Nicer place to live overall: Arizona -or- Florida ? (Phoenix, Tucson: fit in, transplants)

[Xcali]

Hubby and I lived in the Bay Area/California for many years, but felt that we couldn't afford to retire there. We made a long, careful study before relocating.
We were almost ready to move to Florida- (Clermont, Ocala or Lakeland area) and made several trips there, at different times of the year. We loved how beautiful it was, especially the water, flowers, tropical vibe and fun stuff to do. Loved fresh shrimp, grouper, Cuban food, Disneyworld, history and the amazing wildlife variety. But, we ultimately realized that for us, Arizona was the best choice. Even allowing for the lack of a state income tax, the high cost of property tax, hurricane insurance, and overall much higher maintenance costs for a home in a humid environment were deal killers. We won't miss having to deal with "lovebugs" twice a year either!
Yes, Arizona is HOT in the summer, but we cope! You tint the car windows and learn to stay out of the sun during the warmest parts of the day.
We have beautiful mountain views, sunsets, and desert landscaping that actually looks lush in some areas.
Our AZ community has swimming pools, spas, tennis, golf and a low HOA fee (under $60 a month which includes trash collection and basic cable)
We now realize that we can still visit Florida now and then, but can frequently afford to drive to San Diego for the ocean/Anaheim for Disney, since our living expense is reasonable. We can also get to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, or Mexico within a few hours' drive. HTH.

[sheena]

desert landscaping that actually looks lush in some areas.


Where is that?

[exlexisnexis]

It is indeed the fifth largest city. But its the 14 largest metro. And that does not mean anything about what to do. Florida hands down. I'm not in the minority. Since 2000 1 million people have moved into AZ while in the same period 2 million moved into Florida.

.Arizona 6,166,318 5,130,632 1,035,686 20.2
.
..Florida 18,089,888 15,982,824 2,107,064 13.2

Arizona grew by 20.2% Florida by 13.2%

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by exlexisnexis

.Arizona 6,166,318 5,130,632 1,035,686 20.2
.
..Florida 18,089,888 15,982,824 2,107,064 13.2

Arizona grew by 20.2% Florida by 13.2%

Oh my gosh! I didn't know there were that many people in Florida. 3 times the people on 1/2 the land as AZ? Plus all the snowbirds and tourists. NO THANKS!

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Oh my gosh! I didn't know there were that many people in Florida. 3 times the people on 1/2 the land as AZ? Plus all the snowbirds and tourists. NO THANKS!

Yes it is pretty bad here that is why we are on our way to Sedona!

[LivinginAZ]

Lived in both. They are both beautiful, in their own way. The Florida panhandle is the best! It is growing rapidly, but still has the best beaches! AZ has so much to offer, with Sedona, Flagstaff, The Grand Canyon, North and South Rim, as well as Havasupai Falls. Both are great! One can find negativity, drugs, and crime anywhere in this country.

[lacal]

I currently live in Massachusetts, but next year will be in Arizona for good.

I would think it's pretty simple:

1. Florida - Oceans, Disney Hot, Humidity, Hurricanes, Flat. Crowded everywhere you go.

2. Arizona - Grand Canyon Hot, warm, mountains, deserts, no hurricanes, no humidity. 80 percent of the population lives in Phoenix and Tucson and the entire state only has 5 mil.

[CoachDeb]

I have lived in FL (Tampa Bay Area) for 24 years....October until May makes me want to stay, but hurricane season (June-Nov), skyrocketing property insurance, taxes, practically non-existant "customer service" make me think the "grass may be greener" in AZ??? And, did i mention....if you have the good fortune to find a repair professional (plumber, electrition, AC, lawncare, pest control, roofer, auto mechanic, pool ) person by all means adopt them and include them in your will!

[AZ_680]

Arizona wins; because the desert is, in my opinion, much cleaner and neater looking, you don't have to worry about grass dying (unless your lawn is irrigated), and it's not nearly as expensive as living in Florida because we have no natural disasters mind an occasional dust storm.

Though Florida has beaches and Disney World, all we "zonies" have to do is make the drive up to Los Angeles to get both beaches and theme parks that are arguably better. Oh, and you can find those loved palm trees in Arizona, too.

I love both, but if I had to choose it'd be Arizona.

[Jimrob1]

I would decide this way. Florida and Arizona have little in common other than they are deep in the sunbelt states. Living in Arizona if its to be the Phoenix or Tucson area, which is where the majority go, one has to like the desert, no way around that fact. If your someone that needs the ocean or water in general you may not care for the place. Also Phoenix for one is a huge sprawled out area that goes on an on without ever stopping it seems, you may have more driving than you could bargain for just to live there. Florida, you have the water, and you have numerous metro areas to choose from. Unfortunately in Fla you have higher prices to deal with and natural disasters, which actually are not all that frequent, there was just a rash of them in recent years. I would choose by what area was going to be easier for employment, that may very well be Phoenix, but like I said you have to like the desert and mobs of people driving mile after mile to go anywhere. Its something like an inland Los Angeles getting more so with each passing year. Its a difficult choice when relocating, sometimes it feels like even in this big country there are not alot of options for a number of reasons.