$138,918Average Value$131Average Price per Sq Ft30Homes For Sale
Small, diverse and artistic South Arizona community
Once a copper mining boomtown, Ajo is now a diverse and artistic community not too far from the United States-Mexico border and the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation. Its historic plaza hosts activities like traditional Mexican dancing and has mural alleys showcasing anything from desert scenery and Native American culture to more fantastic elements like winged eyeballs flying over hilly and cacti-covered landscapes. “Ajo is basically two hours from anything. Other than that, you kind of make your own fun here. You can go camping in the desert, or you can go four-wheeling,” says Kattie Allen, retail manager for the Ajo Copper news. “Ajo’s a small town where everybody helps each other out and comes together to support each other.”
jo's grid-like layout is surrounded by mountains, with residential neighborhoods, public parks, and artistic hubs woven throughout the town.
Ajo's vibrant murals add splashes of color and creativity to town walls, celebrating nature, culture, and the town's artistic roots.
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Ranch-style, Craftsman and Spanish homes in the quiet desert
The local setting attracts retirees and “snowbirds,” or people who come here during the winter to escape colder climates elsewhere. “It doesn’t get super cold, so it’s a lot easier for a lot of older people,” Allen says. “We have a lot of clubs and organizations they’re a part of, and they can be about as retired as they want around here basically.”Overlooked by palms, architecture consists of ranch-style homes and other builds showing Craftsman and Spanish designs. In the areas away from the heart of Ajo, prospective buyers find more room with lots that can easily exceed half an acre. Depending on a mix of size and condition, single-family homes go from $100,000 to nearly $300,000. There are also investment properties for about $50,000 or less, and a few manufactured homes run between $50,000 and $150,000.
Flat-roofed ranch-style homes stucco finishes are popular in Ajo, offering simple design and practicality for retirees and seasonal residents.
Brightly painted exteriors and desert plantings give character to Ajo's neighborhoods where ranch-style homes often sit behind short fences or low walls.
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Staples and boutiques along Second and Solana avenues
Much of Ajo’s dining scene is around North Second and Solana avenues. Oasis Coffee carries typical cafe fare like wraps and grilled sandwiches, and its patrons can play friendly chess games near a wall, prominently displaying the definition of an oasis. The coffee shop neighbors a thrift shop called The Ajo Store, while a few more dining staples and boutiques are a few blocks west. The Agave Grill serves classic comfort meals in a casual spot with red-checkered tables and rustic decor. Fat Cactus Pizza & Arcade serves beer, warm pies and has a small gaming room. Olsens Marketplace is the community’s grocery store.
Oasis Coffee is a local hangout, offering coffee, pastries, and a welcoming atmosphere with checkered floors and bright greenery.
The Ajo Store blends boutique retail with a cozy, community-focused feel, offering handmade goods, gifts, and vintage finds.
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Adventures in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge
Ajo has a few municipal facilities to keep its community active. E.S. “Bud” Walker Park features baseball fields, basketball courts and a skate park. The site also provides a public pool and a park for dog owners to let their pets roam off-leash and get exercise. The nearby Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge spans over 800,000 acres of designated wilderness. While popular among backpackers and campers, the refuge also draws hunters, cyclists and horseback riders. The wildlife here includes common Sonoran Desert inhabitants like desert bighorn sheep, coyotes and various reptiles. Ajo is also less than 20 minutes from the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, where hikers can access more than two dozen miles of trails across rugged terrain.
Ajo's community baseball fields hosts local games and practices, creating a hub for sports and family-friendly gatherings at Bud Walker Park.
The entrance to Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge marks the start of over 900,000 acres of protected desert wilderness, home to unique wildlife and rugged trails near Ajo.
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Celebration of multiculturalism at Ajo Plaza
Throughout the year, crowds flock to the Ajo Plaza’s former Spanish-style depot and palm-surrounded square for various festivities. Ajo’s distinct location allows cultures from the community, Mexico and Tohono O’odham Nation to converge at the local International Day of Peace Celebration in September. The signature event’s parade ends at the plaza and features displays like massive bird-themed kites. On Saturdays, the plaza hosts the Aristans’ Mercado, where vendors sell crafts made from materials like yarn, glass and copper.
Ajo High’s career technical education exposure
The Ajo Unified School District oversees just two schools and earns a C grade from Niche. Ajo Elementary serves students from prekindergarten to eighth grade and gets a C-minus. The elementary school shares a campus with Ajo High, which gets a C-plus from Niche. The high school participates in a Pima County program focused on providing early exposure to career technical fields. Students can take courses in subjects like information technology, robotics and healthcare.
The shared campus of Ajo's schools includes parking, drop-off zones, and access roads that wind through the desert landscape.
Ajo's school complex includes ports facilities and open space, with desert surroundings visible in every direction.
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Route 86 connection to Tucson
Arizona state Route 86 is a direct path to Tucson, just over two hours east of Ajo. Arizona state Route 85, or the Ajo Sonoita Highway, goes to the United States-Mexico border less than 40 minutes south. Although Ajo shares the county with the Tucson International Airport, the community is just under two hours — and therefore closer — to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Located nearly two hours northeast, the Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital between Phoenix and Tucson is the nearest major medical institution.
Written By
Yann Ranaivo
Photography Contributed By
John Williams
Video By
Scott Wiggins
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Paul Miller,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Ajo, AZ sell after 58 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Ajo, AZ over the last 12 months is $145,000, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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