Goodyear, AZ
What Goodyear is actually like
Goodyear's origin is literal: in 1917, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company vice president Paul Litchfield bought roughly 16,000 acres of Salt River Valley desert to grow long-staple cotton, whose fibers reinforced rubber airplane tires — a material in short supply during World War I. The company farmed the land for decades as Goodyear Farms. Wartime demand brought a Goodyear Aircraft Corporation plant in 1941 and, with it, Del Webb-built worker housing. Residents chose the name "Goodyear" for their community in May 1944, a post office opened that November, the town incorporated on November 19, 1946, and it reached full city status in 1985.
Goodyear's population has more than doubled since 2010, reaching an estimated 118,200 in 2024, up from about 95,300 in the 2020 census, making it one of the West Valley's fastest-growing cities. It's the Cactus League spring home of the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark, and its neighboring 20,000-acre Estrella Mountain Regional Park draws hikers and mountain bikers. Housing is dominated by 2000s-and-newer master-planned subdivisions such as Estrella and Palm Valley, plus a small historic core near the old Goodyear Farms cemetery. Phoenix Goodyear Airport and a growing logistics and manufacturing corridor along I-10 anchor the local economy.
Home values in Goodyear
Redfin (median sale price, 3-month trailing average) put the typical home value in Goodyear at $478,755 as of July 2026, up 2.5% year-over-year.
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Explore Specialty Resources →Getting around
Goodyear has no Valley Metro light rail as of September 2026 and none is planned. Valley Metro runs a weekday rush-hour "Goodyear Express" commuter bus route into downtown Phoenix plus local bus service, but the city is otherwise largely car-dependent.
Neighborhood FAQ
Why is Goodyear named after a tire company?
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company bought roughly 16,000 acres here in 1917 to grow cotton for wartime tire fabric; residents adopted the name "Goodyear" for their town in 1944.
Which MLB teams train in Goodyear?
The Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds share Goodyear Ballpark for Cactus League spring training.
How far is Goodyear from downtown Phoenix?
About 17 miles west via Interstate 10, roughly a 20-25 minute drive outside rush hour.
Does Goodyear have light rail?
No. Goodyear has no Valley Metro light rail service; a weekday rush-hour "Goodyear Express" bus connects to downtown Phoenix, but the city is otherwise car-dependent.
Nearby alternatives*
Avondale
About 6 miles east via I-10, typically 10-12 minutes. Zillow puts Avondale's typical home value at $398,215, below Goodyear's $478,755. Avondale is also served by Valley Metro bus routes rather than rail.
Litchfield Park
About 4 miles north via Litchfield Road, typically 8-10 minutes. Zillow puts Litchfield Park's typical home value at $519,678, above Goodyear's $478,755. Litchfield Park is more car-dependent, with little to no fixed-route transit.
Buckeye
About 8 miles west via I-10, typically 12-15 minutes. Zillow puts Buckeye's typical home value at $394,709, below Goodyear's $478,755. Buckeye is also served by Valley Metro bus routes rather than rail.
*We're not ranking these — every neighborhood has real trade-offs, and which ones matter is up to you.