Glendale offers many of the advantages of Phoenix and Scottsdale are without the price tag. And they have lots and lots of antique shops. People are surprised when they visit and get a more historic vibe than much of the Phoenix area. 

The biggest downside to Glendale? Unemployment is high (but Phoenix is close-- 20 minutes). So, let's go with the insufferable Arizona desert heat.


Better Price Tag

LookyLOO Review of Glendale

Glendale is part of the Phoenix Metro Area so you’ll be just outside of Phoenix..

North Glendale is home to what are considered the good neighborhoods. These are affluent, suburban neighborhoods near parks, shopping and job hubs that draw many families, business executives and professional athletes. It’s a higher-education hub as well. This neighborhood is centrally located on metro Phoenix’s west side. Freeway access is easy.

West Deer Valley, Union Hills Drive, College Park, North Litchfield, and West Augusta are some of the safest neighborhoods in the Glendale, AZ area.

Arrowhead Ranch, West Pinnacle Peak, and Sunset Vista are some of the best neighborhoods in Glendale for education.

Westgate, Arrowhead Ranch, and Arrowhead Lakes are considered prime locations and upscale. Westgate has some nightlife and is better for younger people. Arrowhead Ranch and Arrowhead Lakes are planned communities that are known for being family friendly. Arrowhead Ranch is one of the West Valley’s most sought-after addresses. Built on acres of orange groves, the community has million-dollar homes and a country club and golf courses. A large shopping center and hospital can be found here, too. Loop 101 runs through this area.

Westgate Entertainment District, is a bustling complex with casual restaurants and sports bars, plus open-air shopping at specialty stores. Rock concerts and NHL hockey games take place at Gila River Arena, while the neighboring State Farm Stadium hosts the Arizona Cardinals NFL team.

Hillcrest Ranch is sandwiched between two large preserve areas. Homes are newer here and on bigger lots. There’s still room for new development here.

There are complaints about Downtown seeing rising crime and homelessness but the historic districts, Old Town and Catlin Court are charming and popular areas where antique shops and boutiques are plentiful. Downtown Glendale also boasts a Broadway theater, space center, and botanical garden.


We highly recommend visiting Glendale and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle

It's one of the more affordable places to live in Arizona and Phoenix is 9 miles away. 

One of the reasons that so many people love living in Glendale is the school system. There are many high rated schools -- 10/10 on Greatschools.com.  Some of the popular ones are Legend Springs, Sierra Verde, and Copper Creek, which are all elementary schools. For middle school, Hillcrest Middle is rated well. And for high school, Mountain Ridge High School is a popular one.


The Schools

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**Strong__Lioness**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I’m in that area, and I love it. Check out the neighborhood between 59th Ave./67th Ave. from Union Hills to the 101. It’s just west of Midwestern University, so there are a lot of MU students in their 20s who live in that neighborhood and also hang out at the park at 63rd Ave./Utopia to play volleyball, basketball or just play with their dogs in the large grassy part of the park. The neighborhood also has a lot of walking paths, and a pedestrian bridge that goes over the 101, which is nice if you want to walk or bike to the grocery stores (Fry’s at 59th, Safeway at 67th). There’s also the Skunk Creek Trail that you can access from the neighborhood to walk/bike over to the Arrowhead Towne Center /Peoria 83 area or beyond to Rio Vista Park in Peoria without having to go along the main roads.

There are a lot of great local restaurants in the north Glendale/Peoria area too. They get overlooked by local media, which believes that anything west of Central Avenue is not worth talking about, but that’s fine because we get them to ourselves that way. Some recommendations - Fabio on Fire at 83rd/Lake Pleasant (he also just opened a panini/gelato shop near Lake Pleasant/Happy Valley), The Haymaker, Bottega Pizzeria, Arrowhead Grill, Over Easy, Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers (there are several around the Valley now, but they started locally with one restaurant), Campbell’s, Twisted Italian, Top Shelf Mexican, etc. Those are just a few off the top of my head.

For more reviews of what living in Glendale is like from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/glendale/reviews).


Desert Heat

Reviews of Glendale from Locals

**The Best Thing About Glendale?** 

Many of the advantages of Phoenix and Scottsdale without the price tag. And, they have lots and lots of antique shops.

**The Worst Thing About Glendale?** 

Unemployment is high (but Phoenix is close-- 20 minutes). 
Let's go with the insufferable Arizona desert heat. 

**How You Living?** 

Glendale is part of the Phoenix Metro Area so you’ll be just outside of Phoenix..

North Glendale is home to what are considered the good neighborhoods. These are affluent, suburban neighborhoods near parks, shopping and job hubs that draw many families, business executives and professional athletes. It’s a higher-education hub as well. This neighborhood is centrally located on metro Phoenix’s west side. Freeway access is easy.

West Deer Valley, Union Hills Drive, College Park, North Litchfield, and West Augusta are some of the safest neighborhoods in the Glendale, AZ area.

Arrowhead Ranch, West Pinnacle Peak, and Sunset Vista are some of the best neighborhoods in Glendale for education.

Westgate, Arrowhead Ranch, and Arrowhead Lakes are considered prime locations and upscale. Westgate has some nightlife and is better for younger people. Arrowhead Ranch and Arrowhead Lakes are planned communities that are known for being family friendly. Arrowhead Ranch is one of the West Valley’s most sought-after addresses. Built on acres of orange groves, the community has million-dollar homes and a country club and golf courses. A large shopping center and hospital can be found here, too. Loop 101 runs through this area.

Westgate Entertainment District, is a bustling complex with casual restaurants and sports bars, plus open-air shopping at specialty stores. Rock concerts and NHL hockey games take place at Gila River Arena, while the neighboring State Farm Stadium hosts the Arizona Cardinals NFL team
Hillcrest Ranch is sandwiched between two large preserve areas. Homes are newer here and on bigger lots. There’s still room for new development here.
There are complaints about Downtown seeing rising crime and homelessness but the historic districts, Old Town and Catlin Court are charming and popular areas where antique shops and boutiques are plentiful. Downtown Glendale also boasts a Broadway theater, space center, and botanical garden.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

 It's one of the more affordable places to live in Arizona and Phoenix is 9 miles away. 

One of the reasons that so many people love living in Glendale is the school system. There are many high rated schools -- 10/10 on Greatschools.com.  Some of the popular ones are Legend Springs, Sierra Verde, and Copper Creek, which are all elementary schools. For middle school, Hillcrest Middle is rated well. And for high school, Mountain Ridge High School is a popular one.


Old Town and Catlin Court are two of the historic districts in Downtown Glendale. Filled with antique shops, cool restaurants and home to the Broadway theater, space center and botanical garden, these are the spots to live if you’re looking for great walkscore neighborhoods. Westgate is another option, more upscale than the historic districts but also boasting nightlife for those who need a social scene within their neighborhood. 
- Downtown (Old Town / Catlin Court)
- Westgate


Young Professionals

Downtown

Central Glendale is an interesting option for those who are looking for both historic and modern housing options amidst colleges, sports venues and the bars and restaurants that surround them. Not as densely popular as Westgate or Downtown but a good alternative to those ready to keep one foot in the scene and one foot out. 
- Central Glendale


DINKs/SINKs

Central Glendale

North Glendale holds many of the affluent, family-oriented neighborhoods in Glendale. Also called Arrowhead, the area includes neighborhoods like Arrowhead Ranch and Hillcrest Ranch, filled with beautiful homes including many up the mountain. The area includes Thunderbird Park, a massive hiking, walking, biking paradise and for those feeling fancy, Arrowhead Country Club is available for your golf, swim and tennis pleasure. Finally, and most importantly, you also have Deer Valley School District, one of the best in the state at your disposal. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_-TXbNZh30
- North Glendale
- Arrowhead Ranch


Families

North Glendale

Glendale

**Strong__Lioness**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I’m in that area, and I love it. Check out the neighborhood between 59th Ave./67th Ave. from Union Hills to the 101. It’s just west of Midwestern University, so there are a lot of MU students in their 20s who live in that neighborhood and also hang out at the park at 63rd Ave./Utopia to play volleyball, basketball or just play with their dogs in the large grassy part of the park. The neighborhood also has a lot of walking paths, and a pedestrian bridge that goes over the 101, which is nice if you want to walk or bike to the grocery stores (Fry’s at 59th, Safeway at 67th). There’s also the Skunk Creek Trail that you can access from the neighborhood to walk/bike over to the Arrowhead Towne Center /Peoria 83 area or beyond to Rio Vista Park in Peoria without having to go along the main roads.

There are a lot of great local restaurants in the north Glendale/Peoria area too. They get overlooked by local media, which believes that anything west of Central Avenue is not worth talking about, but that’s fine because we get them to ourselves that way. Some recommendations - Fabio on Fire at 83rd/Lake Pleasant (he also just opened a panini/gelato shop near Lake Pleasant/Happy Valley), The Haymaker, Bottega Pizzeria, Arrowhead Grill, Over Easy, Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers (there are several around the Valley now, but they started locally with one restaurant), Campbell’s, Twisted Italian, Top Shelf Mexican, etc. Those are just a few off the top of my head.

**MercenaryOne**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I live near Arrowhead area. Never had issues with crime, neighborhood I'm in is very friendly and fantastic with a decent public school. TONS of food options nearby, from, Italian, Mexican, seafood, American, and so on. A couple decent parks. Politically I don't converse with my neighbors on politics, but we did have one issue where a house a couple streets down did have a pride flag up, it was stolen numerous times and vandalized once. They were never threatened, but were an older couple and have since moved out. If wager most here are Republican, but not extreme. Quite a few of us are moderate, and smack down in the middle of the political spectrum.

**Cultural-Nerve-4425**
5mo ago
🦉🦉

😂This is hilarious. My fiancé grew up in Glendale, AZ and he prefers Glendale, CA. by a landslide. Although, we have been visiting his family over the past five years and he’s in-shock how much has built up over the past 10 years in the area including entertainment (including casinos), restaurants, hotels, and new housing. Also, the amount of people that have moved to metro Phoenix over the past 10 years, currently makes it the 5th largest city in America. Metro Phoenix was a desert city back in the day for families and retirees, but now the tech industry and other corporations have moved to the area and there’s a younger crowd all over and not just in Tempe at ASU.

**RiverRunsBlueHydra**
1y ago
🦉🦉

Everywhere in the Phoenix metro area is spotty. Bought a house in Glendale 4 years ago after years of renting. Quiet neighborhood, near a park, never seen or heard anything bad happen.

Apartment I lived in about a mile away was near a gas station, gunshots every few months.

Same with my parents. They live in a great little neighborhood in Glendale. 3 blocks away from their house gets super sketchy, homeless guy was set on fire in the middle of the night and someone's house got shot up in a drive-by.

Places in Phoenix also can have houses near $1,000,000 and have shacks and a trailer park 2 blocks away.

Glendale, Arizona

You Belong Here? Maybe

Looklyloo Score: 83