How do you like Flagstaff?

[ahleesejo]

We've been in Flag for 6 months now, renting. Our 3 br/2 ba house outside the city runs $1400/month plus abt $150-200 for utilities. It is nice, but nothing special. It does have a fab view of the SF peaks and is near hiking. I am a nurse, and we get by, but there isn't much left over to save up to buy. My kids are in middle school and I find the school system to be better than the last school they attended, but not great. The schools seem fixated on dress code, tardiness, and testing with much less emphasis on learning or reaching out to students.
Socially, the town is a mixed bag. Have met very superficially friendly folks, but no real friends. There is a big emphasis on how long you have lived here and the answer you give seems to put you in one caste or another.
The town seems pretty taken with itself. The old guard maintains that everything here is just fine, when its obvious that there are huge economic and social issues. The streets are in terrible shape, and snow removal is hit and miss. The town perceives itself as environmentally friendly, but sidewalks are not cleared, forcing pedestrians into the streets, which aren't cleared all that well. There are a lot of conflicting images here. That said, I do like Flagstaff and plan to stay, even if it means renting. Agree with prior posters' suggestions to do a cost comparison prior to moving here.

[Patrick754]

Originally Posted by ahleesejo

The town seems pretty taken with itself.

That's pretty hilarious, and true. I don't really get it though. If you want to live in a western mountain town there are so many better choices than Flagstaff.

[g- arizona]

re weather
we've had 5 ft of snow fall since beginning of January- we definately have 4 seasons. Winter varies- this year lots of precip and cold temps.

[bstree]

re: above comment on time lived in Flagstaff being a caste system . Here is why - this town is so transient that many of us who have been here for 10+ years won't really bother to engage newbies as friends since "we know" they will be gone before too long. I am this way, though I hate to be, it is a lesson hard learned, over and over. If someone I am befriending doesn't appear fully committed to FLG, then I don't bother because it takes dedication and perseverance to make it here.

[JennieJenofAz]

It's so expensive! How do the people make it? Enquiring minds want to know! And, a friend of my husband's compared Flagstaff to Missoula Montana! Can you believe it?! Missoula! I was there in Missoula and I can't see any resemblance at all! Missoula is absolutely gorgeous, that I laughed my a$$ off at the comparison! There isn't any! I agree with the other poster about there being better mountain towns than Flagstaff! Hello! Idaho, Montana, Colorado............Flagstaff?