Good places to raise a child in AZ (Phoenix, Chandler: crime, how much)

[odinloki1]

I saw this article

Best Places to Raise Your Kids, 2007 - BusinessWeek

and I noticed that there were no Arizona or California cities on this list.
I know that many of these articles can be arbitrary in terms of their measurement but as I looked through this I thought that there really isn't anywhere in AZ that I'd want to raise a family.

Is there somewhere in AZ that you think is good? Why? It can't just be schools, there needs to be a bit more to it. If not, what do you think Arizona lacks?

My opinion is the cost of living is artificially inflated by the huge migration of retirees and salaries have not risen along with it and as a result parents work harder and don't see their kids. There iss also no sense of community, neighbors never talk to one anotther, they jusst hide in their houses all day long.

I'd love to hear other opinions, particularly if you lived in other places and have a basis for comparison.

[silverbear]

Lists like this are pretty silly, and I usually ignore them. Most of the places named in this list are small towns outside of metro areas. Towns like that are relatively uncommon in Arizona. It seems that the compilers of this list chose criteria that favor small towns. That makes for an interesting list because, as the author acknowledges, it favors places that most readers have never heard of. Nevertheless, it's not a very practical list because few of these places have the economic opportunities needed to make them viable relocation targets. Most readers will look at this list, become wistful that they can't live in Mayberry, and then go back to their real lives, which often require living in large metro areas.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by odinloki1

I saw this article

Best Places to Raise Your Kids, 2007 - BusinessWeek

and I noticed that there were no Arizona or California cities on this list.
I know that many of these articles can be arbitrary in terms of their measurement but as I looked through this I thought that there really isn't anywhere in AZ that I'd want to raise a family.

Is there somewhere in AZ that you think is good? Why? It can't just be schools, there needs to be a bit more to it. If not, what do you think Arizona lacks?

My opinion is the cost of living is artificially inflated by the huge migration of retirees and salaries have not risen along with it and as a result parents work harder and don't see their kids. There iss also no sense of community, neighbors never talk to one anotther, they jusst hide in their houses all day long.

I'd love to hear other opinions, particularly if you lived in other places and have a basis for comparison.

Maybe it's just too hot, or maybe it's the block walls in the backyards which I will admit I love.

Personally I think they let the illegals run the state.

[Boatdrinks]

All those places are in the boonies! Geez, I'd go nutso living in some boondock town in Nebraska. Yeah, maybe you can get a cheap house and there's not much crime, but what are people going to do for a living there? How much money will they make? Not much, which means they probably can't afford to take vacations to places where their kids will be exposed to something other then boondock, NE. There's a lot more to life then growing up in some isolated bubble in the middle of nowhere. That's not to say that many families wouldn't love living in places like that, and the kids would turn out fine. I'm just saying that it's not the way I'd want to live. After living in major east coast cities for so long, I've had a hard enough time just adjusting to the Phoenix area. I can't imagine moving to the places on that list.

As for good places to raise kids in AZ, I think Gilbert and Chandler are great places. Gilbert made national news last year as an excellent place to live and raise kids.

I do agree with Sheena though, that the illegals are having a tremendous negative impact on this state which effects raising kids here. Course, according to their advocates, me saying that makes me a racist so keep that in mind when reading my comments

[ILoveAZ]

Originally Posted by Boatdrinks

All those places are in the boonies! Geez, I'd go nutso living in some boondock town in Nebraska. Yeah, maybe you can get a cheap house and there's not much crime, but what are people going to do for a living there? How much money will they make? Not much, which means they probably can't afford to take vacations to places where their kids will be exposed to something other then boondock, NE. There's a lot more to life then growing up in some isolated bubble in the middle of nowhere. That's not to say that many families wouldn't love living in places like that, and the kids would turn out fine. I'm just saying that it's not the way I'd want to live. After living in major east coast cities for so long, I've had a hard enough time just adjusting to the Phoenix area. I can't imagine moving to the places on that list.

As for good places to raise kids in AZ, I think Gilbert and Chandler are great places. Gilbert made national news last year as an excellent place to live and raise kids.

I do agree with Sheena though, that the illegals are having a tremendous negative impact on this state which effects raising kids here. Course, according to their advocates, me saying that makes me a racist so keep that in mind when reading my comments

I agree with this post.

I live in Gilbert and think it's an ideal place to raise kids. Just this past weekend almost our entire street was out putting decorations on our houses. We'd stop to chat and admire each other's work. My next door neighbor came over once he finished his to help my husband add some more hooks under the trim. The neighbors teenager came over to help mine fix light strands as they listened to one ipod between the two of them. We'd go in and out of each other's garages to borrow tools or ladders and we all laughed as we commented that we all felt a little overwhelmed at the number of children riding bikes, scooters and playing with balls along our street.

The weekend before that it was the same scenario pretty much but the husbands were working on a project they'd all come up with together to add extra storage under the stairs. My neighbor provided us lasagna for dinner even. The weekend before that we ordered pizza as the husbands worked on yet another project together (with the wives watching all the kids playing in the front yard).

Beyond the friendly very involved families and good school I enjoy almost all the shopping I could ever need within 10 minutes of me and it's all beautiful and well kept. I enjoy lots of parks and activities for the kids.

I'm not a big fan of desert or the 110 degrees in the summer so we have contemplated moving over the past few years. We have visited CA, WA and ND/MN and my husband has looked around the East coast a bit. While we've found nice places we haven't found anything that fits us as well as the Gilbert location we have now. I think we'll stay put!

[Great Joy]

Originally Posted by odinloki1

I saw this article

Best Places to Raise Your Kids, 2007 - BusinessWeek

and I noticed that there were no Arizona or California cities on this list.
I know that many of these articles can be arbitrary in terms of their measurement but as I looked through this I thought that there really isn't anywhere in AZ that I'd want to raise a family.

Is there somewhere in AZ that you think is good? Why? It can't just be schools, there needs to be a bit more to it. If not, what do you think Arizona lacks?

My opinion is the cost of living is artificially inflated by the huge migration of retirees and salaries have not risen along with it and as a result parents work harder and don't see their kids. There iss also no sense of community, neighbors never talk to one anotther, they jusst hide in their houses all day long.

I'd love to hear other opinions, particularly if you lived in other places and have a basis for comparison.

Having lived in multiple other states, I don't think AZ is lacking anything. We chose an AZ area here that is just as good as any of the other subdivisions/school districts that we've lived in before. We chose Peoria for the school district and to be close to my husband's work, and chose Vistancia for the the community amenities and events which do a great job of bringing everyone together to make and build friendships. From personally meeting others that live in other areas around Phoenix and reading this board, there are many places that are good to raise children in AZ.

[Ponderosa]

I think that small towns are better for kids than huge cities, but maybe that is because it mirrors my own childhood. Nevertheless, if one must live in a city to make a living, the Phoenix area is a good choice for families. There are many excellent schools and family friendly neighborhoods. In Estrella, where I live, we get at least the illusion of small town life. You can't even see Phoenix metro from here except as a glow in the nighttime sky. We have private parks and amenities including lakes and a waterpark. There are all kinds of social activities going on. We know our neighbors well and they are among our best friends. Our schools are good; crime is pretty much non-existent. As the billboard says, "Life is good." And when the kids grow up they won't have to move away to find an education, or nightlife or jobs leaving us to grow old in a little town full of aging empty-nesters.

[desertpine1]

Absolutely Cordes lakes! VERY family oriented community. Recently built a large childrens park. Only approx.2000 people. Four seasons, mild winters, not to hot summers, beautiful area surrounded by mountains. 1/2 hour from Prescott Valley, shopping, schools, Prescott next to that. Good hospital, and Veterans hosp. also. Breathtaking sunrises/sunsets. Used to be retirees, but now is mostly families moving/relocating there. It is growing because this little undiscovered community has so much to offer. I recently was forced to move due to the untimely death of my husband at the age of 40. we planned to stay there the rest of our lives. the people are so friendly. It is so safe. The news column that list crime for the month, consists of 1 or 2 lines only, and its usually something dumb a kid has done. (Like break a window). Contact me, I'll be happy to get you more info. It is straight up the mountain, 4000 ft. Interstate I-17 makes an easy commute for most people living there. Less than an hour. Others commute into Prescott, which also has opportunities.(about 35 min.) I couldnt say enough good about it. We had out home built there 8 years ago, and if he was still here, we'd still be there! We had a screened in porch built on for the cats, and would sit out there at night and watch the gorgeous sunsets. In same cases sunrise! You will find everything you are looking for in raising a family there, and thats why familys are relocating there now, its been discovered. Surrounded by state,and federal land, it has limited room for growth, which is nice. It was not unusual to see a wild pig in the back yard, or a coyote! the sky is so clear at night, and air so crisp it is breathtaking! Desertpine1