According to the Town of Buckeye Community Development Department, the Municipal Planning Area (MPA) is 591.69 square miles. Approximately 400 square miles has been annexed into the town limits. At its widest points, this MPA extends 48 miles from north to south and 24 miles east to west. It borders the planning areas of Wickenburg to the north; Surprise, Glendale, and Goodyear to the east; and Gila Bend to the south. To the west is the unincorporated area known as Tonopah.

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,537 people, 2,158 households, and 1,624 families residing in the town. The population density was 44.8 people per square mile (17.3/km²). There were 2,344 housing units at an average density of 16.1/sq mi (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.54% White, 3.37% Black or African American, 1.71% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 19.34% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.65% of the population.

There were 2,158 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,383, and the median income for a family was $39,194. Males had a median income of $32,357 versus $24,901 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,627. About 16.2% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

The original Buckeye was built around downtown's main street, Monroe Avenue. There are currently nearly 30 master planned communities planned for Buckeye, and almost 400,000 single-family units have been approved. In just six of those developments, more than a quarter-million homes are planned.

Current master planned communities under development in which homes are occupied include Sundance, Verrado, Westpark, Tartesso and Festival Ranch.

Other unbuilt planned communities within Buckeye include Douglas Ranch (planned for nearly 300,000 inhabitants), Sun Valley Villages, Spurlock Ranch, Trillium, Elianto, Westwind, Silver Rock, Sienna Hills, Henry Park, Southwest Ranch and Montierre.

Sundance Towne Center, a shopping center developed by Vestar Development, is located at the northeast corner of Watson Road and Yuma Road and opened in 2007. Buckeye Parkway Center, under development by Sunbelt Holdings is the next major shopping center planned in Buckeye and is located at the southeast corner of Verrado Way and Interstate 10.

A popular recreation destination in Buckeye is the Buckeye Hills Recreation Area. It is located 7 miles south of downtown Buckeye on State Route 85 (at mile marker 144). It contains camping, picnic areas, hiking trails, and a shooting range. The recreation area is part of the Maricopa County Regional Park program, while the shooting range is managed by the Buckeye Sportsman Club. A 900 acre Buckeye lake is planned, but no word when it break ground.