Roughly 65 miles southeast of Phoenix, Eloy is a desert city with a small-town appeal and about 15,000 residents. Founded in the early 20th century, Eloy began expanding quickly during the early 2000s for its warm climate, growing industries and lower cost of living. “If you like being out of the city, that’s why people like Eloy—there’s a lot of raw desert around there,” says Josiah Miller, a Realtor with Josiah Miller Homes who’s lived in the Phoenix area for over 20 years. Shopping and dining are limited here, so it’s common for locals to stop in neighboring towns for a night out or specialty errands. “You’re basically halfway between Phoenix and Tucson,” Miller says. Manufacturing and distribution are major areas of employment, and the city includes over 700 acres of industrial park space; CoreCivic and the Eloy Elementary School District are top employers.
Eloy, an acronym for East Line Of Yuma, is based on the history of the area's railroad.
Eloy is just west of Newman Peak and Picacho Peak.
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Lower-priced housing than Phoenix
“The housing is definitely lower-priced than Phoenix,” Miller says. The median home price in Eloy is about $375,000, compared to Phoenix’s median of about $450,000. Most homes here were built during the late 20th century through today; many are new traditional with Spanish-style features, like red or brown clay-tiled roofs, desert-hued stucco facades and exterior archways; lots between 7,000 and 10,000 square feet are common. These single-residence homes are mostly set in planned subdivisions that are generally without sidewalks.
Built over the past 20 years, the 55-plus Robson Ranch is an especially popular neighborhood where residents share access to a clubhouse, arts center and more. “There are no bad days in Robson Ranch,” says Debra Kwiat, resident of Eloy and real estate agent with HomeSmart Premier. “You have everything you need right within the community.”
There are plenty of Spanish architecture inspired homes in Robson Ranch in Eloy.
Spanish-style homes are common in the private Robson Ranch community in Eloy.
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Opportunity for higher education in high school
There are two school districts in Eloy: Eloy Elementary School District and Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District, rated D and B-minus by Niche, respectively. Teens at local high schools may pursue their interests in career and technical education courses with subjects like culinary arts and graphic design. Local high schools also offer dual-enrollment courses for college credit at Central Arizona College.
Eloy Intermediate School serves approximately 300 3rd to 5th grade students.
Santa Cruz Valley Union High School is the largest high school in Eloy.
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Community parks and shared spaces
Eloy offers about a dozen parks and shared spaces for locals to enjoy. The 4-acre Trekell Park is a favorite for its playground, playing fields and picnic area with barbecue grills, while Shumway Park is a go-to for sports like baseball and basketball. At the Eloy Aquatic Center, residents cool off from the summer heat in the center’s pool and water slide. Thrill-seekers can try parachuting out of an airplane with Skydive Arizona or stay a bit closer to the ground with indoor skydiving at SkyVenture Arizona. “Skydiving’s real popular,” Miller says. About 13 miles away, Picacho Peak State Park is known for its hiking trails and striking views of the surrounding Sonoran Desert landscape. “That’s a really popular state park,” Miller says. “It’s just a fun place to hike—the desert’s beautiful.” The park’s also a popular camping site, and wildlife enthusiasts can go birding in the area to spot native avians like turkey vultures and Gila woodpeckers. Robson Ranch residents have access to their own 18-hole golf course as well as other amenities, including community pools, pickleball courts and a fitness center.
Central Park on Eloy's Main Street is a quiet place to study and relax.
Trekell Park in Eloy features a playground for children of all ages.
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Groceries and small businesses in Eloy, larger options nearby
Compared to Tucson or Phoenix, Eloy's shopping and dining options are limited. “They have a McDonald’s,” Miller says. “If you want a lot of the big restaurants, you have to drive into Tucson or Phoenix.” Along Interstate 10 and Frontier Street, there are several hotels, fast-food chains and a handful of locally owned businesses, including auto repair shops, grocers and Achiss Thrift Store. For authentic Mexican cuisine, family-owned La Paloma Family Restaurant is a city highlight offering favorites like tacos, enchiladas and sopapillas—fried dough served with honey, powdered sugar and chocolate. Big-box retail stores, like Walmart, are about 15 miles away in Casa Grande.
La Paloma is a locally owned Mexican-American restaurant in Eloy.
Nico’s has been serving up delicious food to the people of Eloy since 1982.
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Annual celebrations and traditions in Eloy
There are a handful of annual celebrations in Eloy, and many seasonal events are held at Main Street Park. September’s Fiestas Patrias celebrates Mexican Independence Day with lots of colorful decorations, food and fun traditions like live mariachi music and folklórico dancing. In November, Eloy Glow brings hot air balloons to town that are illuminated in a striking sunset display; eventgoers enjoy tether rides, fireworks and booths with local vendors and artisans. Seasonal celebrations include the holiday tree lighting and parade in December, as well as the Eloy Easter Egg Hunt in spring.
Getting around from Eloy
Interstate 10 crosses Eloy, leading 50 miles to Tucson and 65 miles to Phoenix, a 45- to 60-minute and 60- to 80-minute drive during rush hour, respectively. “It’s a commuter town; everyone is driving down the 10,” Miller says. There isn’t any public transportation here, and most residential streets are without bike lanes or sidewalks. Banner Casa Grande Medical Center is about 15 miles away in Casa Grande, but Exceptional Community Hospital - Eloy is currently under construction and scheduled to open in the summer of 2025. Eloy Municipal Airport is located within the city, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 60 miles away.
Crime and environmental concerns
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the number of violent- and property-related crimes reported in Eloy decreased roughly 43% between 2013 and 2023, from 606 to 344. Between 2018 and 2023, about 77% of these incidents were property-related, compared to 80% nationally.
Extreme summer heat is an ongoing environmental concern; from June through August, temperatures here regularly top 100 degrees. However, Miller says Eloy might be a few degrees cooler than the Phoenix metro area. “Part of that is because of Phoenix’s concrete, so because you’re out in the desert, it’s a tad cooler and you also might get more rain,” Miller says. There is also a risk of wildfires, though there haven’t been any in recent years. There are two fire stations in the city that respond to local emergencies.
Real Estate is my passion. Where else can you enhance your net worth using such a small amount of your own money as when you buy Real Estate? I’ve been investing since 2001 and I love to put my experience as an investor to use by helping others. My license was issued in 2004. I have listed &/or sold most types of real estate including land and bank owned properties. I’m a dedicated, full time, West Valley Realtor leading a team of 3. We work together to make sure our clients are well taken care of. You can see Meadows Property Group photos and more info on my website. All listings are aggressively marketed with a multi layered program. You will be amazed at how easy it can be to sell a home or land with my marketing plan in place. About Me I grew up in AZ and moved to Southern California after graduation. Opening a clothing store near Newport Beach, CA gave me business experience, as did working with my husband in his trucking company. We moved back to AZ in 1998 and out to the West Valley in 2005. We have lived in Goodyear, Avondale and Litchfield Park. Check out my videos of Land with Seller Financing at www.LandByKelly.com
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