Florence
Pinal County Seat, Historic 1866 Town & Master-Planned Growth on SR-79
Why People Move Here
Florence is the Pinal County seat and one of the oldest Anglo-settled towns in Arizona, founded in 1866 with a downtown Main Street that carries the densest concentration of National Register buildings in the state — more than 120 Territorial-era adobe, Victorian, and early-20th-century structures anchored by the 1891 Second Pinal County Courthouse and the 1878 first courthouse (now McFarland State Historic Park). Sitting ~60 miles southeast of Phoenix along SR-79, Florence has become the Phoenix metro's outer-ring master-planned frontier: the 3,400-acre Anthem at Merrill Ranch development combines the all-ages Parkside neighborhood with the age-restricted Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch (Del Webb, operating under HOPA exemption), while Magma Ranch Vistas and Merrill Ranch add new-construction inventory at price points well below Maricopa County.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Florence Unified School District (FUSD)
C+- Florence High School (Niche B) — historic football program
- Poston Butte High School (San Tan Valley, FUSD; Niche B+, ADE 'A' school)
- Anthem K-8 / Walker Butte K-8 / Magma Ranch K-8 campuses
- Transitioning to separate 7-8 middle school campuses for 2025-26
- Open enrollment program permits cross-boundary applications
Central Arizona College
C+- Community college with Signal Peak main campus in Coolidge (~10 mi SE)
- Associate programs and transfer agreements with ASU and U of A
- Corrections Officer Training Academy partnership with AZ Dept of Corrections
FAQ — Florence
What is the median home price in Florence?
Florence's median sale price ranges from $340K (Redfin 85132 zip, Mar 2026, -1.4% YoY) to $378K (Redfin city-level, Oct 2025, +4.3% YoY). Zillow's typical home value sits around $346K-$361K. Price per square foot is $181 (Redfin, Oct 2025, down 13.4% YoY). A significant share of inventory is new construction in Anthem at Merrill Ranch and Magma Ranch Vistas; resale inventory in the older sections of town runs below the town median.
How long is the commute from Florence to downtown Phoenix?
Florence is ~60-62 miles from downtown Phoenix. Off-peak driving time is roughly 60-75 minutes via SR-79 → US-60 → I-10; rush-hour commutes through Apache Junction on US-60 can stretch past 90 minutes. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is ~55 miles, roughly 55-65 minutes off-peak. Mesa Gateway Airport is closer at ~35-40 miles (~40-50 minutes), and the planned SR-24 eastward extension would shorten this further. Florence is a car-dependent commute shed — there is no Valley Metro Rail or freeway-grade transit option.
What school districts serve Florence?
Florence Unified School District (FUSD) is the primary K-12 district, serving ~8,950 students across 14 schools PK-12 (Niche overall grade B-). Florence High School carries a Niche B grade. Poston Butte High School (in San Tan Valley, FUSD) holds a Niche B+ grade and an Arizona Department of Education 'A' rating. FUSD is transitioning to separate 7-8 middle-school campuses for the 2025-26 school year. Central Arizona College operates its Signal Peak main campus ~10 miles southeast in Coolidge. Verify enrollment eligibility by address — FUSD boundaries span Florence, San Tan Valley, and Magma, and are periodically redrawn as new schools open.
What are the crime statistics in Florence?
AreaVibes reports Florence's total crime rate at 668 per 100,000 — roughly 68% below the national rate and 70% below the Arizona state rate — with 28 violent-crime incidents and 128 property-crime incidents in the most recent reporting year. The 2024 year-over-year total-crime change was approximately +51% off a low base. Note that the Town of Florence's reported resident count includes ~8,000+ incarcerated persons across state and private correctional complexes, which affects per-capita denominators. The Town of Florence Police Department provides municipal patrol, and the Pinal County Sheriff's Office patrols unincorporated surroundings. Verify current statistics directly with the department.
What healthcare and accessibility options are in Florence?
Banner Casa Grande Medical Center (~20 miles west at 1800 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande) is the closest full-service hospital — 141 private rooms, 24/7 emergency department, BannerAir helicopter base, 87% recommend rate. Banner Ironwood Medical Center in San Tan Valley (~20-25 minutes north from Anthem at Merrill Ranch) is the closest option for north-Florence residents. Major academic medicine (Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, Mayo Clinic Phoenix) is ~60-75 minutes away. McFarland State Historic Park and Anthem at Merrill Ranch common areas are ADA-accessible; portions of the 1880s-1920s downtown historic district have narrow historic sidewalks.
Are there age-restricted 55+ communities in Florence?
Yes — Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch (Del Webb / Pulte) is an age-restricted 55+ subdivision operating under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) exemption, inside the 3,400-acre Anthem at Merrill Ranch master plan. The community offers 22 floor plans from 1,100 to 2,800+ square feet, an 18-hole Poston Butte Golf Club, the 48,000 sq ft Union Center for Wellness and Higher Learning (indoor/outdoor resort pools, ASU Lifelong Learning Academy classroom, rock-climbing wall), and pickleball. HOPA-exempt communities must verify that at least 80% of occupied units include at least one resident aged 55 or older — buyers should verify current age-verification policies directly with the developer or HOA before committing.
What are the property and sales tax rates in Florence?
Pinal County's primary property tax rate is $3.3630 per $100 of assessed valuation (FY 2024-25), with combined rates around $3.45 per $100 once districts are included — an effective ~0.75-0.90% of market value. The median Pinal County property tax bill runs $1,383-$1,507. Florence's combined sales tax rate is 11.7% through June 30, 2026 (5.6% Arizona + 1.1% Pinal County + special district components + 2.0% Florence town). The Florence Town Council voted March 17, 2026 to raise the town Transaction Privilege Tax from 2.0% to 3.5% effective July 1, 2026, funding transportation and essential-services capital. Arizona's flat 2.5% state income tax is among the lowest in the US, and Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits. Homes at Anthem at Merrill Ranch also carry a ~$3,700 flat Community Facilities District (CFD) infrastructure assessment per lot — payable at closing or amortized over 20 years.
What arts, history, and attractions are in Florence?
Florence's Main Street Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places with 120+ contributing Territorial-era adobe, Sonoran, and American-Victorian buildings — per the town visitor site, more National Register structures than any other town in Arizona. McFarland State Historic Park preserves the 1878 first Pinal County Courthouse (adobe) as a state-park museum. The 1891 Second Pinal County Courthouse anchors the district in American-Victorian style. The restored Brunenkant Building (1889) houses the Florence Visitors Center. The 40th Annual Historic Home Tour runs mid-February each year as a self-guided walking tour. Country Thunder Arizona — a four-day country music festival with headliners like Lainey Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, and Scotty McCreery — brings large April crowds to Canyon Moon Ranch east of town. Poston Butte (the 'F' Mountain, crowned by a 1907 pyramid monument to Charles Poston) is a ~1-mile round-trip hike on the north side of Hunt Highway.
What are the largest employers in Florence?
Florence's largest employers are anchored by the state and private correctional complexes and by the Pinal County government. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry operates the Arizona State Prison Complex – Florence (multiple state prison units; correctional officers unionized via the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America). Central Arizona Florence Correctional Complex (CoreCivic, private) and Florence West Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility (GEO Group) are also major presences. Pinal County government operates the county courthouse, administration, assessor, and treasurer offices from Florence. Florence Unified School District and the Town of Florence round out the top public-sector employers. Major commuter destinations include the Casa Grande I-10 corridor (Lucid Motors, Banner Casa Grande, Walmart distribution), the Chandler Price Rd tech corridor (Intel), and Mesa Gateway / ASU Polytechnic.