An industry-dense suburb that attracts blue collar employees
Roughly 12 miles west of Phoenix, in the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, the small city of Tolleson provides suburban living for 7,000 people amid a high concentration of distribution centers and warehouses and is an employment hub for over 20,000 workers from across the Valley. “It used to be nothing but farm field, and then the farmers sold off slowly. Builders could get land here for cheap because it was in the middle of the Southwest Valley, where there wasn’t much of anything else,” says lifelong area resident Adam Hamblen, a Realtor and team owner with Realty One Group.
While Tolleson has continued to develop, home prices here have consistently remained more budget-friendly than most other areas in the Valley. “It’s an entry-level, starter home community,” Hamblen says. “If you need to buy in the Phoenix metro area and you don’t have a super high budget, Tolleson is where a lot of people look.”
Lower housing prices than most of The Valley
Most homes in Tolleson are concentrated in the middle and northern end of the neighborhood, while the industrial area lies to the south. The mostly ranch-style houses in Tolleson date as far back as the 1930s, though buyers can also find brand-new builds in developing subdivisions. “Homes start in the low 300s, but if you pick that home up and move it to Scottsdale, it would be 800,000 for the same house,” Hamblen says. Buyers can expect homes built since 2020 to start closer to $380,000 and range to roughly $475,000.
Along residential streets that are often lined with sidewalks, nearly all local homes feature Spanish-style details like stucco exteriors and clay-tile roofs, and many yards are fenced-in or have short, brick privacy walls on at least one side. Most homes also have attached one-or two-car garages, but some offer carports instead. Residents can often be seen walking the sidewalks to main roads or to neighbor’s houses.
Locally owned Mexican eateries, with chain grocery, retail and restaurant options just north
Dining options in Tolleson range from fast food chains to sit-down restaurants, with most specializing in authentic Mexican cuisine. El Camaron Gigante serves up Mexican seafood like shrimp ceviche alongside craft cocktails, while Tacos La Lomita offers hearty combination plates, tacos and burritos at both their food truck and brick and mortar location. Residents can stop into Carniceria El Charro for a small selection of groceries and an on-site Mexican eatery that grills fresh chicken, carne asada and barbacoa daily.
To the northwest along McDowell Road, just north of Interstate 10, Gateway Pavilions shopping center includes chain eateries like Carrabba's Italian Grill, as well as big-box retailers like Costco and Best Buy. Just east is Desert Sky Mall with nearly 150 retailers, anchored by Burlington and Dillard’s and surrounded by stores like Walmart and Target as well as eateries like Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse.
A community garden and two small local parks
Locals can shoot hoops at McNeel Park and play baseball at Veterans Park. Each park also has a multipurpose field for soccer and football, and a large, covered playground for shade from the hot Arizona sun. Residents with a green thumb can reserve a plot at the Tolleson Community Garden.
A revitalized downtown and annual community events bring residents together
Following a $10 million makeover in 2015, Tolleson’s mile-long downtown stretch has been rebranded as Paseo de Luces. The streets here have been made more pedestrian friendly with the addition of 20-foot-wide sidewalks, include a series of permanent public art installations that represent Tolleson’s part, present and future; collectively called the Paseo de Arte, these works were created by area high school students in partnership with professional artists. This downtown redevelopment also transformed a small greenspace into The P.L.A.C.E, which features a stage surrounded by open lawn that hosts a mini concert series with music performances throughout the year.
Neighbors also gather at Veterans Park east of downtown for family movie nights on the fourth Friday of each month, February through October. Also at Veterans Park, April's three-day Whoopee Daze Festival offers food and craft vendors, live entertainment, carnival rides and a parade, while Paseo de Luces hosts the two-day Latin Music Festival in March, with live Latin music and dance performances, as well as crafters and food trucks.
Career courses at Tolleson Union High School
Elementary and middle school students in Tolleson attend a separate district than high school students. Kids in kindergarten through eighth grade attend schools in Tolleson Elementary District, like Arizona Desert Elementary, which earns a C-rating from Niche. High schoolers attend schools in the Tolleson Union High District, which includes the B-minus-rated Tolleson Union High, where they can enroll in career and technical education programs in a variety of fields, including family and consumer sciences, allied health services, and culinary arts.
Easy access to Phoenix via Interstate 10 or the Valley Metro
Interstate 10 passes through the northern part of Tolleson; residents can take I-10 the 12 miles east to Phoenix (continuing as far as Jacksonville, Florida) or head west to Los Angeles. Passing through downtown, West Van Buren Street is Tolleson’s main east-west thoroughfare, dotted with Valley Metro bus stops that connect the neighborhood to Phoenix. Banner Estrella Medical Center is just a few miles north, offering emergency and specialized care, while Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is less than 20 miles east.
A CAP Index Crime Score higher than the national average
Tolleson has a CAP Index Crime Score of 6 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4 out of 10; this number is largely driven by a higher-than-average local score of 9 out of 10 for motor vehicle theft. Tolleson’s police department has an anonymous tip line that residents can text to report illegal or suspicious activity.
Photography Contributed By
John Williams
