Founded in 1912, Tolleson is a small city just 12.5 miles west of Phoenix. Spanning 6 square miles along the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, this community is home to 7,000 residents and 20 Fortune 500 companies employing over 20,000 people, giving it one of the highest jobs-to-residents ratios in the U.S. Tolleson is a mix of residential subdivisions near the heart of the city and a myriad of industrial and commercial centers surrounding them, serving as a major employment hub throughout the West Valley. Despite the large scope of the city’s employment sector, residents enjoy a small-town feel with a close sense of community. “The price points are lower than in surrounding towns, and the location is great because you're close to I10, but still far enough away that you feel like you’re in a small farm community,” says Stephanie Peters, a Realtor with nine years of experience selling in the West Valley. Whether it’s frequent events like movie nights at Tolleson Veterans Park or one of the many annual festivals, this city offers plenty of opportunities for residents to get to know their neighbors.
Home to several local parks
Residents enjoy outdoor recreation inside the city with basketball, racquetball and tennis as well as three local parks- Tolleson Veterans Park, Cowden City Park and Bill McNeel Park. The community also features the Tolleson Boys and Girls Club, which serves the city along with its surrounding communities.
Paseo de Luces
There are a number of shops and restaurants along McDowell Road and West Van Buren Street in and around Downtown Tolleson. For dining, options range from fast food chains to sit-down restaurants, with many specializing in authentic Mexican fare. Tolleson’s central commercial hub is Gateway Pavilions, an open-air shopping mall featuring retailers like Costco, Hobby Lobby and Marshalls. Here, residents can also catch a movie at Harkins Theatres Gateway Pavilions 18.
Created by the city to cultivate a more vibrant and artistic environment, Paseo de Luces is a redevelopment project bringing life to downtown Tolleson. This project includes the Paseo de Arte, or Path of Art, which features several permanent public art installations throughout downtown. The city also hosts multiple annual events, namely the Latin Jazz and Mariachi Festival, Luces De Navidad and Movies in the Park.
A steady housing market
Tolleson’s boasts a steady housing market, with homes typically selling after 45 days compared to the national average of 42 days. From March 2023 to March 2024, the average home sale price was $425,125, which remains consistent with the average home sale price over the previous 12 months. “Once you get above half an acre, price points really start to rise,” says Peters. Homes in the Tolleson Farms subdivision feature homes on spacious irrigated properties. For homes with over an acre of land, prices range from $550,000 to $850,000 on average. Newer builds constructed from 2020 to the present tend to range from $350,000 to $500,000.
Direct access to Phoenix
Interstate 10 is located on the northern border of Tolleson, connecting to Arizona State Routes 101 and 202, providing residents with a direct route to Phoenix. Tolleson offers a Micro Transit Program provided by Lyft and Uber. The rider pays a base fee of $2.00, while the city pays a $15.00 maximum, with the rider covering the difference if the price exceeds $17.00. All rides must begin and end within the Tolleson city limits. For international travel, the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is located 16 miles east of Tolleson.
The Tolleson Union High School and Elementary School District
Schools in the area report to the Tolleson Union High School District and the Tolleson Elementary District, which respectively earned a B-minus and a C-minus on Niche. Some of the most highly rated schools in the area include University High School, Tolleson Union High School and Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School, the former of which ranks No. 17 in Best Public High Schools in Arizona. University High School is particularly known for its intensive college preparation and rigorous academics, as all core classes are advanced, pre-AP or AP.
Crime statistics
According to FBI crime data, Tolleson experienced 27 violent crimes and 229 property crimes in 2022. Crime rates differ depending on the location within Tolleson, as the odds of falling victim to crime can be 1 in 16 in the northeastern part of the city or as low as 1 in 55 in the southern neighborhoods.
Wildfire risk
Tolleson is at risk for wildfires, with 389 properties posing some risk of being affected within the next 30 years. This represents just under 1/5th of the buildings in the city, 242 of which are residences.
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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.
