How do you like Flagstaff? (Phoenix, Prescott: transplants, sales, leases)

[Blue Sky]

Very true! I lived ther for 8 years and finally wised up and moved to Spokane. Much more bang for your buck here.

[MTbound]

I lived in Flagstaff for 4 years and would go back in a minute if I thought I could sustain a living. We left only because of the cost of living.

[Arctic Fox]

Flagstaff. Jobs there will pay for your rent, food or car insurance. Not all three. Not even two. If you can stand roommates, stuff 6 in a three bedroom apartment and they might be able to save enough money to go to Jack in the Box.

Up there it's not what you know or how good a job you can do - it's who you know and who's rump can you kiss. Save what you can as fast as you can because layoffs are a comin'.

I used to be one of those transients. I moved to Flag with $300 and a sleeping bag. Slept up on Mars Hill and worked day labor until I saved enough money for an apartment. Got a job as a maintenance supervisor for $10/hr which paid the rent, but I walked to work and ate noodles or burritos every day. I (barely) lived up there for 4 years before calling it quits.

[tizherself]

Quick question, sorry if it seems silly.
I definately have picked up on the fact that Flagstaff is pricey. Can I ask, do any of you think it's expensive for the region, or do you think it's expensive even compared to So Calif? Would someone moving from the Palm Springs area (also a resort town)think it a better move financially, or just as bad, if not worse?

[CaroleEr]

I;ve been here since 1985 and the crap that my family has to have
indured to live here, brings me to tears sometimes. Yes the schools
suck, yes the cost of housing is to high (especially for the working
people), yes everything you buy here is more than if purchased in
Phoenix, and God forbid you attempt to start a competiting business
for the Home boys will make sure your out in no time. ( After they
have picked your brain and emptied ypur wallet. And least but not
least don't get ill here, for I think they come here to get expierance or
something, I just recently went in for elective surgery, which was to
be an over night stay and ended up getting perionitis and spending 41
days, most of it in ICU. I've been told that I'm not alone. Just remember
there is only 1 hospital up here and the Vets hospital is in Prescott and
Phoenix,etc.
Really think about whether it really is greener on the other side.

[jaywise65]

To anyone considering a move to Flagstaff. The town is an awful place to live. It has nothing to offer.

Stay away!!

[SW1]

Flagstaff is expensive and the wages are low, but you will find that pretty much anywhere in Arizona (this is a conservative state).

The people in Flagstaff are cool and laid back. Flag has awesome restaurants, hiking trails, geological wonders, farmer's markets, urban trails and funky stores; and it is very close to Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Prescott, and the Grand Canyon. It is the only place, other than Bisbee, where you feel connected to the community and constantly run into friends on the street while walking around town.

People actually spend time outside of their home!

When I lived in Flag, my apartment (a 100+ year old former boarding house/brothel ) was between the NAU campus and downtown, so I rarely had to drive to get around, with the exception of the grocery store and movie theatre.

If you can afford it, Flagstaff is the best place to live in Arizona. But make sure you plan before heading up there (i.e. job and housing) - sometimes the people can be too laid back and getting a job may take a lot longer than usual (especially if you have a specific position in mind).

[g- arizona]

Flagstaff is a great place to live- providing you have the means to support yourself. Major employers are NAU, FMC (Flagstaff Medical Center) and WL Gore and Associates (Medical Products Division).
There are some wonderful family neighborhoods (which is where we live). We've been here just over 5 years- from east coast.
It's great to have 4 seasons w/o the intensity of cold or heat. Hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding- gotta love it.
Travel to and from here can be annoying- but the airport is expanding so it'll become easier over time.

[betsyvee]

Yes Flagstaff is a beautiful place to live. Whoever wrote about how Boulder is better is crazy. I lived in Boulder for 6 years. Whenever you would say hi to someone on the trails they would think you were crazy. It was a relatively unfriendly town to say the least. As far as its beauty they are both beautiful in very different ways, so it is silly to say one is more beautiful. The housing prices are double what they are in Flag hands down with rents in the $2000's for a meager 3 bed 2 bath and small tiny houses for 500K and up. I do want to know if anyone can tell me specifically the "bad" parts of town and what to expect in the way of crime as I am still relatively new to the area.

[silverjet]

I lived in Flagstaff about three years ago for six months. Overall I found it to be a rather friendly city. Downtown isn't huge by any means but there are some good restaurants and shops to go to. There are some decent nightlife offerings considering the town's size. It's a great place to live if you are into the outdoors. There are many opportunities in and around the area to enjoy the wilderness. That's really the main draw of living and visiting here. The city also has a mall and places like Target, Walmart, etc available.

Someone made a remark about the weather in Flag. Well, if you want a place that's consistently warm all year, go to Phoenix or something. Don't move to a town that's 6000+ feet above sea level. I mean, really. It got pretty cold during winter evenings, but I found the weather really pleasant compared to what I was dealing with before.

Housing prices are high, and renting a decent place isn't possible for many unless you have at least one roommate. The number and quality of jobs available is a big issue. I agree with SW1 that you shouldn't move up here unless you already had a job and housing secured.