Best place to live in Arizona??? (Phoenix, Flagstaff: relocating, homes, travel)

[Gretchen B]

Hey Larry - I think I'm posting to you on other threads while you're posting elsewhere. Peeples Valley is just quite a ways out if you're going to be commuting to Prescott regularly. Taking the Skull Valley route is definitely the best way to go. Possibly a little further, but definitely MUCH faster. You could end up with some snow on the roads as you climb up toward Granite Mtn.

Peeples Valley is beautiful, I think. Quite a bit hotter than the Prescott area. My guess would be that you'll be hitting 100 - 110 most summer days, but I'd check on Weather.com for the exact averages and compare that with Prescott. We've got a few Peeples Valley listings in our MLS. I would imagine Wickenburg probably handles a few listings there, too. Prices seem fairly comparable to CV & PV, but I'm far more familiar with what's available in CV, PV and Dewey-Humboldt areas. Just not a lot of inquiries for Peeples Valley and that area. I don't know if people consider it a little too remote maybe?

[FirebirdJones]

Originally Posted by Gretchen B

Hey Larry - I think I'm posting to you on other threads while you're posting elsewhere. Peeples Valley is just quite a ways out if you're going to be commuting to Prescott regularly. Taking the Skull Valley route is definitely the best way to go. Possibly a little further, but definitely MUCH faster. You could end up with some snow on the roads as you climb up toward Granite Mtn.

Peeples Valley is beautiful, I think. Quite a bit hotter than the Prescott area. My guess would be that you'll be hitting 100 - 110 most summer days, but I'd check on Weather.com for the exact averages and compare that with Prescott. We've got a few Peeples Valley listings in our MLS. I would imagine Wickenburg probably handles a few listings there, too. Prices seem fairly comparable to CV & PV, but I'm far more familiar with what's available in CV, PV and Dewey-Humboldt areas. Just not a lot of inquiries for Peeples Valley and that area. I don't know if people consider it a little too remote maybe?

Ya I am thinking the same thing. We checked the mileage on our last drive down there,,,and it was almost exactly 30 miles to Peeples from Prescott whether we took 89 or Iron Springs,,,,,But Iron Springs was much faster as you stated. I don't mind the distance, but as you said, just not sure if we want that travel time everyday or not. It was about 30 miles to Wickenburg as well,,,,so nothing real close to comute to. But I liked the area. If it snows at all on those curvy roads heading up the mountain I know my wife won't go for that
It snows alot here in SW Ohio but it's flat. She may want to concentrate more on Dewey and Humbolt and stay a little closer to Prescott,,,,she really seams to like that area alot. Thanks again.

[lindmh01]

Living in Indiana, i.e. the flattest place on earth- we have heard that at the higher elevations of Prescott and such can/will cause breathing problems, dehydration, light-headedness, etc. and that baking and cooking is more problematic as well. All three of us are relatively fit people so I don't know how much of a "problem" the breathing situation would really be, but we both really like to cook and I heard that you have to learn all over again how to cook at a higher altitude-which is not a major concern, but hey why not reach for the stars right? Especially when relocating. Does the elevation have a significant effect on people? Or am I just worrying for nothing?

[lindmh01]

Thanks for all of the info. we also have been concentrating on Yavapai County-Google Earthing the cities and surrounding areas. We also like Kingman in addition to Chino, so we are going to focus on those two areas during our tour there. We are traveling to Las Vegas in February for a birthday party and are going to check out Kingman while we are there as it is only 90 minutes or so away. Nice to see a fellow midwesterner successfully transplanted out there-we really cannot wait to move and are seriously dreading this winter! But hopefully it will be our last. Thanks again and good luck!

[FirebirdJones]

Originally Posted by lindmh01

Living in Indiana, i.e. the flattest place on earth- we have heard that at the higher elevations of Prescott and such can/will cause breathing problems, dehydration, light-headedness, etc. and that baking and cooking is more problematic as well. All three of us are relatively fit people so I don't know how much of a "problem" the breathing situation would really be, but we both really like to cook and I heard that you have to learn all over again how to cook at a higher altitude-which is not a major concern, but hey why not reach for the stars right? Especially when relocating. Does the elevation have a significant effect on people? Or am I just worrying for nothing?

I guess it could be a concern for the elderly who already have breathing problems at sea level.
I can tell you from our experience there. We live in Ohio, about 500 feet above sea level. We have been to Prescott several times house hunting and to be quite honest,,,,we don't notice any difference in the air. We get around fine, and wouldn't even be aware we were 5,000 feet up until you actually drive down a mountain side. We also went to Flagstaff which is around 7,000 feet,,,,still didn't notice anything, until you look down at the Grand Canyon and realize your 2 miles up

In all seriousness,,,we never noticed a thing, and felt just as comfortable in Prescott as we do here in Ohio.

Now as far as the cooking? Well I'm not a very good cook anyway so if I learned something new about cooking in Prescott it would probably make my wife very happy

[aj661]

Originally Posted by lindmh01

Living in Indiana, i.e. the flattest place on earth- we have heard that at the higher elevations of Prescott and such can/will cause breathing problems, dehydration, light-headedness, etc. and that baking and cooking is more problematic as well. All three of us are relatively fit people so I don't know how much of a "problem" the breathing situation would really be, but we both really like to cook and I heard that you have to learn all over again how to cook at a higher altitude-which is not a major concern, but hey why not reach for the stars right? Especially when relocating. Does the elevation have a significant effect on people? Or am I just worrying for nothing?

Yes you are. But then again, I know some people who get very worried if they have nothing to worry about...

If everyone is "fit", you shouldn't notice much of a difference. Keep in mind though, if your son wants to be a pitcher, there will be less break on curves and sliders at higher elevations. He might want to learn to throw a "knuckle curve" it has a tighter rotation and a sharper break. Batted balls also travel farther. If he works the corners, changes speeds and keeps the ball down, he should be okay.

As for you wanting to teach college, the Universities are ASU in Tempe (Phoenix suburb) and NAU in Flagstaff which is over 2000' higher than Prescott. It tends to get a little chilly in the winter. Too far to commute to either. There is one other college in Tucson, but it's even farther from Prescott than ASU and NAU.

Sorry you have a problem with warm weather. Gilbert is a great city to raise a family, not far from ASU, good schools, great parks, but you'd have to deal with the heat. Wherever you land, good luck with the move.

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by lindmh01

Thanks for all of the info. we also have been concentrating on Yavapai County-Google Earthing the cities and surrounding areas. We also like Kingman in addition to Chino, so we are going to focus on those two areas during our tour there. We are traveling to Las Vegas in February for a birthday party and are going to check out Kingman while we are there as it is only 90 minutes or so away. Nice to see a fellow midwesterner successfully transplanted out there-we really cannot wait to move and are seriously dreading this winter! But hopefully it will be our last. Thanks again and good luck!

Lindmh01 - We moved here from Nebraska about 6 yrs ago, and have not noticed the elevation at all - just makes for very nice mild AZ weather. I have heard of a few (and by that I mean I've heard of about 3, mostly elderly folks) who just could not handle the elevation. Have you ever been to Denver? If so, we're the exact same elevation here at Prescott. So if you didn't experience any negative effects when visiting Denver, then you should be fine.

As far as colleges - we have Yavapai College (a really good junior college), Prescott College (a liberal arts college), and North Central University which just opened a campus here this year. I do not know alot about their curriculum. Yavapai College is working with NAU at Flagstaff to transfer credits.

Hopes this info helps. You'll be able to tell a lot more when you come for a visit. The communities in Yavapai County are really unique. Even Prescott Valley has a whole different "vibe" compared with Prescott, compared with Chino Valley - and they're all within a 15 mile radius of each other.

I would say Prescott probably has the most "midwestern" feel of all the Yavapai County towns. I think because it's the oldest and has a historic downtown area and a number of 1890's to 1940's homes. Most areas of AZ are pretty new. For example, Prescott Valley (pop about 30k - 35k) was only 3,000 in 1981. (The town I grew up in has been the same the same population for 50 years!)

[Livewire]

I would have to say that the 'best' place would have to depend on the individual. Workwise, of course, it would probably need to be in or close to the city. But some may prefer the cooler weather in the mountainous regions, some might like the bright lights of Scottsdale at night, others might choose a very small desert niche, like Hidden Valley or something.
I liked Casa Grande and would have moved to Maricopa, if coming back to Calif wasnt an issue.

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by lindmh01

Living in Indiana, i.e. the flattest place on earth- we have heard that at the higher elevations of Prescott and such can/will cause breathing problems, dehydration, light-headedness, etc. and that baking and cooking is more problematic as well. All three of us are relatively fit people so I don't know how much of a "problem" the breathing situation would really be, but we both really like to cook and I heard that you have to learn all over again how to cook at a higher altitude-which is not a major concern, but hey why not reach for the stars right? Especially when relocating. Does the elevation have a significant effect on people? Or am I just worrying for nothing?

Re the baking and cooking thing - I tried to change the recipes for the "higher elevation", but then they flopped. I went back to doing things the normal way and don't seem to have much trouble. I think you're supposed to add a little extra flour if I remember right. I gave up on trying to make the adjustments. Just didn't work for me.

[exlexisnexis]

Chandler was listed in the top 5 places to live in AARP October edition.