Moving to El Mirage, AZ: El Mirage Homes for Sale and Local Guide
El Mirage is a small Northwest Valley city of about 36,000 people on the west bank of the Agua Fria River, along Grand Avenue next to Luke Air Force Base. El Mirage homes for sale are mostly single-family homes built in the 2000s, plus older homes near the original townsite and a gated 55+ RV and golf resort.
I help buyers and sellers across the West Valley, and El Mirage is one of the places I compare most often with Surprise, Sun City, Peoria and Glendale. It covers less than 10 square miles, so it feels like a small town even though it is surrounded by bigger cities. Below is what I verified about where it is, its history, the homes, things to do, schools, getting around and buying or selling here.
El Mirage at a glance
- Population: 35,805 in the 2020 Census; Census estimate 35,820 for July 2025
- Size: about 9.9 square miles of land
- ZIP code: 85335
- County: Maricopa
- Incorporated: June 25, 1951 (75th anniversary in 2026)
- Main roads: Grand Avenue (US 60), El Mirage Road, Thunderbird Road, Loop 303 nearby
- Schools: Dysart Unified School District
See El Mirage homes for sale Call Terry: 602-483-4665
Where El Mirage is
El Mirage sits in the Northwest Valley, roughly 16 to 20 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix (the Arizona Commerce Authority gives both figures). It lies west of the Agua Fria River and borders Luke Air Force Base. Grand Avenue (US 60) and the BNSF rail line run through the area, and the Arizona Commerce Authority also points to Loop 303 and the Northern Parkway corridor for getting across the West Valley.
Neighbors include Surprise, Sun City, Youngtown, Peoria and Glendale. Because city lines here are close together, always check which city a specific address is in. It affects taxes, water and services.
A short history
El Mirage began in 1937 as a small settlement of Mexican-American farm workers on the west bank of the Agua Fria River, who built their own homes and dug canals for the surrounding fields. It incorporated as a city on June 25, 1951, and celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2026.
For decades it stayed small, with about 5,000 residents through the 1990s according to Phoenix New Times. Then the housing boom of the early 2000s brought thousands of new homes, and the population passed 32,000 by 2006. Many of those newer subdivisions were built on land that was once floodplain or farm fields along the river.
Neighborhoods and types of homes
Local reporting describes El Mirage as having more than 20 neighborhoods. Much of the city was built during the 2000s housing boom, so most homes are single-family houses on suburban lots, and many newer subdivisions have HOAs and neighborhood parks. Near the original townsite by Grand Avenue you will find older homes on streets that predate the boom.
- Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort: a gated 55+ community with RV sites and homes, an 18-hole golf course designed by Fuzzy Zoeller, 27 pickleball courts and a large clubhouse. For more 55+ choices nearby, see my Sun City 55+ homes page.
- Homes near Luke: a large share of the city sits under Luke Air Force Base's high-noise and accident-potential zones. Arizona law requires disclosure for homes in the territory near the base. My homes near Luke Air Force Base page explains how to check a specific address.
- More room nearby: if you want acreage, look west to 1+ acre homes in Waddell.
Things to do
- Parks: the city maintains more than 52 acres of parks, plus a YMCA recreation center, a senior center and a community garden. Gateway Park on N. El Mirage Road has a splash pad, skate park, dog park, basketball courts and a walking track.
- Trails: the lighted, 12-foot-wide Hohokam Trail was the city's first multi-use trail, and in 2024 the city moved to buy more than 13 acres on W. Cactus Road to grow its park space.
- Library: the El Mirage Library, part of the Maricopa County Library District, moved in July 2022 into a renovated former fire station at El Mirage and Thunderbird roads. It even has a seed library and telescopes to borrow.
- Events: the city hosts Fall Fiesta (with a parade and drone shows for the 75th anniversary in 2026), Winterfest and its parade, Public Safety Day and Spring Faire.
- Nearby: White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Lake Pleasant and spring training in Surprise and Peoria are all within a reasonable drive.
Schools
El Mirage is served by the Dysart Unified School District. District schools in the city include Dysart High School on N. Dysart Road (grades 9-12), El Mirage Elementary (PreK-4), Riverview School on N. Main Street (PreK-8), Thompson Ranch Elementary (PreK-8) and Dysart Middle School. West-MEC offers career and technical programs for West Valley high school students. Boundaries can change, so always confirm the assigned schools for an address with the district. See my Dysart High School and Dysart Middle School pages for homes nearby.
Getting around
Grand Avenue is the main diagonal route toward Phoenix, and ADOT rebuilt the US 60 frontage road between Greenway and Thunderbird roads, with fencing along the BNSF tracks. El Mirage Road and Dysart Road are the main north-south streets, and Thunderbird and Cactus roads run east-west. The city offers Dial-A-Ride service. Most residents drive, so test your commute at rush hour before you buy.
Jobs, shopping and health care
The Arizona Commerce Authority lists major employers in El Mirage including a BNSF vehicle distribution center, Cemex, Forterra, Goodfellow Crushers, Luke Air Force Base, Walmart and the Dysart district, and notes a foreign trade zone of about 1,600 acres. A Walmart Supercenter has served the city since 2005, and bigger shopping is close by in Surprise and Peoria. The nearest hospitals are outside the city: Banner Boswell in Sun City, Banner Del E. Webb in Sun City West and Abrazo Surprise Hospital on Bell Road.
Utilities and services
The city's Public Works department runs water, wastewater and trash service for most homes, and El Mirage has its own police and fire departments. In 2022 the council sent an EPCOR water franchise to voters, so check the water provider for a specific address. Confirm electric and gas providers by address too.
Buying and selling in El Mirage
El Mirage also has a 55+ golf and RV resort. See my Pueblo El Mirage guide for the course, clubhouse, home types and land lease basics.
Questions buyers ask
How far is El Mirage from Phoenix?
El Mirage is roughly 16 to 20 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix, depending on the route. Grand Avenue and Loop 303 are the main ways into the rest of the Valley.
What kind of homes are in El Mirage?
Most El Mirage homes are single-family houses built in the 2000s housing boom, many in HOA communities. There are also older homes near the original townsite and a gated 55+ RV and golf resort.
Is there a 55+ community in El Mirage?
Yes, Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort is a gated 55+ community with RV sites, homes, an 18-hole golf course and pickleball. Sun City and Sun City West are also close by.
Who provides police and fire service in El Mirage?
El Mirage has its own police department and its own fire department, which handles fire, EMS, rescue and prevention.
Homes by School in El Mirage
Searching by school? Start with these high school area pages:
See more on my homes by school page.
El Mirage: questions people ask
What is the sales tax rate in El Mirage?
The combined retail sales tax rate in El Mirage is 9.3%. That is the 5.6% state rate, 0.7% for Maricopa County and the city's 3% rate, per the Arizona Department of Revenue rate table effective October 1, 2026. Compare costs in my cost of living guide.
Which school district serves El Mirage?
El Mirage is served by the Dysart Unified School District, which runs schools from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the Northwest Valley. Dysart High School is in El Mirage on North Dysart Road. Confirm boundaries for any address with the district, or see my homes by school page.
Where does El Mirage get its water?
The City of El Mirage runs its own water utility, and its water is groundwater from nine city wells, according to the city's 2024 water quality report. The system serves almost 40,000 people in El Mirage and part of Surprise. Water and sanitation accounts are set up through the city's utility billing office.
Is El Mirage near Luke Air Force Base?
Yes, Luke Air Force Base is a few miles west of El Mirage, and some parts of the city fall inside the base's high-noise zones. Arizona law defines a territory in the vicinity of Luke that reaches 10 miles north, south and west and 4 miles east of the main runway, and sellers in that area must disclose it. Check the Arizona Department of Real Estate's Luke AFB map for a specific address.
When did El Mirage become a city?
El Mirage incorporated as a city on June 25, 1951, and it marks its 75th anniversary in 2026. It began in 1937 as a small farming settlement on the west bank of the Agua Fria River.
Comparing cities? See all of my Greater Phoenix city guides. Want to see what's happening in the market? Check my market reports, read the blog, or learn more about me. Ready to talk? Call Terry Day at 602-483-4665.
Browse current homes for sale listed by DeLex Realty agents.
Thinking about El Mirage?Call
Terry Day at DeLex Realty. I will compare El Mirage homes with Surprise, Peoria and Glendale and check Luke, flood, HOA and school details at
602-483-4665.
City details come from the City of El Mirage, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Dysart Unified School District, the Maricopa County Library District, ADOT and news reports, and can change. Confirm utilities, Luke disclosures, flood status and school boundaries for a specific home before you buy.
