Is Prescott Right For Us? (Flagstaff, Prescott Valley: jobs, health, housing)

[JadedStone]

I've read both negative and positive posts about the Prescott area. While there is no perfect place I do think Prescott is the only place in AZ I would consider moving to. My Father grew up in Flagstaff and I grew up in Colorado. It's just me and my two kiddos for now. We are of multi-cultural background. Black/Asian/German/NativeAmerican. I do know the Demographics of Prescott and it's not a real concern that there are not that many people of color although there are 49% Latinos which is great to me. I'm more concerned about how we will be treated. I have a good education in Cisco and AutoCad.

Some people say the public school system is excellent some say it sucks I would like to know the truth. I'm 26 and there seems to be a good number of people in their 20's there. I went to Myspace to check out the people in the area and it seems the young people like to party and a lot of the teenagers are pregnant or have kids? Not that that matters either because I'd much rather be in a kid friendly town than live in SoCal where I've lived for a year now.

The traffic in Prescott cannot come even close to Los Angeles so I don't know what people are complaining about in a town of 40,000. I don't mind the small town I prefer it because after living in the L.A. area I just don't care for millions of people invading the city anymore.

So tell me honestly without all the trivial stuff about traffic, shopping, etc. how Prescott really is. Moderator cut: offensive I just want to live somewhere where I won't get many stares and live my life in peace.

[JadedStone]

Thanks it does help and I hope you don't mind me using "country" as I was a "country" girl at one time too. I'm just so sick of L.A. and all their trivial small minded B.S. Colorado is very clean too so I can relate to that. Man after living in L.A. for a year I have a greater appreciation for cities that respect the enviornment because L.A. is one of the most unclean cities. I'm a really nice person and my kids are well mannered and just overall great kids. We just don't fit in all the "nastiness" of L.A. Prescott here we come!

[collected_eve]

Everyone does seem to have their different opinions on Prescott. I don't pull out the negative over the positive, but I do hear alot of complaining about this area & not many compliments.
Jobs in Prescott are few and far between, the kids here do have a problem, in my opinion they don't have much to do. I work in the recovery field & I see a large number of teenagers & even some nearing their teenage years that are hooked on meth & beyond. Drugs are everywhere, lets face it, but in this small of a community, it's a big deal.
Traffic is bad. Compared to LA, I'm sure you are thinking, "Big whoop!" But there are not many turnoffs if you get stuck in a jam. So, the only option is to set & slowly move forward. Aggravating in my opinion.
I don't know much about the schools, I have a toddler. The 2 preschools that he has went to have poor systems. Not nearly as updated & efficient as the school he went to in Missouri, but whatever.
And like a post I've made a while back, doctors here are very hard to come by, or at least one accepting new patients. For children, they are plentiful, but that's it.
The good things I've experienced: the beauty here.
But like I said, Arizona or at least Prescott, is like that really pretty girl that you meet & then you get to know her. Not so charming anymore...
Good luck.

[JadedStone]

Lol yeah I hear you on all of the issues but have you ever been to Los Angeles or Colorado? I had read about the Santa Monica school district being top notch and it turns out it couldn't have been further from the truth. All of Southern California schools just suck. Colorado has a big drug problem too; Meth is their drug of choice too. I thought that the teenagers looked like they just love to party and do drugs which is of big concern to me. So many of them were preggo on Myspace. But I'm an entrpreneur too and I think if anything bringing in things for them to do and drug prevention programs would help.

Yeah I don't know what to say about the traffic. It's bad everywhere. I personally just stay off the roads during rush hour and take all the shortcuts I know. I still don't think it could come even close to the nightmare of traffic I've seen in L.A. I live near the freeway and sometimes I just look at the traffic from my window and it literally scares the sh** out of me to see so many cars jam packed on that little highway. I think the weight alone could just send it falling.

Healthcare also is a disaster in Southern California. I've switched Doctors more times than my panties, which I do everyday by the way, and it's frustrating. I suspect that if anything a Doctor that heads up to Prescott to open up a clinic would do very well.

Ha Ha. Yeah I had that same feeling about L.A. once. I was thrilled to have made it hear and once I got to "really" know it was like I had sailed out to a beautiful Island and then realized I was surrounded by Sharks and they ripped boat to shreds and so I had to build another one to get the he** out.

[scottdavis]

My comments from someone who lived there for over 12 years:

I wouldnt move there. Negatives: Overpriced housing. High cost of living. City laws driving Mexicans back to Mexico. Bad good old boy politicians. Very, very bad school district. (no new schools in over 25 years) AND 49TH IN THE US. Lots of very rich (retirees) or very poor(families), No jobs except enrty level food service. If you have a degree you can get hired for 10 bucks an hour, Looming water problems. Drought and brown except for August monsoon. Positives: Weather and beautiful downtown and mountains to the west of town. Cheap taxes.

I do know the Demographics of Prescott and it's not a real concern that there are not that many people of color although there are 49% Latinos which is great to me. I'm more concerned about how we will be treated. I have a good education in Cisco and AutoCad.

Some people say the public school system is excellent some say it sucks I would like to know the truth. (VERY, VERY BAD) I'm 26 and there seems to be a good number of people in their 20's there. (ONLY IN PRESCOTT VALLEY AND NO ONE HAS ANY MONEY)

I went to Myspace to check out the people in the area and it seems the young people like to party and a lot of the teenagers are pregnant or have kids? (YOU GOT THAT RIGHT)

(Not that that matters either because I'd much rather be in a kid friendly town than live in SoCal where I've lived for a year now.

The traffic in Prescott cannot come even close to Los Angeles so I don't know what people are complaining about in a town of 40,000. I don't mind the small town I prefer it because after living in the L.A. area I just don't care for millions of people invading the city anymore. (STAY AWAY DURING TOURIST SEASON. THEY CALL IT EVERYBODYS HOMETOWN), except those who live there!

Moderator cut: orphaned content

[azhiker]

The place has beautiful scenery and terrific weather, though housing prices are, as you point out, high. Still, much lower than SoCal, where you're coming from, to be sure.

I'm curious about "city laws are driving Mexicans back to Mexico". Either a place enforces existing laws or it does not. Sounds like a nice place if it is, in fact, for rule of law. I strongly suspect that if one is there legally, and obeys laws, they'd have absolutely nothing to fear, or have any cause to move elsewhere just because of their Mexican heritage.

The post above is replete with code speak (good old boy politicians, ... essentially negative code about whites).

Moderator cut: orphaned

[JadedStone]

ScottDavis thanks for your very honest point of view. Although I don't consider a housing market with homes for under $250,000 expensive. I'm confused about when people say Prescott has over priced homes. I've been on so many realtors websites and it's total opposite. Maybe there is an expensive area in Prescott. I have my own businesses so I'm not worried about jobs in Prescott I freelance computer work for people all around the country and I have another biz. I'm better off in AZ than in TX.

Moderator cut: personal

[VLWH]

I'm curious where you get the stat of 49%? Last city data stats show it at approx 8%.

Moderator cut: personal

Originally Posted by JadedStone

I do know the Demographics of Prescott and it's not a real concern that there are not that many people of color although there are 49% Latinos which is great to me.

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[JadedStone]

Originally Posted by VLWH

I'm curious where you get the stat of 49%? Last city data stats show it at approx 8%.

But since your much more comfortable with hispanics then whites, try East L.A.

If you must know I looked the demographics up on Wikipedia. Moderator cut: rude

[VLWH]

Where in my statement do I mention my disdain towards hispanics? My comment was based on your statement, "49% Latinos which is great to me".
Your comment seems to say your happier with a higher population of hispanics, so I figured you might be happier where a high conectration resides. You will not find that in Prescott (in spite of your wikipedia search), the number is closer to 8%. This is based on city data and from actually spending time in Prescott.

Originally Posted by JadedStone

If you must know I looked the demographics up on Wikipedia. Since you probably live in Watts or Palmdale I'm guessing East LA would be a utopia to you. If you have a problem with Latinos why not try Russia or South Africa I'm sure you'd find more people who think like you.
Better yet go to Iceland or Alaska and you wouldn't have to deal with much of anything or anybody.