Laveen, Phoenix
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What Laveen is actually like
Farmers and dairymen first settled the area in 1884, but it grew slowly and in isolation — the Salt River ran year-round until Roosevelt Dam was completed in 1911, effectively cutting Laveen off from Phoenix. Walter Laveen's general store, built at 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road, was joined by the Del Monte Market in 1908, the oldest structure still standing in the area, and by a schoolhouse the Laveen family donated land for in 1913. Cotton farming and dairying anchored the economy; the Cheatham family, arriving in 1919, ran one of Arizona's larger dairies on 360 acres by 1941. Phoenix began annexing the area from the mid-1990s onward.
Laveen's residential growth took off after 2000 with subdivisions like Arlington Estates, though the village — bounded by the Salt River, South Mountain Park, the Gila River Indian Community, and 27th Avenue — still covers roughly 48 square miles of largely agricultural land. ZIP code 85339, which covers most of Laveen, had about 50,447 residents in recent estimates, a young, family-heavy population (median age around 31). Housing is dominated by newer single-family subdivisions built over the last two decades, with a median household income above $100,000.
Home values in Laveen
Redfin (Laveen Village neighborhood housing-market data) put the typical home value in Laveen at $393,000 as of July 2026, down 10.7% year-over-year.
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Laveen has no light rail within its boundaries. The nearest Valley Metro Rail stop is Baseline/Central Avenue, the southern terminus of the South Central Extension that opened June 7, 2025 — several miles east, across the Salt River/I-17 corridor. Bus routes connect Laveen to that station and to downtown; a rail extension into Laveen itself has been studied but not built.
Neighborhood FAQ
Does Laveen have light rail?
No. The nearest station is Baseline/Central Avenue, the terminus of the South Central Extension that opened in June 2025, several miles east of Laveen; bus routes connect to it.
What's Laveen historically known for?
A farming and dairy community founded in 1884 and named for postmaster Walter Laveen, isolated from Phoenix by the Salt River until Roosevelt Dam was completed in 1911.
What's the typical home value in Laveen?
Redfin recorded a median sale price of $393,000 as of July 2026, down 10.7% year over year — among the more affordable places in this guide.
What's the nearest hospital to Laveen?
Banner Estrella Medical Center, at 9201 W Thomas Rd in west Phoenix, several miles northwest of Laveen.
Nearby alternatives*
Ahwatukee
About 9 miles east via Baseline Road, around South Mountain, typically 18-22 minutes. Redfin puts Ahwatukee's median sale price at $535,000, well above Laveen's $393,000. Ahwatukee is also served by Valley Metro bus routes rather than rail.
Avondale
About 8 miles west via Southern Avenue or I-10, typically 15-18 minutes. Zillow puts Avondale's typical home value at $398,215, about the same as Laveen's $393,000. Avondale is also served by Valley Metro bus routes rather than rail.
Downtown Phoenix
About 10 miles north via Central Avenue or I-17, typically 18-22 minutes. Redfin puts Downtown Phoenix's median sale price at $391,228, about the same as Laveen's $393,000. Unlike here, Downtown Phoenix has Valley Metro light rail service.
*We're not ranking these — every neighborhood has real trade-offs, and which ones matter is up to you.