Coolidge
Casa Grande Ruins, Cotton Days & Central Arizona College
Why People Move Here
Coolidge is the Pinal County city that the nearby National Monument is actually in — despite the name, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument sits 6 miles east of downtown Coolidge, not in Casa Grande. Founded in 1925 as a support town for Coolidge Dam (the world's first multiple-dome concrete dam, personally dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in 1930), the city sits on the SR-87/SR-287 crossroads halfway between Phoenix (56 mi north) and Tucson (60 mi south). Central Arizona College's main Signal Peak campus anchors the north side of town with on-campus housing and a $102M performing arts center under construction. Housing is Coolidge's affordability story: Zillow pegs the typical home value at $228K and Redfin reports a $300K median sale price — roughly half the Maricopa County median. Population growth followed: +5.7% between July 2024 and July 2025, the highest rate in Pinal County, driven by KB Home, D.R. Horton, and Century Complete subdivisions at Heartland Ranch and Cross Creek Ranch.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Coolidge Unified School District (CUSD)
C+23 Niche user reviews (avg. 4 stars); Coolidge High Niche C+ (3.79/5, 115 reviews); Coolidge Junior High Niche C-
- 6 schools, 2,778 students (student-teacher 19:1)
- 95.7% of teachers licensed
- Anchors the city's K-12 system; separate and distinct from Chandler USD
Central Arizona College — Signal Peak Campus
community college- Main campus at 8470 N. Overfield Rd, Coolidge
- 90+ associate degrees and certificates; on-campus housing
- Don P. Pence Center for the Performing and Visual Arts
- $102M / 91,000-sqft Cultural and Performing Arts Center under construction (professional teaching kitchen, culinary program, banquet facility)
- Hosts Northern Arizona University statewide satellite programs
FAQ — Coolidge
What is the median home price in Coolidge?
Sources vary by methodology in early 2026. Zillow's Home Value Index reports a typical home value of $228,052, while Redfin's median sale price was $300K in November 2025 (+6.0% YoY) and $290K for March 2026 single-family sales. Movoto's March 2026 median list was $299K, flat year-over-year. The price-per-square-foot median is $159. NeighborhoodScout reports 133.79% appreciation over the last 10 years — placing Coolidge in the top 10% nationally for real estate appreciation.
Where is Casa Grande Ruins National Monument actually located?
Despite the name, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is in Coolidge, Arizona — not in the city of Casa Grande. The visitor address is 1100 W. Ruins Drive, Coolidge, AZ 85128, approximately 6 miles east of downtown Coolidge. The monument protects a 4-story Hohokam 'Great House' adobe structure built around 1350 A.D. and sheltered under a steel-roof canopy built in 1932. Admission is free; hours are 9am-5pm daily (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and July 4). It is the oldest federally protected archaeological preserve in the United States (established 1892).
What school districts serve Coolidge?
Coolidge Unified School District (CUSD) serves the city's K-12 students with 6 schools and 2,778 students (student-teacher ratio 19:1). Niche rates Coolidge High School C+ (3.79/5 from 115 reviews) and Coolidge Junior High C-. Verify enrollment eligibility by address. Note that 'CUSD' in the broader East Valley often refers to Chandler Unified School District — which is a different district. Central Arizona College's Signal Peak main campus (8470 N. Overfield Rd) anchors higher education with 90+ associate degrees and certificates, on-campus housing, and Northern Arizona University statewide satellite programs.
What is the commute from Coolidge to downtown Phoenix?
Coolidge sits ~56 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix. Off-peak drive time is ~55 minutes via SR-87 north to I-10 Exit 211, then I-10 west. Rush-hour commutes stretch to 60-80 minutes. Casa Grande is ~15 min west via SR-287 (for Banner Casa Grande Medical Center and major shopping). Mesa and the East Valley are ~50 min north via SR-87 and US-60. Tucson is ~60 min south via I-10. There is no Valley Metro light rail or bus service in Coolidge — the nearest Valley Metro stops are ~40+ min north in Queen Creek or South Mesa.
What public transit options are in Coolidge?
The City of Coolidge Transit Department operates Cotton Express — a local fixed-route bus service running east and west central loops along Arizona Boulevard (each loop about 30 minutes), plus Dial-a-Ride paratransit for riders needing age or disability accommodation. The same department runs Central Arizona Regional Transit (CART) for intercity service connecting Coolidge, Casa Grande, and Florence. Both services receive FTA Section 5311 Rural Public Transportation Program funding. Cotton Express has operated since 1990.
What are the crime statistics in Coolidge?
NeighborhoodScout's analysis of 2024 FBI data (released October 2025) reports an overall Coolidge crime rate of 19 crimes per 1,000 residents, with a 1-in-53 chance of victimization for any crime. Violent crime is 3 per 1,000 (1-in-317 chance); property crime is 16 per 1,000. Coolidge's overall rate is higher than 80% of Arizona cities per NeighborhoodScout. The Coolidge Police Department publishes NIBRS statistics at coolidgeaz.com. Present this data as one input among many and verify current-year statistics directly with the department.
What healthcare facilities serve Coolidge residents?
There is no hospital within Coolidge city limits. The nearest hospital is Banner Casa Grande Medical Center (1800 E. Florence Blvd, Casa Grande, ~15 min west via SR-287) — a full-service non-profit established in 1984. Local primary and urgent care are provided by Sun Life Health Coolidge and Banner Health Family Medicine practices. For major medical centers, Banner Ironwood Medical Center (San Tan Valley) is ~35 min northwest, and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center (Gilbert) is ~55 min north.
What are the property and sales tax rates in Coolidge?
Coolidge's combined sales tax rate is 9.7% in 2026 (5.6% Arizona + 1.1% Pinal County + 3.0% City of Coolidge). The effective property tax rate in Coolidge is approximately 0.46% per Ownwell — below the Arizona state median of 0.51%. Pinal County's median annual property tax bill is $1,507. Arizona's state income tax is a flat 2.5% (among the lowest in the US), and Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits.
What are the largest employers in Coolidge?
Lucid Motors operates the former Nikola manufacturing facility at 680 E Houser Rd (acquired in a bankruptcy auction in April 2025 and now used for warehousing, pre-delivery inspection, and midsize-platform pilot assembly; Lucid employs 2,800+ across Arizona). Other major employers include Central Arizona College's Signal Peak Campus, Coolidge Unified School District, the City of Coolidge, Pinal County, and Banner Casa Grande Medical Center. Agricultural operations tied to the San Carlos Irrigation Project (cotton and alfalfa) remain a traditional economic driver. Nearest major employment corridors are Casa Grande (~15 min west, I-10/I-8 logistics), Queen Creek / San Tan Valley (~30 min NW), and Chandler / Gilbert (~50 min north).
What parks and outdoor recreation are in Coolidge?
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (1100 W. Ruins Drive — 6 mi east of downtown) is the marquee attraction: a 4-story Hohokam 'Great House' built c. 1350 A.D. and sheltered under a 1932 steel-roof canopy, with free admission and a visitor center. San Carlos Park (300 W. Central Ave) hosts the annual Cotton Days Festival and offers horseshoe pits, picnic ramadas, and a playground. Kenilworth Sports Complex provides baseball and sports fields. Additional city parks include Main Street Park, North Park, Nutt Park, Palo Verde Park, Walker Park, and Rotary Skate Park. Hohokam Country Club offers local golf. San Carlos Lake — the reservoir impounded by Coolidge Dam — is ~65 mi northeast on San Carlos Apache Reservation tribal lands and offers fishing.
What annual events does Coolidge host?
The Coolidge Cotton Days Festival is the signature event — 44th annual in 2026, held the first weekend of March at San Carlos Park. The three-day festival features a carnival, parade, Cotton Bale Rolling Contest, cotton-picking demonstrations connecting younger generations to historical agricultural practices, cheer and dance competitions, and the Cotton Days Community Dinner (tables stretched down the middle of Main Street). Many participants are actual cotton farmers who drive their own equipment in the parade. Calvin Coolidge Days is held in September, anchored by the Coolidge Historical Museum in the 1934 courthouse/jail building (161 W Harding Ave).