Apartments for Rent in Encanto Village, Phoenix, AZ - 96 Rentals available

Spanning just over eight square miles, Encanto Village is both the smallest and the most densely populated of Phoenix’s urban villages. With Alhambra to the north, Maryvale to the west and Camelback East to the east, Encanto’s nucleus is the area around the expansive Encanto Park and Park Central Mall—Phoenix’s first shopping center. Running south, the village also incorporates Phoenix’s uptown and midtown and joins up with Downtown Phoenix via the high-rise Central Avenue Corridor.

Considering its centrality, the cost of living in Encanto is pretty reasonable: four percent lower than the Phoenix average and seven percent below the national average. In terms of where that gets you, all basic utilities for single accommodation should average out around $180 for the month, while dinner for two at a good Italian restaurant might set you back around $60.

For public transportation, there’s Encanto/Central Avenue station, which is a stop on the Valley Metro Rail line ($2 single fare, $4 all-day pass). It’s useful to know that a subscription to the Grid Bike Share program only costs $15 a month (for 60 minutes per day) and covers the whole of Downtown Phoenix and most of Encanto.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Encanto for the area’s residents. The neighborhood might be small, but it’s jam-packed with attractions, amenities and even open spaces, not to mention that, for those who want to experience the real Arizonan outdoors, it’s not too far away from largest municipal park in the United States, South Mountain Park, located at the edge of the city’s South Mountain neighborhood. Of course, one of the cons of living in Encanto is that, being practically integrated into Phoenix’s Downtown, it’s not the most peaceful of neighborhoods.

Of all the beautiful places in Encanto, Encanto Park (one of the best city parks of the US, according to Forbes) is simply stunning. The 222-acre space offers every amenity imaginable from tennis- and basketball courts to a fishing lagoon, while by night it’s beautifully illuminated, with stunning views over the downtown skyline.

The Arizona State Fair returns to the village every October, but you can enjoy a day out at the Phoenix Central Library all year round - one of the top free things to do with the family in Encanto. Other top attractions in Encanto include: the Phoenix Art Museum, the Phoenix Country Club and the Heard Museum.

Because it incorporates Phoenix’s uptown and midtown districts, Encanto is one of the biggest centers for employment in Arizona. Around 45 percent of Encanto’s population works in health, education or social services in and around Phoenix, though many also commute into Central City, where there are many corporate opportunities.

Khalsa Montessori Elementary School is the best elementary school in Encanto, while the strongest-performing high school is Phoenix College Preparatory Academy. For higher education, the village is served by Phoenix College—one of the oldest community colleges in the US, which also has one of the top nursing schools in Phoenix.

It’s always worth bearing a few renters’ tips in mind. Keep all correspondence between you and your landlord in writing, especially the lease agreement. Regarding any health and safety issues—such as faulty electrics or broken locks—know that once you’ve notified your landlord of the problem, it’s their responsibility to fix it.