When people think about beautiful places to live and visit in the Valley of the Sun, Scottsdale, Tempe, and other East Valley cities often come to mind. But an overlooked gem hides in the West Valley, in Litchfield Park AZ. One of the smallest cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Litchfield Park offers the culture, entertainment, and luxury of much larger cities but in a small and lively community for you to enjoy all year long.
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One thing that sets Litchfield Park apart from its neighbors is its size: as of 2010, its population was 5,476, making it a mere fraction of the size of other cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Far from stagnating, though, Litchfield Park has seen sustained growth, with its population rising almost 50% from its 3,810 residents in 2000.
With a median age of 46.7 years, Litchfield is home for a large number of retirees, who make up 21.2% of its population. In fact, we recently named it the best Phoenix suburb for retirees. However, even more families have been attracted to the city’s A-rated elementary and high schools, and 29.6% of the population is under 25. The next largest group, at 27.9%, is between 45 and 64 years old, and people between the ages of 25 and 44 make up the final 25% of Litchfield Park’s residents. As a result, the city is simultaneously quiet and a lively, wonderful place to raise children.
This fact is reflected in the composition of its households, as well. The city’s residents are spread among 2,585 of them, 24.3% of which have children under the age of 18. Over 55% of households are headed by married couples, and of the 36% of residences featuring non-family arrangements, approximately half are headed by an individual 65 years of age or older.
An affluent suburb of Phoenix, Litchfield Park has a median household income of $73,996, 63% higher than the state average. And its residents are extremely well educated: an outstanding 96% have at least a high school diploma, and an even more impressive 23.6% have at least one graduate or professional degree.
As such, residents can afford houses in Litchfield Park’s thriving real estate market, where the median price for a single-family property or condominium is $409,911. Units range from $142,000 for 1 bed, 1 bath condominiums to well over $1 million for sprawling, palatial mansions. These extremes obscure the homogeneity of Litchfield Park, which because of its small, 3.1-square mile footprint, features only quality, family-friendly neighborhoods with valuable and well-kept homes. And with a crime rate 81% lower than the state average, it’s one of the safest cities in Arizona.
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Much of the growth in Litchfield Park between 2000 and 2010 resulted from a number of new condominium complexes, which has made the city more densely populated and increased business opportunities that can benefit you. As it seeks to compete with the well-established East Valley, Litchfield Park, along with neighboring Goodyear and Surprise, have welcomed shopping centers, restaurants, and other amenities catering to their growing populations.
The area boasts several shopping options, including an outlet mall, for shoppers of all kinds. In addition to an upscale shopping center awaiting construction in only a few miles away, the Arrowhead Towne Center in nearby Peoria offers shoppers over 170 stores and restaurants, including Macy’s, Forever21, Victoria’s Secret, and Apple Store. Tanger Outlets, located in Glendale’s Westgate Entertainment District, provides budget-conscious consumers with access to many of the same options for a fraction of the price.
Westgate is also the site of the University of Phoenix stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix International Raceway is not far away. Even closer is Goodyear Ballpark, spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. The Cactus League hosts 13 other teams, and from February to early April, the Valley of the Sun is transformed into a baseball wonderland. Litchfield Park puts you in the middle of the action.
Litchfield Park offers you many opportunities to explore during the rest of the year, as well. Living near the foot of the White Tank Mountains, you can hike, bike, camp, picnic, and even ride horses and take star gazing classes. World Wildlife Zoo, right in Litchfield Park, specializes in animals from Africa and South America and houses over 600 separate species.
And with its desert climate, the city allows residents to take advantage of these amenities for most of the year. In June, July, and August, you’ll see average temperatures climb into the triple digits, but the valley’s monsoon season, which starts on June 15, provides much needed moisture and relief through periodic dust and rain storms. Outside of the summer, rain is infrequent and the weather is beautiful, allowing residents to make the most of all there is to see and do.
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Above all, Litchfield Park is best known as the West Valley’s home for luxury and culture. It features the elegant charm of the Wigwam Resort, a Historic Hotel of America and Arizona landmark first opened in 1929. Sitting on 440 acres in the center of Litchfield Park, the resort offers three 18-hole championship golf courses, a large pool, comprehensive spa services, and several dining options, including their upscale signature restaurant, Litchfield’s.
Outside of the resort, Litchfield Park has much for you to experience. Its Arts in the Park concert series features musicians from various genres throughout the year, and the city’s incredibly popular Festival of the Arts brings visitors from across the Southwestern United States to see the exhibited work of over 250 artists and craftspeople.
With its many amenities, the diversity of its residents, and its quiet but family-friendly atmosphere, Litchfield Park does more than simply hold its own against East Valley cities like Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. It might just be the best of them all.
