Chandler Apartments and Rentals

Apartments and other rentals are plentiful in Chandler, AZ, thanks to the city's explosive growth since the 1990s. The city is located south of Mesa and southeast of Tempe, and is considered a suburb of Phoenix. Once a quiet agricultural community, today Chandler is much more diverse, offering a little something for everyone.

Chandler was founded by and named for Dr. Alexander Chandler, who was the first veterinary surgeon in the Arizona territory. He began with a purchase of 80 acres south of Mesa. Within 10 years, he owned a ranch with 18,000 acres. The Salt River was the main water source for the community and other local settlements, but its flow could vary widely, making it somewhat undependable. As a result, landowners were limited to only enough water to irrigate 160 acres. This led Dr. Chandler to subdivide his ranch, set up a townsite map and begin selling off his acreage in 1912. The town was officially incorporated in 1920.

Chandler grew slowly and steadily throughout most of the 20th century. But since 1980, it has positively boomed, from about 30,000 residents to nearly 240,000 today! Maybe somewhat surprisingly, agriculture is still an important part of the city's economy. Yet, it also has diversified to include manufacturing and electronics.

Popular neighborhoods in Chandler include: Golden Keys East, Old Downtown Chandler, Amberwood North, Mission Valley and San Marcos Estates.

With its close proximity to Phoenix, Tempe and other nearby cities, a number of residents likely commute to jobs. Yet, the city has plenty of job opportunities of its own. Manufacturing and electronics have played an important part in the city's recent growth with those industries providing many local jobs. Among the top employers are Intel, Verizon Wireless, Microchip Technology and others. Banking, healthcare and government make up the remainder of the top industries for employment.

For higher education, the Chandler-Gilbert Community College services 13,000 students at its campus near the Gilbert border. Just 14 miles away in Tempe is Arizona State University (ASU). It is the largest public university in the country with an enrollment of about 70,000 students.

The cost of living in Chandler is just slightly above the average for the country, and is in line with the Phoenix metro area. Apartments and other rentals are generally quite affordable in Chandler. Starting rents on one-bedroom apartments are between $550 and $600 a month, depending on location, size and amenities. Rents on two-bedroom apartments start at about $650. Even the more "upscale" rentals adjacent to golf courses or a lake are reasonably priced with one-bedrooms renting for $790 to $1,000 monthly. Chandler also offers a nice selection of condos, townhomes and single family homes for rent.

Although many consider Chandler just another bedroom community, the city has plenty to offer when looking for something to do. The city is ripe with chain eateries, coffee shops and local & pop restaurants. For performances, there's the 1,500 seat Chandler Center for the Arts in downtown. For history and train buffs, there's the Arizona Railway Museum at Tumbleweed Park.

Tumbleweed Park itself is an outdoor attraction. Its 205 acres host not only the railway museum and many community events, but also a tennis center, recreation center, outdoor fitness area, an indoor exercise studio, a computer lab, preschool programs, and a staffed day-care for parents using the tennis courts or recreation center. It also features Playtopia, a 2.5 acre play and picnic area with 18 pavilions.

Chandler holds a number of special events throughout the year for residents and visitors alike. The Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park is a three-day event based on the city's early history of ostrich ranching. The event includes a parade, fun run and family festival. The Annual Fourth of July Independence Day Celebration at Tumbleweed Park with live music, a kids carnival, and a fireworks display is another popular event. The Annual Summer Splash in downtown encourages families to learn about water safety while staying cool in the summer weather. The Downtown Chandler Art Walk held periodically features art from many different local artists in various mediums. And the Chandler Indian Art Market is held in collaboration with the Miss Indian Arizona Program and features entertainment, food and authentic Native American Art.

If you are looking to make Chandler your new home, or just looking for a new home in Chandler, you can search for rental properties, including apartments and homes at Rent.com®.