it all off with a stroll through Thunderbird Paseo Park, which has nearly four miles of desert trails. It’s a haven for horseback riders, cyclists, joggers, dog walkers and families at play. Improve your tennis skills at Paseo Racquet Center. Or have a good time without breaking a sweat at Castles N’ Coasters amusement park. It is home to Desert Storm, a double-looping roller coaster, go-karts, bumper boats, an arcade and miniature golf.

Outdoors

Adobe Dam Regional Park sits in the north Glendale area. It has amenities not found at many parks. There’s a paintball complex, radio-controlled model airplane field, a train park and a kart-racing track. To the west, Thunderbird Conservation Park offers about 15 miles of groomed multi-use paths for hiking, mountain biking, jogging and nature observation. Deem Hills Recreation Area, with more trails, is located just north of these neighborhoods. The Arizona Canal Trail, an off-the-street, multiuse path that runs from Peoria into the Biltmore area, cuts through the neighborhoods and connects Thunderbird Paseo Park to the Skunk Creek Linear Park and Trail System.

Things to do in Arrowhead Ranch: 85308

Main attractions

Arrowhead Towne Center and nearby centers are flush with shopping, dining and entertainment options. The large indoor shopping mall includes 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. The area is also home to Glendale’s Midwestern University campus, a school specializing in health education.

Out on the town

Picturesque Arrowhead Country Club includes golf and tennis, a sports club and spa. Also, look for a full calendar of social activities for club members. For more laid-back fun, catch a film at Deer Valley Towne Center’s 30-screen AMC Theatre. Or catch a game at one of the area’s many sports bars, including Zipps Sports Grill and Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing.

Outdoors

Things to do in Hillcrest Ranch: 85310

Main attractions

During the hotter months, cool off at one of the Valley’s premiere summer attractions, Wet ‘n’ Wild waterpark. The fun comes in many speeds, from thrilling waterslides to lazy floating rivers. For the studious, there’s Glendale Community College’s North Campus, offering complete degree and certificate programs – without the commute.

Out on the town

In cooler months. Adobe Dam Regional Park offers outdoor fun with a railroad park to kart racing to a 150-plus-acre paintball facility. Weather permitting, expect to see colorful skies teeming with hot-air balloons. The area is a popular spot for breathtaking air tours of the Sonoran Desert. Dining options are varied, with sports bars, pizzerias and ethnic eateries to be found in the neighborhood.

Outdoors

Who lives here

North Glendale area residents earn above-average income and the area has relatively high homeownership. The three neighborhoods are fairly similar, but median incomes are highest in Hillcrest Ranch (85310). The percentage of college degrees is highest in Arrowhead Ranch (85308).

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 a hub for metro Phoenix’s early growth: Construction of both the Arizona Grand Canal and Grand Avenue started in Glendale during the 1880s.