What it's like to live in Avondale
Avondale is a smaller city in Arizona with a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Avondale deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How Avondale compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Avondale
Based on Avondale's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,664
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $73,280 a year
- 53% of Avondale renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$78,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,460
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 30% above US
$1,832/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,832 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $394,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $394,600 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
341 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2248/100k · Avondale Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.1 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 105°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 44°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 41% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
34 public schools inside the boundary
There are 34 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (53 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Avondale's strongest point is a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,832/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget, anyone who doesn't drive, and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Avondale
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