Neighborhoods by budget · Phoenix
Where to live in Phoenix on your budget: the 15 urban villages
Phoenix plans the city as 15 urban villages. Here's what homes are worth, what owners pay in taxes, and which electric utility serves each one.
Two ways to start
- Search homes by payment
Create your free account to see all homes for sale that fit the monthly payment you're comfortable with, each with its actual property taxes, HOA dues, estimated homeowners insurance, and mortgage insurance when it applies, plus its own estimated closing costs and APR disclosure.
Opens the MABLS home search. Payments shown there are estimates to help you search, not a loan offer or rate quote. Your actual payment depends on price, down payment, credit, taxes, insurance, HOA, and loan program.
- Get pre-qualified (Apply now) (opens in a new tab)
Get pre-qualified with Pam Messina at Rebel Rate Mortgage. Once you're pre-qualified, Pam can update the maximum monthly payment and total funds to close in your home search, so the homes you see match what you qualify for. If you'd like, she can also give you a free, no-obligation introduction to a real estate professional so you can start touring homes.
Opens Rebel Rate Mortgage's secure online application (my1003app.com) in a new tab. Pre-qualification isn't a loan approval or a commitment to lend; approval depends on underwriting, verification of your information, and the property.
Applications are handled by Pam Messina, NMLS #245626, Rebel Rate Mortgage, Inc. (NMLS #2571369).
Which Phoenix areas fit a smaller budget?
Quick answer: By Census ZIP medians, Estrella has the ZIP codes with the lowest median home value among Phoenix's 15 urban villages (from $236,100), and Desert View has the highest (up to $741,700). Citywide, Phoenix's median home value is $420,700. Tax areas inside Phoenix range from 6.14 to 15.83 per $100 of assessed value.
Source: City of Phoenix village boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 ZCTA medians; Maricopa County, 2026 Tax Rates. Last updated .
How we built this
The City of Phoenix divides itself into 15 urban villages, each with its own village planning committee. We overlaid the city's published village boundaries on the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Areas and listed each ZIP that covers at least 10% of a village's land. Then we added each ZIP's Census median home value and median real estate taxes paid, and the share of the village inside SRP's electric territory. No rankings, just the numbers.
| Village | ZIP median home value range | Main ZIPs (share of village area): median value · median taxes paid | Area inside SRP territory | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estrella | $236,100–$388,700 | 85043 (47% of village): $343,400 value · $1,301 taxes 85353 (26% of village): $388,700 value · $1,806 taxes 85009 (24% of village): $236,100 value · $916 taxes | 79% | |
| Maryvale | $275,600–$330,200 | 85037 (25% of village): $330,200 value · $1,317 taxes 85033 (19% of village): $292,800 value · $1,278 taxes 85035 (17% of village): $275,600 value · $1,244 taxes 85031 (12% of village): $294,800 value · $1,061 taxes | 88% | |
| Alhambra | $286,700–$567,700 | 85017 (24% of village): $286,700 value · $933 taxes 85015 (18% of village): $345,000 value · $1,296 taxes 85051 (12% of village): $326,300 value · $1,183 taxes 85021 (12% of village): $470,400 value · $2,258 taxes 85013 (12% of village): $567,700 value · $2,127 taxes 85019 (12% of village): $305,200 value · $1,091 taxes | 76% | |
| North Mountain | $326,300–$470,400 | 85029 (27% of village): $345,600 value · $1,314 taxes 85020 (17% of village): $447,200 value · $2,172 taxes 85021 (14% of village): $470,400 value · $2,258 taxes 85051 (12% of village): $326,300 value · $1,183 taxes 85022 (10% of village): $425,200 value · $1,790 taxes | 15% | Moon Valley guide |
| South Mountain | $329,800–$398,000 | 85042 (36% of village): $398,000 value · $1,875 taxes 85041 (26% of village): $347,100 value · $1,564 taxes 85040 (25% of village): $329,800 value · $1,228 taxes | 100% | |
| Encanto | $345,000–$735,000 | 85006 (18% of village): $408,100 value · $1,460 taxes 85015 (14% of village): $345,000 value · $1,296 taxes 85014 (13% of village): $476,100 value · $2,240 taxes 85013 (13% of village): $567,700 value · $2,127 taxes 85012 (10% of village): $735,000 value · $4,185 taxes | 0% | |
| Laveen | $347,100–$441,600 | 85339 (84% of village): $441,600 value · $2,434 taxes 85041 (16% of village): $347,100 value · $1,564 taxes | 100% | Laveen guide |
| Deer Valley | $354,800–$669,100 | 85027 (21% of village): $354,800 value · $1,296 taxes 85083 (18% of village): $612,700 value · $3,151 taxes 85085 (12% of village): $669,100 value · $3,145 taxes 85310 (12% of village): $552,900 value · $2,671 taxes | 0% | |
| Camelback East | $358,000–$862,000 | 85018 (37% of village): $862,000 value · $3,554 taxes 85008 (23% of village): $358,000 value · $1,322 taxes 85016 (22% of village): $564,900 value · $2,658 taxes | 67% | Arcadia guide |
| Ahwatukee Foothills | $398,000–$634,600 | 85044 (41% of village): $474,800 value · $2,398 taxes 85048 (28% of village): $592,100 value · $3,123 taxes 85042 (14% of village): $398,000 value · $1,875 taxes 85045 (11% of village): $634,600 value · $3,412 taxes | 100% | Ahwatukee guide |
| Central City | $408,100–$480,600 | 85034 (46% of village): $422,200 value · $2,648 taxes 85007 (16% of village): $480,600 value · $1,878 taxes 85006 (10% of village): $408,100 value · $1,460 taxes | 4% | |
| Paradise Valley | $416,800–$785,700 | 85032 (29% of village): $416,800 value · $1,701 taxes 85254 (27% of village): $785,700 value · $3,521 taxes 85028 (15% of village): $642,200 value · $2,587 taxes 85022 (10% of village): $425,200 value · $1,790 taxes | 0% | |
| Rio Vista | $552,300–$598,900 | 85087 (75% of village): $552,300 value · $2,831 taxes 85086 (24% of village): $598,900 value · $3,242 taxes | 0% | |
| North Gateway | $598,900–$669,100 | 85086 (47% of village): $598,900 value · $3,242 taxes 85085 (26% of village): $669,100 value · $3,145 taxes 85083 (22% of village): $612,700 value · $3,151 taxes | 0% | |
| Desert View | $618,600–$741,700 | 85085 (29% of village): $669,100 value · $3,145 taxes 85331 (23% of village): $741,700 value · $2,584 taxes 85050 (18% of village): $618,600 value · $2,822 taxes 85054 (13% of village): $687,200 value · $4,124 taxes | 0% | Desert Ridge guide |
Boundaries: City of Phoenix Public/Villages layer. ZIP figures: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25077, B25103) for ZCTAs, using 2020 ZCTA boundaries. ZIPs often extend beyond a village, so a ZIP median describes the whole ZIP. SRP share is land area inside SRP's published territory; the rest is mostly APS. Verify utilities and taxes by address.
What changes the monthly cost inside Phoenix
- Tax area. Phoenix has 27 residential tax areas in Maricopa County's 2026 table, from 6.14 to 15.83 per $100 of assessed value. That's $614 to $1,583 a year per $100,000 of limited property value, mostly driven by which school districts a home sits in. See property tax by city.
- Utility. Laveen, Ahwatukee Foothills, and South Mountain are essentially all SRP territory, while Deer Valley, Desert View, North Gateway, Paradise Valley, and Rio Vista are essentially all outside it. APS and SRP price plans and peak hours differ. See SRP or APS?
- HOA and CFD. HOA dues and any community facilities district are set subdivision by subdivision. Check any address with the HOA and CFD lookup.
The same budget, different villages
Phoenix's citywide median ($420,700) falls inside the ZIP range of Alhambra, North Mountain, Encanto, Laveen, Deer Valley, Camelback East, Ahwatukee Foothills, Central City, Paradise Valley. Every main ZIP is above it in Rio Vista, North Gateway, Desert View, and below it in Estrella, Maryvale, South Mountain. A payment-first search makes that concrete: set the monthly amount you're comfortable with and see which villages have homes that fit, with each home's own tax bill and HOA dues included.
Three steps from browsing to touring
- See the costs here, no signup. Every guide on this site is open, with no forms. Read the taxes, fees, and rules first.
- Search by payment, privately, on MABLS. Pick the monthly payment you're comfortable with. Each home shows its own property taxes, HOA dues, and insurance, so two homes at the same price can show different payments. It's a free account, and we never sell your information.Search Phoenix homes by payment
Opens the MABLS home search. Payments shown there are estimates to help you search, not a loan offer or rate quote.
- Make it exact with Pam. Get pre-qualified with Pam Messina. Once you're pre-qualified, Pam can update the maximum monthly payment and total funds to close in your MABLS search, so results match what you actually qualify for. If you'd like, she can also give you a free, no-obligation introduction to a real estate professional so you can start touring homes.Get pre-qualified with Pam (opens in a new tab)
Applications are handled by Pam Messina, NMLS #245626, Rebel Rate Mortgage, Inc. (NMLS #2571369).
Opens Rebel Rate Mortgage's secure online application (my1003app.com) in a new tab. Pre-qualification isn't a loan approval or a commitment to lend; approval depends on underwriting, verification of your information, and the property.
We never sell your information · Only Rebel Rate Mortgage contacts you about a loan · We connect you with an agent only if you ask · Privacy policy
Village pages: Ahwatukee · Arcadia · Desert Ridge · Moon Valley · Laveen · Phoenix overview · Affordable Phoenix suburbs · All neighborhood guides
Data as of October 4, 2026. Figures are cited to the public sources listed below. General information for Arizona home shoppers, not a loan offer, rate quote, or commitment to lend.
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See homes by the payment you want
Search with each home's own property taxes, HOA dues, and insurance built into the estimate. We never sell your information.
Create your free account to see all homes for sale that fit the monthly payment you're comfortable with, each with its actual property taxes, HOA dues, estimated homeowners insurance, and mortgage insurance when it applies, plus its own estimated closing costs and APR disclosure.
Opens the MABLS home search. Payments shown there are estimates to help you search, not a loan offer or rate quote. Your actual payment depends on price, down payment, credit, taxes, insurance, HOA, and loan program.
Prefer to talk it through? Pam Messina, NMLS #245626
Call office 602-740-9664Call Pam 602-460-4879Text PamEmail Pam
More neighborhoods guides · Private home search · Property tax by city · HOA and CFD lookup
Sources
- City of Phoenix, Urban Village boundaries (Public/Villages MapServer) (15 village planning areas; retrieved October 4, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 cartographic boundary file, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (cb_2020_us_zcta520_500k) (retrieved October 4, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates: B25077 (median home value), B25103 (median real estate taxes paid), B25088 (median owner costs with a mortgage), B08013/B08303 (mean travel time to work), B25003 (owner-occupied share), B01003 (population) (retrieved October 4, 2026)
- Maricopa County, 2026 Tax Rates (rates per $100 of assessed value by tax area, school, city, fire, and special districts) (tax year 2026; retrieved October 4, 2026)
- Salt River Project, SRP_PSA electric service territory layer (ArcGIS FeatureServer) (territory per the August 31, 1955 SRP-APS territorial agreement and the September 15, 1954 Mesa agreement; retrieved October 4, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What are the 15 urban villages of Phoenix?
Ahwatukee Foothills, Alhambra, Camelback East, Central City, Deer Valley, Desert View, Encanto, Estrella, Laveen, Maryvale, North Gateway, North Mountain, Paradise Valley, Rio Vista, and South Mountain, per the City of Phoenix's village boundary layer.
Where should I live in Phoenix?
Start with your monthly budget, commute, and utility, not a ranking. This page shows each village's ZIP median home values and taxes so you can see where your budget goes furthest, then search homes by payment.
What is the most affordable area of Phoenix?
By Census ZIP medians, Estrella has the lowest median home value among main ZIP codes, from $236,100. We don't rank areas otherwise. The useful comparison is cost: ZIP medians in Phoenix's villages range from under $300,000 to over $800,000, and tax areas range from 6.14 to 15.83 per $100 of assessed value.
Is Laveen part of Phoenix?
Yes. Laveen is one of Phoenix's 15 urban villages. Some Laveen-area land outside the city limits is unincorporated Maricopa County, which has different tax areas.
Which Phoenix villages have SRP electricity?
By land area, Laveen, Ahwatukee Foothills, and South Mountain are essentially all SRP territory, Maryvale, Estrella, and Alhambra mostly are, and the north and northeast villages are essentially outside it. Check each address.