Show Low
Show Low AZ, at an average elevation of 6,200’-6400’, is the largest City in the general White Mountain region, spanning roughly 65 square miles. Expect about a 3 to 3.5 hour drive from the Phoenix Valley. You’ll find four seasons with mild winters and cool summers. The pleasant summer temperatures usually range 20-30° cooler than the Phoenix Valley. Although Show Low is still a small town of about 12,000 people, it is growing rapidly due to the mountain vibe. During the summer months, the population can easily double from the influx of visitors to our area.
Show Low has a wide range of topography. You can find flat, high-desert areas with Juniper and Pinon pines in areas like Linden, Show Low Bluff, and White Mountain Lakes. Alternatively, you can also buy in the more expensive Ponderosa pine trees. You’ll find great communities like Torreon, Sierra Pines, Snow Creek, and Pine Oaks with soaring pine trees and land that can be flat, rolling or even sloped.
Show Low has a little bit of everything. You can find apartment living, condos/townhomes, manufactured homes, starter homes, modest cabins and multi-million dollar homes. It is also our larger commercial area with a Safeway, Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, JC Penney, Cal Ranch, Boot Barn, Tractor Supply and more. You’ll find both sit-down dining and fast food restaurants.
Torreon
While Torreon is in Show Low at about 6,200’ elevation, it is a lifestyle of its own. Torreon is a master-planned community of approximately 1500 acres of Ponderosa pine trees with condos/townhomes, small cabins, modest homes, as well as multi-million-dollar luxury homes, and lots to build your own custom home. Most neighborhoods within Torreon are gated. Do you want amenities, you’ve found it. Torreon is a premier community with 2 Troon development 18-hole championship golf courses, a clubhouse, 2 restaurants, heated pool, hot tub, fitness center, family center, playground, pickle ball, tennis, basketball, volleyball, catch and release pond, 24/7 security and more.
Pinetop-Lakeside
Pinetop and Lakeside joined forces in 1984. Although the 2020 census shows the population around 4,000 residents, I’m sure this number has increased significantly. After covid, with many people working from home, they fled the city to live in the mountains. The average elevation is 6800’, but there are areas over 7200’. Pinetop-Lakeside is likely to get more snow and slightly cooler temperatures than Show Low. The majority of Pinetop-Lakeside is covered with Ponderosa pine trees. While it could take 3.5 to 4 hours to get from the Phoenix Valley to this area, it is only about 5-10 minutes to Hon-Dah Casino or 35-45 minutes to Sunrise Park Resort for skiing.
Like Show Low, you can find about any type of housing you are looking for. On average, however, the houses tend to be older, with many homes built in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s & 80’s. Some have been updated while others haven’t. Once upon a time, Pinetop-Lakeside was a very remote area with scattered, smaller homes built in the early days for day trips to the mountains for fishing and hiking. Of course, with the added growth of the community, you can also find newer homes and land to build your home.
Pinetop Country Club
Pinetop Country Club, with Pinetop Lakes Country Club, and Pinetop Lakes Association, is a master-planned community in Pinetop that most people think of when they think of Pinetop. While the 18-hole executive golf course is a draw, many people visit the clubhouse, restaurant or play pickle ball or tennis. If you live within the Pinetop Lakes Association (inside the Country Club), you have access to a separate recreational facility with a heated pool, spa and fitness equipment. This community is almost exclusively covered in Ponderosa pine trees and also has housing options from condos to cabins, and older homes to brand new luxury homes.
Linden & Pinedale
Linden is technically an unincorporated area with a Show Low zip code. It is just a few miles west of Show Low on Hwy 260. You’ll find acreage properties in meadow areas or with Juniper and Ponderosa pine trees, anywhere from 6200’ to over 6500’. Linden is primarily a residential area with around 2,300 residents.
A few miles further west, around 6500’, you’ll find Pinedale, which is also unincorporated, but does have its own zip code. Pinedale was established in the late 1800’s and has Arizona’s only covered bridge open to vehicular traffic. Pinedale is a small town with maybe 500-600 residents.
Both areas can offer more affordable living by driving just a few miles west of Show Low.
Snowflake & Taylor
You will find the towns of Snowflake and Taylor about 15 minutes north of Show Low on Hwy 77. Snowflake was settled by Mormon pioneers, Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake in 1878. Snowflake was officially incorporated in 1948 and the name was created by blending the founder’s names. Taylor has a similar story and was founded by the Mormon settler James Pearce in 1878 as well. The town was named after John Taylor, the 3rd President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and incorporated in 1966.
From Show Low, you’ll arrive in Taylor first. Today, it has around 4,200 residents. The town flows right into Snowflake, which is growing rapidly and currently has around 6,700 residents. Both communities are located at about 5,700’ elevation. You will not find too many Ponderosa pine trees in these areas, and with the lower elevations, it will be slightly warmer than Show Low, with a bit less snow.
Some residents pick this area due to the quaint, old-town feel of these communities, while others want to be close to Show Low and Pinetop, while enjoying slightly milder winters and more affordable housing prices. While the communities are small, they do have a Walmart and Bashas for grocery shopping as well as several options for dining.
Vernon
Vernon is a very small town, primarily residential, of about 225-250 residents. The elevation is close to 7000’. Although you will find some Ponderosa pines, tall, mature Juniper trees heavily populate the community. Most residential lots are going to be an acre or more, likely with some slope and very few HOA areas. You’ll also find that most of the neighborhoods are exclusively on dirt roads, some maintained better than others.
Due to the higher elevation, you will likely have a bit more snow, and temperatures can be slightly cooler than Show Low. Vernon is still very close to Show Low, only about 15 minutes, and the homes, with larger lots, are generally more affordable. If you want some peace and quiet at a reasonable price, Vernon may be what you are looking for.
Heber-Overgaard
If you are in search of a small, mountain town, with primarily mom and pop shops and restaurants, and desire a quicker commute from the Valley, Hever-Overgaard might be your spot. Heber was originally settled in 1883, and Overgaard didn’t arrive until 1936. Due to their adjacent location, the community merged, much like Pinetop-Lakeside. Most residents of this area do their primary shopping and medical services in Show Low, so while you may save travel time (30-45 minutes closer than Show Low) arriving at your destination, you have to be ready to travel further for the errands. Heber-Overgaard reaches approximately 6600’ elevation, with tall Ponderosa pine trees, and has an average population of around 3,000-3,300.