Best "in between" climate. Not too hot, not too cold. (Phoenix: low crime, living)

[kanhawk]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

if it has to be Arizona, you may need to give a bit on some of your requests....not-so-hot places in the summer will be cold at night and early AM in the winter....and, of course, nice winter places will be warm to hot in the summer...no surprises there.....

as said, look somewhere in the 5000' to 6500' elevation range.....

if you REALLY want "in between" climate, you need to head for the ocean-side areas!

I think the 5000' range sounds pretty good. While I love the coastal areas of California, I am afraid the cost of living there would be too much for me to live comfortably. I could live there, but I would have to find someplace much more low rent than I would really want to live in.
I don't mind it a bit chilly at night in the winter, just so it warms up to at least sweater weather during the day with a lot of sun.

The Prescott area sounds interesting. I wasn't familiar with the Cottonwood area. Something definitely worth looking into.

[LordBalfor]

We're at 4,200 feet out at J-six (40 minutes SE of Tucson - just off I-10 (ie 10 minutes west of Benson) and our average summer highs for June/July/August are 93/91/88 - which is pretty similar to Sierra Vista. Our average high in Dec/Jan is 60 (overnight lows average 35/36 or so) - again not too different from Sierra Vista.

Ken

[tijlover]

The wind factor? That factor oftentimes doesn't show up on someone's radar screen until their first Nov. or Dec. and they dash out to the nearest department store, praying and hoping they have a nice warm parka or long underwear available.

Some desert nights in winter can be a real killer!

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by tijlover

The wind factor? That factor oftentimes doesn't show up on someone's radar screen until their first Nov. or Dec. and they dash out to the nearest department store, praying and hoping they have a nice warm parka or long underwear available.

Some desert nights in winter can be a real killer!

That's DEFINITELY true. Wind makes a big difference - and some of those areas (including J-six) ARE pretty windy quite often.

Ken

[GStone777]

I lived in Flagstaff for 18 years and close to Ehrenberg, Arizona for 18 years. In Flagstaff you can get a freeze in mid june and some years in Ehrenberg you may not even see freezing temperatures. If you're looking for something in between try: Prescott, Prescott Valley, Sedona, Payson, Dewey, Cottonwood (a little on the warm side), or kingman (a little on the warm side). Of all these the Payson area or Prescott area are ideal climates to live in. As for making a living, it is good to have an income source before you move. There are other areas in South-Eastern Arizona that may have good year- round climates but I haven't lived there.

[kanhawk]

Originally Posted by GStone777

Of all these the Payson area or Prescott area are ideal climates to live in. As for making a living, it is good to have an income source before you move. There are other areas in South-Eastern Arizona that may have good year- round climates but I haven't lived there.

I will look more closely at those areas. One thing I want very little of is ice and snow. If those areas get much of that, I'll go lower in elevation and put up with more summer heat. As for making a living, no problem. I'll be retired with a secure income.

[keninaz]

If medical needs are a problem for you Prescott is going to be your choice of the two. We had family experience with the ER in Payson and they are not much of a facility.
Both areas are going to get some snow. In the last 3 years we have been in Prescott it's around 30" or less a year but it just does not stay on the ground long and the city does a pretty good job of cleaning the streets. We do just fine with a front wheel drive van around town.
Go any lower than these two and you will most likely have many days over 100° so it's a trade off and we prefer the milder WX and 4 seasons.

[tijlover]

Elevation is the key to your decision, and investigating the wind factor.

I'm sold on Tucson because of the elevation, cooler days/nites in summer than Phoenix, colder nites in winter, and I can cool off in summer by going to Bisbee or Nogales. Gets too cold in winter, I'll head for Phoenix, Yuma, Lake Havasu.

I ruled out Prescott, scared off by its 5300 feet elevation, and more scared of what it's like in winter with wind and colder winter temps. Sedona, at 4500 feet, isn't a whole lot better, IMO.

When I think ideal I think Nogales/Rio Rico. 3865 feet in elevation, even cooler than Tucson in summer, but yes, look for some chillier winter nites. But don't know the wind factor for that area, may make a difference.

Kingman, at 3700 feet, sounds like it would be ideal, but I fear they get similar wicked winds that blow thru Las Vegas in the winter, which can freeze you dead in your shoes!

[adventuregurl]

I find winter in Prescott to be too cold; even Sedona feels too cold for me in the winter - especially last year, actually the last couple of years.

Cottonwood get up to more like 100 in the summer but it's winters are nicer....you might have to decide which end you want to sacrafice on.

Sounds like Prescott's summers and Cottonwood's winters would be perfect for you

[aren90]

We settled in Tucson for my husbands retirement. We love it here and find it to be the best of all worlds. The climate is mild and you can find about any temperature you want within a hour drive. I love just outside Tucson and with the help of a swimming pool We find the climate quite desirable.