North Central Phoenix / Uptown

Welcome to North Central Phoenix / Uptown

Community Summary

Often called "Uptown Phoenix" at its commercial core, runs along the Central Avenue corridor roughly between Camelback Road/Bethany Home Road and Northern Avenue (ZIP 85012/85013/85014). William J. Murphy platted the "Orangewood" subdivision along Central Ave in 1895, with boundaries closely matching this corridor (Source: HistoricPhoenix.com). Central Avenue was a private "driving street" until it was declared a public highway in 1910 and paved in the 1920s. Large parcels were subdivided between 1911 and 1942 into 5–15-acre tracts, then further subdivided into ranch-home lots built mostly from 1945 through the 1950s. The area was annexed into the City of Phoenix in 1959.

The "North Central Avenue Streetscape Historic District" is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — note this is a roadway/streetscape designation, not a residential subdivision name.

"Uptown Phoenix" refers specifically to the commercial node at Central Avenue and Camelback Road, anchored by Uptown Plaza, a mid-century shopping center that opened in 1955 at the northeast corner of Central and Camelback (Sources: AZ Big Media, Uptown Plaza). No government source formally defines "Uptown Phoenix" as a bounded neighborhood — it functions as a colloquial/commercial label for the Central-and-Camelback node, while "North Central Phoenix" is the broader residential corridor extending north to Northern Avenue.

Housing includes custom homes dating to the early 1900s plus 1945–1950s ranch-style homes on large, subdivided lots. Redfin's "North Central Corridor" data shows a median sale price around $878,000, with sales ranging roughly $235,000 (condo) to $2.6 million (single-family), at roughly $447/sq ft — confirm current figures before publishing.

Sub-Communities & Neighborhoods

Verified, documented within/at the corridor's edge (Source: City of Phoenix Historic Preservation, phoenix.gov):

• Medlock Place — listed on the Phoenix Historic Property Register (2003); bounded by Camelback Rd, Central/7th Aves, and Colter St
• Windsor Square
• Pierson Place

Note: Country Club Manor, Palmcroft/Encanto-Palmcroft, and Los Olivos are real, documented Phoenix historic districts, but sit further south/west in Midtown or Encanto — outside this corridor, and excluded here. "Village Grove Estates" and "Solano Vista" could not be verified as tied to this Phoenix corridor and are excluded.

Market Stats (Annual)

Full calendar-year data, refreshed once a year. Source link

North Central Phoenix / Uptown | Altos report: Phoenix, AZ 85014

Schools

The Madison Elementary School District serves this corridor (boundary described as "7th Avenue to 32nd Street, Northern to Camelback" — Central Ave falls within this range). Central High School (Phoenix Union High School District), 4525 N. Central Ave., draws from partner elementary districts including Madison.

Dining

At Uptown Plaza (100 E. Camelback Rd.):

• Chula Seafood Uptown
• Shake Shack
• Flower Child
• Salt & Straw (opened fall 2025)
• Let's Toast (opened May 2026)

Along the corridor:

• AJ's Fine Foods — 5017 N. Central Ave.

Note: Dynamite Beer Co. (100 E. Camelback Rd.) is marked closed on its current listing — exclude or verify directly before publishing.

Uptown Plaza retail — West Elm, Manor (shoes), Road Runner Sports, Urban Eyecare, Sweatshop (fitness studio), Local Nomad, Muse Apparel.

Annual Community Events

• APS Electric Light Parade — held each December, running south on Central Ave from Montebello Ave to Camelback Rd, then east
• Uptown Farmers Market — year-round (adjusted summer hours), 5757 N. Central Ave.
• Uptown Plaza seasonal promotions (retail-center events, not civic festivals): a Vitalant blood drive (January), an Easter event (spring), Movies in the Courtyard (April), Halloween trick-or-treat (October), and a holiday "Sounds of the Season" event (December)

Excluded: the "Central Avenue Jazz Festival" is in Los Angeles, not Phoenix; the Doggie Street Festival is at Steele Indian School Park, outside this corridor's Camelback–Northern boundary; the Melrose Street Fair is on 7th Ave, a different district.

Churches and Community Centers

• North Phoenix Baptist Church — Central Ave. & Bethany Home Rd.
• Brophy College Chapel (1928) — near Central Ave. & Camelback Rd.

Parks and Recreation

• Murphy's Bridle Path — a 2.65-mile (one-direction), shaded dirt path along Central Ave., originally built for equestrian use in 1948 (dedicated by the Arizona Horse Lovers Club) and now used by runners, walkers, and cyclists; unlit.

Excluded: Granada Park sits north of Northern Ave., outside this corridor's boundary. Steele Indian School Park and Colter Park lie outside or at the southern edge of the boundary — flag before including.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Uptown Phoenix and North Central Phoenix? "Uptown Phoenix" refers specifically to the commercial node at Central Avenue and Camelback Road, anchored by Uptown Plaza. "North Central Phoenix" is the broader residential corridor along Central Avenue extending north to Northern Avenue.

What is the median list price of homes in North Central Phoenix? [Pending local market data]

How long do homes typically stay on the market in North Central Phoenix? [Pending local market data]

What school district serves North Central Phoenix? The Madison Elementary School District serves this corridor; Central High School (Phoenix Union High School District) serves the area at the secondary level.

What historic districts are part of North Central Phoenix? Documented historic districts along this corridor include Medlock Place, Windsor Square, and Pierson Place.