Walter Gist, 1921
Tolleson’s story
113 years in pictures
Census counts: 910 in 1930, 7,216 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 1921 and 4 maps from 1948 on.
- 1913Tolleson is settled
Population
9,224
2025 Census estimate · +27.8% since 2020
Typical home
$388K
−1.8% in a year
Household income
$60K
median
Median age
31.9
years
Jobs based here
21,316
A job hub
TownGrade
C+
#71 of 139 in AZ
Is Tolleson a good place to live?
Tolleson grades C+ overall, ranked 71st of 139 in Arizona, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. It is more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns and natural-hazard risk is low. On the other side, residents are less healthy than 89% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Tolleson’s property crime rate is 47.6 per 1,000 residents, above both the Arizona town median (11) and the median of U.S. towns (9.9). Only 3 of the 140 Arizona towns we compare have a lower share of households owning their home than Tolleson.
What makes Tolleson stand out
Where Tolleson beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here21,316
Residents who work2,866
Work
7.4 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
6.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Natural hazardsA−
Lower risk than 78% of U.S. communities
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
A job hub
Every workday, about 21,027 people come to Tolleson for work
Where Tolleson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
21,316jobs based in Tolleson
10%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Tolleson grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arizona), ordered by how far Tolleson is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.4 of 20; 16.1% of households have no carAOpen →HealthBanner Estrella Medical Center 2.7 miles awayDOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listA−Open →Cost of livingC+Open →Jobs & income$60K median household incomeBOpen →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1% conserved landCOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life8.1 library visits per resident; 1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 31.9; 12% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 56 attractions →State Farm Stadium and 53 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Tolleson. Close and well known come first.
Big draw6 mi Stadium & arenaState Farm Stadium
11 mi Stadium & arenaMortgage Matchup Center
6 mi Stadium & arenaDesert Diamond Arena
11 mi Stadium & arenaChase Field
19 mi Stadium & arenaMountain America Stadium
9 mi MuseumArizona State CapitolSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
State Farm Stadium: Taken by en:Flickr user MCSixth, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Mortgage Matchup Center: Troutfarm27, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Desert Diamond Arena: Unknown, CC BY 2.0 · Chase Field: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tyler J. Bolken, Public domain · Mountain America Stadium: Clintus McGintus, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Arizona State Capitol: Unknown, CC BY 2.5
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Tolleson: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Tolleson, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of Mesa20.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Tolleson water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers94% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMondayTown’s haulerTown site
SchoolsTolleson Union High School DistrictTolleson Elementary District2 districts serve Tolleson; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Arizona you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMaricopa County RecorderMaricopa County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8535385353 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Tolleson.
Tolleson carries less natural-hazard risk than nearly all of Arizona (mostly inland flooding), draws workers from Phoenix and beyond and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About half of Tolleson’s working residents commute to Phoenix
21,316 jobs are based in Tolleson, 7.4 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. Jobs based here grew from 10,631 in 2013 to 21,316.
Most working residents leave Tolleson for work: only 10% work in town. 18% of residents live below the poverty line in Tolleson. Since 2013, Tolleson has added 10,685 jobs, to 21,316 in 2023.
10%work in town
| Tolleson | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 18% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Tolleson10%
Phoenix50%
Tempe6%
Glendale5%
Goodyear4%
11 mi
median commute distance
21,316
jobs based in Tolleson
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB−
Public schools in Tolleson fall behind 54% of Arizona districts
Its public schools are run by the Tolleson Union High School District. Three of its 7 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Tolleson Union High School, with 2,648 students.
46%of AZ districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Desert Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 843 | C+ |
| Tolleson Union High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,648 | C |
| University High SchoolTop results in townGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 416 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AZ on state tests and graduation
HealthD
Tolleson stands out in Arizona and nationally, with more of its adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance
33% of Tolleson adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance. Tolleson beats the Arizona average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 22. 69% of Tolleson adults had a checkup this year.
11%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Tolleson | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 21% | 19% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 24% | 25% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 15% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 12% | 8.1% |
32 measures vs. Arizona
2 better8 too close to call22 worse
| What stands out | Tolleson | AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 4.8% | 8.8% |
| Fewer adults with arthritis | 22.1% | 25.2% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 41.5% | 15.8% |
Banner Estrella Medical Center
2.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
8th
percentile among AZ towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Tolleson faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk lower than 96% of Arizona towns, with expected losses of about $475 per resident a year; that rating is what its A− for hazard risk is built on.
Tolleson’s FEMA risk score is 22 of 100. Since 1978, 62 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Tolleson.
22risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat waves
62
paid flood claims since 1978
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Tolleson, expect mild winters and hot summers
January nights average 41.1°, milder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 106.3°.
Tolleson has warm winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. The July high in Tolleson is 106°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
106°summer high
| Tolleson | Arizona towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 106°F | 100°F | 85°F |
| January low | 41°F | 36°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter42–68°
Spring56–86°
Summer77–105°
Fall60–88°
Dec 15
typical first frost
Jan 20
typical last frost
+2.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
106°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Tolleson
Tolleson's reported crime rate is well above Arizona's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. 44 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Tolleson4.4
Arizona3.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Tolleson47.6
Arizona15.4
U.S.15.5
44
violent crimes reported in 2025
477
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade C+
The typical home in Tolleson is valued at about $388K
The typical value, about $388K, is 8% below its August 2022 peak.
The typical Tolleson home is worth about $388,000, down 1.8% in a year, 7% below the Arizona typical home.
$388KZillow home value
Typical home value
Tolleson$388K
Arizona$417K
−1.8%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0.8%conserved
0.8%
conserved · 28 of 3,653 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tolleson Veterans Park | — | 9 |
| 2. McNeel Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Tolleson
19pages on Tolleson
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 54% of AZ districts · 7 schoolsSafety4.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than AZ on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$388K typical home · down 1.8% in a yearWork & commuteB$60K median household income · 21,316 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 22% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
12 within 15 miles of the center of Tolleson
Estrella Mountain Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Avondale5.5 mi$2,358 in-state tuitionGrand Canyon UniversityUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Phoenix8.5 mi$17,850 tuitionGlendale Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Glendale9.2 mi$2,358 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Tolleson residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Arizona.
A growing town
Tolleson has grown 41% since 2010
6,545 counted in 2010 and 7,216 in 2020; an estimated 9,224 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 27.8% since 2020, after 10.3% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
About Tolleson
City in Arizona, United States
Tolleson is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the city was 7,216 as of the 2020 census, up from 6,545 in 2010.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 5.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,014 ft
- ZIP code
- 85353
- Area code
- 623
Tolleson’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Tolleson.
PhoenixAvondaleTolleson
How the neighbors grade
Tolleson reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Tolleson with a neighbor →
Questions about Tolleson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Tolleson, AZ a good place to live?
Tolleson grades C+ overall, better than 36% of U.S. towns and #71 of 139 in Arizona. It grades D for health and B− for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Tolleson, AZ expensive?
That is 4.4 years of the area's median household income ($88,301 across the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.