Peoria Arizona

Peoria Arizona provides a comparatively low cost of living, combined with an attractive desert climate and a variety of recreational offerings. The city is about 15 miles northwest of Phoenix. It covers an area of 162 square miles and, as of 2003, had a population of over 129,000, with a median age of 36.

Peoria has the lowest unemployment rate in Arizona, around 1.9%. In the past 10 years, Peoria has been among the fastest-growing cities in the state, attracting a wide range of businesses and industries including small and medium-sized manufacturers, biotechnology firms, retail operations, automotive sales and call centers.

Lake Pleasant, the second largest lake in Arizona, provides Peoria residents with hiking, boating, fishing and camping activities. Fishing excursions and boat rentals are available. For golfers, there are some 200 golf courses nearby.

The city recently unveiled Phase I of its Rio Vista Community Park featuring an urban lake, several large group picnic ramadas and individual ramadas, three lighted volleyball courts, a skate park, playground and tot lot, splash park, four lighted softball/multi-purpose fields and a walking/jogging path.

The Peoria Sports Complex is the spring training home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres; it’s also used for concerts, car shows, art shows and even weddings, private parties and business meetings. In the works near the Complex are several hotels, an office complex, restaurants an ice rink and a movie complex. Peoria is also adjacent to Luke Air Force Base, a pilot training base.

Housing prices are climbing in Peoria, and builders are expanding further north with less expensive new homes. The median price for a new home hit $224,180 at the end of 2003, jumping almost 21 percent from the beginning of the year. In anticipation of future growth, the city annexed land to the north.

The Meadows at Central Park is located in Peoria near Arrowhead Townie Center and the Sports Complex. This single-family home community has three to six-bedroom homes for $191,490 to $239,490. The largest homes provide over 3,200 square feet of living space.

Three new subdivisions in Peoria’s Vistancia community will be offering single-family homes priced from the low $200,000s up to the high mid-$300s. Three and four bedroom homes at Canterra (with 2 or 3 baths) will start at $219,900 for about 1,590 square feet. Monterra’s three bedroom homes range from 1,721 square feet to 2,761 square feet in size. Price range is mid-$200s to high-$200s. Escalante will feature three to five-bedroom homes with up to 3,827 square feet of living space. The homes start at $307,900 and go up to $364,900. Rebate from $2,199

The WestWing Mountain community, set between the WestWing and Sunrise Mountains, features moderately priced homes in its Renaissance, Talasera Artisian and Province neighborhoods. Renaissance homes are two to four-bedroom models priced in the mid-$200,000. Talasera Artisian and Province have homes up to six bedrooms with prices under $300,000.