Thinking of moving to Arizona. Suggestions?

Question

I'm graduating with my Masters degree to teach Spanish, and I'd like to teach ESL as well. I have a daughter who will be 4 years old at the time of the move. I hate winter so I'm looking to move somewhere where I don't have to deal with the snow, and the desert seems like a good place. Does anyone have any suggestions about areas of Arizona that would be good for me and my daughter? I don't want to live around a bunch of older people or college kids, though I don't care about the illegals as long as it's not a high crime rate where they're at.

Answer 1

Come visit for a while and get a feeling for the city. It is very spread out. If you want a city feeling the Central part is good, from downtown and west of I-17 north. Suburbs...The east suburbs (Chandler/Gilbert) are safe, but boring. Tempe, I find to be a good mix but ASU is there. Mesa avoid. Scottsdale is pricey and attitude. As far as the West I really do not go there, so I'm not going to comment on them. The south has Ahwatukee which is pretty nice, but sleepy. It depends on where you are coming from also. You have to know if you are looking for a city experience for you and your daughter, or a suburb.Either way enjoy. Phoenix is great!

Answer 2

its worth it to ck out Prescott, Prescott Valley area.  Te winters are mild, very little or no snow.  warm days, cool or cold nights in winter.  90's all summer, with nights around 70's or upper 60's.  Its worth the time to ck it out.  Alot of spanish speaking people and even illegals.  At least they want to work, hehehehe.  I don't mind them.  Very low crime rate, and more and more things to do for kids.  and an excellent place to be around Christmas time for the kids.  Email me for more details.

Answer 3

Do not move here!

But you if you just have to, I agree Prescott is very nice.

We already have lots of people who know Spanish!

Sorry pal, illegals = high crime.

Yesterday a car was stopped on I-17, they ran all over the freeway and people hit them.

Drop houses busted everyday.

Arizona has lots of "older people" so you might also look into Kingman or Flagstaff.

Our schools have head lice problems also.

Answer 4

Well, if you want to avoid older people and snowbirds steer clear of  East Mesa and Apache Junction. Gilbert and Chandler are really nice cities, with lots of shopping and affordable living. Stay away from the parts of Tempe near ASU, but south Tempe is nice, but Tempe is a little more expensive. Scottsdale is also very nice, but much more expensive.

Answer 5

My first suggestion is come down to Phoenix for a few days right now that it's hot. This way you get a good taste of what it's like in the summer time. But if you're visting from a cooler place, I think it's a mind thing to. If you have somewhere cooler to go back to, it seems even hotter then it really is here. I moved here thinking I'd only be here 4 years for college, and it's 15 years now, so I guess you get used to the heat. Prescott is only 1 1/2 from Phx and it kind of reminds me of home, it's a lot cooler and they even get light snow in the winter. But if you want to live in the big city, Phoenix is the place. Tempe is college town, so you might stay clear of that town, but all the surrounding areas like Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek are really nice and family oriented. Scottsdale (dubbed Snobsdale) is where the big money makers, movie stars and sports althletes live. The North West Valley has a lot of good schools and nice communities to.

You might want to avoid South and West Phoenix, and some parts of the lower central and east phx areas.

http://www.azcentral.com/relocation/relo...

http://livinginprescottaz.com/prescott-a...

http://www.city-data.com/city/Peoria-Ari...

http://chandler-arizona-living.com/

http://www.arizona-leisure.com/phoenix-l...

http://www.phoenixasap.com/south-mountai...