Most overrated and underrated in state spot to visit or live (Tucson: middle-class, real estate)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Most overrated and underrated in state spot to visit or live
First the positive.
Most underrated spot to either live or visit is a toss up between Superior and Prescott Valley. Superior because it's still commutable to PHX yet has an awesome backdrop at the base of some beautiful mountains at a 3000 foot elevation with less extreme heat and more precipitation. Great place to invest in a fixer upper. Great SW vibe while keeping the old school roots of a mining town much like those I saw back east in PA.
Very impressed with my most recent trip to Prescott/PV. Grown a lot recently and now has enough amenities to where one doesn't need to travel to PHX for shopping needs. I was at Whiskey Row two days before the fire at The Birdcage so kind of freaky with what happened. The St Michaels Hotel seemed really neat and may book a night there so I can actually have a few drinks on whiskey row which I couldn't do last weekend. Very impressed with the development along Rte 69, albeit a lot of chains. Certainly not the undeveloped cowtown image I had of PV and Dewey-Humboldt I first saw in the 1990's. Greenery and 5000 foot elevation makes for 4 seasons and good variety without absurd cost of living.
Now the Negative.
Far and away. Flagstaff is the most overrated place to live or visit. One of my close friend's from back east is a teacher who's lived there for many years. He bought a tiny 700 sq foot condo before the bust for $150000. Still on the hook for it and is hoping to start a family being married now. I asked him if he'd be willing to take a credit hit for a couple years and walk away knowing AZ is a "No Recourse" State. He said rentals are more expensive than his mortgage in town so that is not a consideration.
Spent a night there most recently in January when I moved out here. Outside of the SF Peaks and greenery, the amenities of the city were far less than Prescott (which is half Flag's population). I'm sorry. Downtown Flagstaff near the railroad had like 2 bars and 2 restaurants. Had the worst green chili of my life at some Mexican Place near the Jiffy Lube.
At 7000 feet, 90 plus inches of snow city proper. I hate snow but don't mind it in short increments for variety which you can get without it sticking around for many days in places like Prescott and Payson at 5000 feet. I am sorry. Paying twice as much for housing there than just about everywhere in state isn't justified. Not when your "downtown" is so lacking with amenities. Great. You pay twice as much for real estate to look at the SF Peaks. Might as well invest in Williams a half hour away if that is a major part of living in Flag.
The wages do not justify the cost of living. Not unless you have a cushy government or NAU gig.
there must be a reason Flag is so popular....I think you're being a bit tough on the place....was January the only time you were there??!!!
downtown certainly has more than two bars and two restaurants....many more....and go check the place out in June, when Phoenicians happily create a 140-mile long traffic jam on I-17 each weekend....culture year-round at NAU...fantastic hiking, biking, four-wheeling....perfect summer weather
and you can't blame Flag on your friend buying at the peak or for the downturn, can you?
supply and demand means everything in housing prices...there must be a reason!....
admittedly, the town is turning a bit into a second-home kind of place....not a lot of high-paying jobs to create a strong middle-class....touristy stuff, student stuff, some Gore stuff, and everybody else doing each other's laundry, as they say.....
Prescott/PV is a great spot, I agree, but has lost a lot of that legendary hometown charm to the Californication that started years ago....decent year-round weather....great town square....and, apparently, direct flights to LAX and Denver! (see the Prescott forum!)
now, as for Superior, uhhhhhhh.....good, well-meaning populace who really hope that mine gets going, but it has a ways to go....boom and bust is no way to run a town....and it is a bit far to commute even to Mesa/AJ...yes, spectacular setting and cheap prices!....(there must be a reason!)
there must be a reason Flag is so popular....I think you're being a bit tough on the place....was January the only time you were there??!!!
downtown certainly has more than two bars and two restaurants....many more....and go check the place out in June, when Phoenicians happily create a 140-mile long traffic jam on I-17 each weekend....culture year-round at NAU...fantastic hiking, biking, four-wheeling....perfect summer weather
and you can't blame Flag on your friend buying at the peak or for the downturn, can you?
supply and demand means everything in housing prices...there must be a reason!....
admittedly, the town is turning a bit into a second-home kind of place....not a lot of high-paying jobs to create a strong middle-class....touristy stuff, student stuff, some Gore stuff, and everybody else doing each other's laundry, as they say.....
Prescott/PV is a great spot, I agree, but has lost a lot of that legendary hometown charm to the Californication that started years ago....decent year-round weather....great town square....and, apparently, direct flights to LAX and Denver! (see the Prescott forum!)
now, as for Superior, uhhhhhhh.....good, well-meaning populace who really hope that mine gets going, but it has a ways to go....boom and bust is no way to run a town....and it is a bit far to commute even to Mesa/AJ...yes, spectacular setting and cheap prices!....(there must be a reason!)
I respect your takes. I've been to Flag a few times over the years. I will be going by there enroute to the Grand Canyon on 6/2. Yes, it has the best skiing and hiking with the SF peaks, agreed. Although Mt Lemmon is pretty good too. However, the COL isn't worth it when places such as Williams have very similar scenery and is a whole lot cheaper.
I didn't really see the "Californication" in the Prescott/PV area outside of the abundance of chains throughout Rte 69. To me, Gurley and Montezuma seems to have kept their roots and looked like mostly bikers and middle aged tourists. Didn't feel too much of a So Cal vibe there. Especially inside a place like The Palace where I had lunch.Saw some militant types who looked anything but So Cal. To me, it was more SW Flavored than even Tucson from what I saw most recently there.
Superior to Scottsdale is doable if my wife wasn't reliant on the medical facilities of East Valley.I'd live there, seriously. 27 miles from Superior to AJ and the 202 isn't too bad for traffic. Maybe an hour tops to get to Scottsdale during normal business hours. Probably the worst time is dealing with the Renaissance Festival traffic on Rte 60.
Most underrated spot to either live or visit is a toss up between Superior and Prescott Valley. Superior because it's still commutable to PHX yet has an awesome backdrop at the base of some beautiful mountains at a 3000 foot elevation with less extreme heat and more precipitation. Great place to invest in a fixer upper. Great SW vibe while keeping the old school roots of a mining town much like those I saw back east in PA.
Very impressed with my most recent trip to Prescott/PV. Grown a lot recently and now has enough amenities to where one doesn't need to travel to PHX for shopping needs. I was at Whiskey Row two days before the fire at The Birdcage so kind of freaky with what happened. The St Michaels Hotel seemed really neat and may book a night there so I can actually have a few drinks on whiskey row which I couldn't do last weekend. Very impressed with the development along Rte 69, albeit a lot of chains. Certainly not the undeveloped cowtown image I had of PV and Dewey-Humboldt I first saw in the 1990's. Greenery and 5000 foot elevation makes for 4 seasons and good variety without absurd cost of living.
Now the Negative.
Far and away. Flagstaff is the most overrated place to live or visit. One of my close friend's from back east is a teacher who's lived there for many years. He bought a tiny 700 sq foot condo before the bust for $150000. Still on the hook for it and is hoping to start a family being married now. I asked him if he'd be willing to take a credit hit for a couple years and walk away knowing AZ is a "No Recourse" State. He said rentals are more expensive than his mortgage in town so that is not a consideration.
Spent a night there most recently in January when I moved out here. Outside of the SF Peaks and greenery, the amenities of the city were far less than Prescott (which is half Flag's population). I'm sorry. Downtown Flagstaff near the railroad had like 2 bars and 2 restaurants. Had the worst green chili of my life at some Mexican Place near the Jiffy Lube.
At 7000 feet, 90 plus inches of snow city proper. I hate snow but don't mind it in short increments for variety which you can get without it sticking around for many days in places like Prescott and Payson at 5000 feet. I am sorry. Paying twice as much for housing there than just about everywhere in state isn't justified. Not when your "downtown" is so lacking with amenities. Great. You pay twice as much for real estate to look at the SF Peaks. Might as well invest in Williams a half hour away if that is a major part of living in Flag.
The wages do not justify the cost of living. Not unless you have a cushy government or NAU gig.
You name Prescott Valley, and then the specifics you mention are all Prescott. I know they are close together geographically, but they are different as night and day, IMO.
I have to add that Prescott has more shopping/amenities than Flagstaff for a reason: While the city of Prescott itself is smaller, it supports a much larger metropolitan area. Flagstaff doesn't have much additional population outside the city limits, like Prescott does.
Yes, Flagstaff is expensive and good jobs are hard to come by - but it's a unique location with a vibe that you can't find anywhere else in Arizona. There are MORE than 2 bars and restaurants in downtown Flagstaff - many more. If you can't find what you want there - hit up one of Flagstaff's OTHER unique neighborhoods.
It's a great jumping off point for all of the outdoorsy things N. AZ has to offer, and that is a big part of why people like it here. There's also usually something going on, thanks to NAU - which Prescott can't offer.
No, it's not perfect - but it does has its advantages.
I have to add that Prescott has more shopping/amenities than Flagstaff for a reason: While the city of Prescott itself is smaller, it supports a much larger metropolitan area. Flagstaff doesn't have much additional population outside the city limits, like Prescott does.
Yes, Flagstaff is expensive and good jobs are hard to come by - but it's a unique location with a vibe that you can't find anywhere else in Arizona. There are MORE than 2 bars and restaurants in downtown Flagstaff - many more. If you can't find what you want there - hit up one of Flagstaff's OTHER unique neighborhoods.
It's a great jumping off point for all of the outdoorsy things N. AZ has to offer, and that is a big part of why people like it here. There's also usually something going on, thanks to NAU - which Prescott can't offer.
No, it's not perfect - but it does has its advantages.
I admittedly was predominately around the Historic 66 and Rte 89 areas of Flag most recently and didn't comb the whole town.Hadn't been through there in quite some time, late 1990s. However, I did drive through the advertised "Downtown" Area near the railroads. Again, had a heckuva time finding a place to eat after having my truck serviced. Some mexican joint along Historic 66 had the worst green chili. Maybe you can tell me the name of the place.
Think the major problem with any "suburbs" around Flag is the water table and the fact one has to haul if they don't live within the city's water supply. Whereas Prescott and PV have much better supply of aquifers not 2000 feet deep like Flag. Which explains areas like Dewey-Humboldt (Lynx Creek) and Chino Valley/Paulden (Verde) experiencing far more development.
Flag can demand high prices because everywhere between Williams and part of the way to Winslow requires hauling. That in itself is a good way to guarantee "suburban" growth is marginal if any. I'm a nature guy myself and can honestly deal with off the grid if I was single. However, 90% wouldn't want to "live in a simpler time". So since city water can only go so far, Flag reserves the right to jack up COL knowing the alternative is hauling water throughout that I 40 corridor.
I admittedly was predominately around the Historic 66 and Rte 89 areas of Flag most recently and didn't comb the whole town.Hadn't been through there in quite some time, late 1990s. However, I did drive through the advertised "Downtown" Area near the railroads. Again, had a heckuva time finding a place to eat after having my truck serviced. Some mexican joint along Historic 66 had the worst green chili. Maybe you can tell me the name of the place.
Think the major problem with any "suburbs" around Flag is the water table and the fact one has to haul if they don't live within the city's water supply. Whereas Prescott and PV have much better supply of aquifers not 2000 feet deep like Flag. Which explains areas like Dewey-Humboldt (Lynx Creek) and Chino Valley/Paulden (Verde) experiencing far more development.
Flag can demand high prices because everywhere between Williams and part of the way to Winslow requires hauling. That in itself is a good way to guarantee "suburban" growth is marginal if any. I'm a nature guy myself and can honestly deal with off the grid if I was single. However, 90% wouldn't want to "live in a simpler time". So since city water can only go so far, Flag reserves the right to jack up COL knowing the alternative is hauling water throughout that I 40 corridor.
Something else here:
Prescott area has MUCH warmer winters than Flag and the summers ain't that much hotter, at least in Prescott proper. 90 inches of snow don't turn me on cause I'm not into skiing and that thing.
Prescott area has MUCH warmer winters than Flag and the summers ain't that much hotter, at least in Prescott proper. 90 inches of snow don't turn me on cause I'm not into skiing and that thing.
It's amazing how Prescott and Payson are always much cooler than Sedona during the day despite all 3 being at about 5000 feet. The greenery certainly helps modify the extremes of Winslow which is also at 5000 feet. Wacky weather in Winslow. Gets up to 85 and drops into the high 30's at night it seems this time of year due to lack of vegetation.
It is amazing how Page,AZ has one of the least extreme climates with Lake Powell in Northern AZ. That warm man made lake has altered Page's temps in a major way. Mainly raising their low temps by many degrees. You check out temps daily, they are 15-20 degrees warmer than Winslow at night thanks to Lake Powell.
There's about 500 feet difference between Sedona and Payson, 300 between Sedona and Prescott. Those differences are apparently significant, given the differences in the vegetation, snow amounts, and temperatures.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
