Taylor offers more space in Arizona’s Silver Creek Valley
Taylor is in the Silver Creek Valley of Central Arizona, near the foothills of the White Mountains. This pioneer town was founded in 1878 by James Pearce, and it’s named after John Taylor, the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While plenty of residents in town don’t have swaths of land, Taylor has always had an agricultural identity. “Taylor was founded as a farm town. The cooler weather and water access from Silver Creek make it great for farming,” says Realtor Brandy Bryant with eXp, who was born and raised in Taylor. The rural lifestyle is present with everyone here, not just ranchers. “People who come here want to be self-sustaining,” Bryant says. “They want land with space for animals or a big garden.”
More space in town or acreage in the valley
Taylor is about a 3-hour drive from Phoenix, but buyers gravitate to this rural setting to get more land for their money. “People come here for more space,” Bryant says. “Land here is almost always less expensive than where they’re coming from.” The median price is about $380,000. Ranch-style homes on an acre or more start just above the median. Most of these properties are in the open plains outside town, but some are in town. Ranch-style homes are standard on the streets in the heart of town and typically cost around the median. Some sit close together, but many older models are established on spacious lots. Smaller, older homes in town can start under $170,000. Newer, large farmhouses on a couple of acres, just outside town, can cost over $600,000.
Between the White Mountains and the Painted Desert
Taylor is on Central Arizona’s Mogollon Rim between the mountains and desert. Specifically, it’s at the northern foot of the White Mountains and Sitgreaves National Forest. Summers at this elevation are cooler than in Arizona’s scorching deserts. It even snows here in the winter. The mountains offer tons of hiking trails through thousands of acres of ponderosa pine-covered ridges and canyons. Arizona isn’t traditionally thought of as a skiing location, but in the White Mountains’ high peaks, there are slopes like Sunrise Park Resort. Petrified Forest National Park is less than 60 miles north. The park might be named for its petrified trees, but it’s famously home to the Painted Desert. In this section of the park’s desert canyons, the red rock faces appear like they have been brushed with layers of color.
Schools in Taylor and Snowflake
Taylor is served by the Snowflake Unified School District, which earns a B-plus grade from Niche. Students begin in town at Taylor Elementary, for kindergarten through third grade, rated a B-plus. They continue at Taylor Intermediate for grades four to six, rated an A-minus. Students then finish their education in nearby Snowflake. Snowflake, including the A-minus-rated Snowflake Junior High, a sixth to ninth grade school, and Snowflake High, which earns a B-plus. Additionally, the high school takes pride in its athletic and academic competitions, with programs like its academic decathlon team, which often outperformes larger city schools.
Listen for “The Firing of the Anvil” on the Fourth of July
Taylor’s Independence Day Celebration is renowned in the region. “The Fourth of July celebration is huge,” Bryant says. “It’s packed with people coming up here to escape the desert heat.” The festivities are initiated by the “The Firing of the Anvil.” The anvil — which can be seen in Taylor’s town logo — is a blacksmithing anvil brought to Taylor by Joseph S. Hancock in the late-1800s, and it was used by the 1847 Mormon Battalion. Every Fourth of July, when the clock hits 4 a.m., the anvil is struck around town, waking residents with a loud bang. The firing kicks off a two-day celebration of patriotic activities and fireworks. The Night Rodeo is the big event, held at the Taylor Rodeo Grounds in the heart of town.
Shopping center on Main Street
Main Street, or state Route 77, is the thoroughfare connecting Taylor and Snowflake. The area’s only shopping center is along Main on the north side of Taylor. It has a Walmart and a Bashas’ for groceries and a couple of smaller stores. There are also chain eateries and local favorites like Sandy’s Restaurant, serving authentic Mexican food. Trapper’s Café is the staple Main Street establishment in the heart of town. This pioneer-themed restaurant serves classic American diner dishes.
Show Low is just over 15 miles south
Agriculture is Taylor’s main industry. So, residents who aren’t in the farming business often commute to Show Low, just over 15 miles south. Show Low is the most populous city in Navajo County. Summit Healthcare, in Show Low, is the nearest hospital to Taylor, so it draws many medical professionals. Phoenix is just under 175 miles southwest, about a 3-hour drive. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
