North Central Phoenix (85020 and 85021): A Local Guide to Tree-Lined Streets, Mountain Views, and Real Room to Breathe

If you ask longtime Phoenix locals where they would live if they could pick anywhere in the city, North Central comes up again and again. It is the stretch of the Valley where mature trees actually shade the streets, where ranch homes sit on lots big enough to exhale on, and where you can be on a mountain trail in the morning and downtown for dinner that night.

So is North Central Phoenix a good place to buy right now? In my experience, yes, for the right buyer. It is one of the most established, most consistently desirable areas in the city, and homes here tend to hold their value because the location and the lot sizes cannot be reproduced. Here is the full breakdown, including where the neighborhood actually is, what makes it different, and what the current market numbers say.

Where is North Central Phoenix?

North Central Phoenix is the corridor that runs north from the Camelback and Bethany Home area up toward the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, centered on Central Avenue and the streets between 7th Avenue and 7th Street. Locals call this stretch "between the Sevens." The area covered in this guide sits primarily in zip codes 85020 and 85021, with 85020 running east toward Dreamy Draw and the preserve and 85021 stretching west of 7th Avenue.

You may also hear pieces of it called the North Central Corridor, Uptown, or by historic subdivision names like Orangewood, which William J. Murphy platted back in 1895 when this land was citrus groves. Whatever name you use, the location is the point. State Route 51 and Interstate 17 frame the area, downtown Phoenix is about 15 minutes south, and Sky Harbor is an easy drive.

What makes North Central Phoenix different?

Plenty of Phoenix neighborhoods are nice. North Central feels different the moment you turn off the main road, and there are a few concrete reasons why.

The trees are real, and so is the shade. This is one of the greenest corridors in the city. The Murphy Bridle Path, a soft-surface walking and riding trail that has run along Central Avenue for more than a century, is lined with mature olive and ash trees from Bethany Home Road up to the Arizona Canal. Many lots in the area still carry flood irrigation, which is why you see lawns and tree canopies here that most of the desert simply does not have.

The homes have room to breathe. Much of the housing stock was built between the 1940s and 1960s, so you will find classic brick ranch homes, mid-century designs, and custom builds on large lots, often a quarter acre or more. Because the area has been loved for decades, there is a healthy mix of beautifully preserved originals, thoughtful remodels, and newer infill homes. No two streets feel stamped from the same template.

Many neighborhoods have no HOA. Large portions of North Central were built long before HOAs became standard. For buyers who want to paint the front door whatever color they like, park the truck in the driveway, or add a casita without asking a committee, that freedom is a genuine draw. Some pockets and newer infill communities do have associations, so it is worth confirming street by street.

The mountains are right there. On the 85020 side, the Phoenix Mountains Preserve rises directly over the neighborhood. Dreamy Draw Recreation Area, Piestewa Peak, and North Mountain trailheads are minutes away, and the Arizona Canal path connects you to miles of walking and biking. Very few places in the country let you live on a shaded, irrigated lot and reach a summit trail before work.

It is genuinely central. Uptown and midtown employment, the light rail on Central, downtown Phoenix, Biltmore-area shopping and dining, and both major freeways are all close. Buyers who are comparing North Central to Arcadia or Paradise Valley often find they can get similar lot sizes and character with a shorter commute and, in many pockets, a lower price of entry.

The corridor is having a moment

The stretch between 7th Avenue and 7th Street has seen steady reinvestment in recent years, and 7th Street in particular has grown into one of the city's favorite local restaurant rows. Add in the coffee shops, patios, and canal-side spots like OHSO within biking distance, and the neighborhood offers a walkable, local-first lifestyle that used to require living downtown. That kind of sustained small-business momentum tends to support home values over time, because people want to live near places they love.

Who North Central Phoenix is right for

I see a few types of buyers fall for this area over and over:

• Move-up buyers who have outgrown their first home and want a bigger lot, more character, and a better location without paying Paradise Valley prices.
• Buyers relocating to Phoenix who want to be close to everything, downtown, the airport, the mountains, and good food, without living in a high-rise.
• Buyers who want freedom. The no-HOA pockets are ideal for anyone who wants to truly make a property their own.
• Anyone who values outdoor living. If weekend hikes, canal rides, and evening walks under real trees sound like your speed, this is your corridor.

One more thing worth knowing: turnover here is relatively low. Many owners stay for decades, which tells you something about how the neighborhood treats the people who live in it. It also means that when the right house comes up, prepared buyers have the advantage.

Frequently asked questions about North Central Phoenix

Where exactly is North Central Phoenix?

North Central Phoenix runs along the Central Avenue corridor between 7th Avenue and 7th Street, roughly from the Bethany Home Road area north to the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. It covers zip codes 85020 and 85021, about 15 minutes north of downtown Phoenix.

Is North Central Phoenix a good place to buy a home?

For buyers who value location, character, and lot size, it is one of the strongest long-term choices in the city. The area is fully established, the tree-lined streets and large lots cannot be replicated, and demand has stayed consistent for decades. As always, the right answer depends on your budget and timeline, which is exactly what a strategy conversation is for.

Do North Central Phoenix homes have HOAs?

Many do not. Large portions of the area were built in the 1940s through 1960s, before HOAs were common, so no-HOA properties are widely available. Some newer infill communities and condo pockets do have associations, so confirm on a per-property basis.

What kinds of homes are in North Central Phoenix?

The signature style is the brick ranch home on a large, often irrigated lot, joined by mid-century designs, historic custom homes near the Murphy Bridle Path, and newer infill builds. Sizes and price points vary widely block by block, which is part of the area's charm.

How close is North Central Phoenix to hiking and downtown?

Very close to both. Dreamy Draw Recreation Area, Piestewa Peak, and North Mountain trailheads border the neighborhood on the 85020 side, and downtown Phoenix is about a 15 minute drive, or a light rail ride from the Central Avenue corridor.

Thinking about buying or selling in North Central Phoenix?

Whether you are hoping to land one of those brick ranches under the trees or wondering what your North Central home could sell for in this market, the smartest first step is a real conversation backed by real data. Book a strategy call with me and my team through the link in bio, and we will walk through your options with no pressure and no sales pitch.

Prefer to start with numbers? Reach out and I will send you a custom North Central market breakdown for 85020 and 85021.

Caitlin McKeague, Associate Broker, Desert Dreamers Real Estate, brokered by Real. Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the surrounding Valley.