Located in the heart of Mohave County halfway between Phoenix and Las Vegas is Kingman, an Arizona community that has seen a population surge over the past few years. “We had a ton of people move here from California, because, for the exception of a couple of weeks, we never really closed down for COVID,” says Kathy Helton of RE/MAX Prestige Properties, who has been active in Kingman for more than two decades. “I sold more homes in 2021 than I did in 2005 when the market was at its highest point, because people wanted to come here and go out and do things.” Kingman has a population of about 35,000 people, an increase of 10% compared to the 2020 census. Lower taxes and insurance rates compared to California and other parts of Arizona bring people here, and the area sits along the longest active remanent of Historic Route 66, now Interstate 40. Many eateries and shops harken back to the road’s glory days. New residents are typically retirement age, and they stay active with plenty of hiking trails, parks and museums in the area. People of working age can easily commute to Kingman Regional Medical Center, the largest employer in town.
Kingman is a small, but growing desert town in Mohave County halfway between Phoenix and Vegas.
Kingman was once a a truck-stop town along Historic Route 66.
Kingman is a top tourist destination known for Route 66, neon signs, and classic cars.
Kingman has a population of nearly 35,000, a 10% increase since the 2020 census.
1/4
Centennial Park and hiking White Cliffs Trail System
Centennial Park and the Centennial Park Community Center are the epicenter of recreation in Kingman. Locals play pickleball, work out on the exercise trail and let their kids play on the 41-acre facility's playground equipment. People cool off in the pool and let their dogs run around at the dog park. The town sponsors youth and adult sports, including softball, basketball and baseball, and the community center offers cooking demonstrations and weekly dance and exercise classes are held weekly. The I Love 66 Festival happens every October, bringing the community together to celebrate with live music, a classic car show and local vendors. The White Cliffs Trail System is right outside downtown Kingman and offers 8.7 miles of hiking and biking terrain. History buffs step back in time at the Arizona Route 66 Museum, which tells the story of the historic highway.
Centennial Park is Kingman's largest park and recreation center.
Centennial Park in Kingman features tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds and more.
Hikers love the 8.7 miles of scenic views on the White Cliffs Trail System in Kingman.
The White Cliffs Trail System in Kingman offers challenging routes for hiking enthusiasts.
1/4
Home prices below Arizona average
Homes in Kingman are largely manufactured homes or ranch-style houses with Mediterranean influences. These stucco homes have tile roofs and xeriscaping instead of grass lawns, and most of them are located on quiet, paved streets in the Golden Valley and New Kingman-Butler neighborhoods. Other parts of Kingman have manufactured homes sitting off dusty, desolate roads relying on septic. Homes in Kingman have seen a 16% overall increase in price over the past five years. Manufactured homes can start at $40,000, while single-family houses with acres of land can range up to $800,000. Most are in the $200,000 to $400,000 range, lower than the national median home price of $416,700. “Most of these homes don’t have an HOA and are priced lower than any other city within hours,” Helton says. “You could get a 2,000 square foot property on half an acre for under $400,000, which is impossible in California.”
Homes in the city of Kingman have seen a 16% increase in value over the past five years.
Manufactured homes in Kingman cost between $40,000 and $200,000, depending on the neighborhood.
Home prices in Kingman are much lower than the national average.
Homes in Kingman typically sit on large lots with desert landscaping.
1/4
Diners and steakhouses along the highway
There are plenty of bars and restaurants scattered along Interstate 40. Many eateries are diners that harken back to the 1950s and the glory days of Route 66 with breakfast and lunch classics. There’s no shortage of Mexican restaurants boasting authentic green chili, as well as steakhouses with an old-western feel. Gift shops and antique malls dot the areas around the highways. There are no major shopping malls in Kingman, but strip malls throughout town have big box retailers like Walmart, Safeway and Dollar Tree. “We have Home Depot, Ross and the big news is that we’re getting a Marshalls,” says Helton. “If you’re a big shopper, this might not be your favorite place.”
Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner is an old fashioned diner, serving traditional diner fare in Kingman.
El Tio Taco Shop is a local favorite for Mexican cuisine in Kingman.
Rutherfords 66 Family Diner serves American classics in a petite, unassuming setting in Kingman.
West of 3rd is a regenerative lifestyle shop offering locally sourced whole foods in Kingman.
1/4
Kingman Unified School District
Kids in the area attend the Kingman Unified School District, which is made up of 12 total schools with nearly 7,000 students and more than 350 full-time employees. The district holds a C-plus grade on Niche and has eight elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Both Kingman High School and Lee Williams High School offer athletics, band and CPE courses to prepare students for employment after graduation. Mohave Community College has one of its four campuses in Kingman.
Crime and commuting in Kingman
CrimeGrade gives Kingman a B-minus grade overall, meaning crime occurs at a slightly higher rate than the United States average. The FBI reports that crime in Kingman has stayed stable over the past five years and is higher than the Arizona average. The city is served by the Kingman Police Department, which holds local events like Coffee with a Cop, encouraging locals to mingle with the local police force. The many highways in the area make for an easy commute. Residents can hop on Route 93 and drive 100 miles to Las Vegas, home to the nearest major airport. Bullhead City is 36 miles west off Highway 68, while Flagstaff is 146 miles east on Interstate 40. Kingman Area Regional Transit (KART) operates four fixed bus routes around the city, providing affordable mass transit options for Kingman inhabitants.
Revitalizing downtown Kingman
The city of Kingman is attempting to revitalize the downtown area with a four-phase project to attract businesses. The goal is to create a safe and attractive downtown area. Parking decks will allow commuters to easily leave their car before strolling along the main drag to explore breweries, record stores and dessert shops. Some effects of the plan are already being felt. “Wine bars, breweries and more keep going up on the downtown strip,” says Helton. “They’ve started having street fairs, art openings and more downtown, which is really special.”
Downtown Kingman is an historic area along Route 66.
The City of Kingman has a vision to revitalize the Downtown area.
Downtown Kingman is home to a variety of local shops, entertainment venues and small businesses.
Mohave Museum of History and Arts is the perfect place to trace local history in Kingman.
Like many here in Lake Havasu City, I was born in Southern California and Like many kids just out of high school, I was looking forward to experiencing exciting new endeavors! It was one of my closest childhood family friends that I used to vacation here with in the late 70’s and 80’s that introduced me to the wonderful aspects that Lake Havasu City offers its visitors.
It’s no wonder Lake Havasu pulls tourists from all over the world. Given its recreational fun, unparalleled beauty, national attraction and down to earth atmosphere among its people, Lake Havasu has offered my closest friends and I a place to call home-sweet-home for over 20 years now.
I consider Lake Havasu City and the surrounding communities an excellent place to live, vacation and invest. I make it my goal as your real estate agent to provide you with nothing less than superior service. I value each and every customer and I appreciate the opportunity of helping you make one of the largest decisions of your life.
I believe that my long term local knowledge and extensive real estate experience will benefit you in the selling or purchasing of your home, land or commercial real estate. I know I do my job well and I’m honored to serve each client with the enthusiasm as if they were my very first. It’s amazing to witness that when one does their job with passion and dedication; others benefit and experience great joy.
I’m proud to say that this is the reason I do what I do, to help and serve other people. It
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
