Moving to AZ - any school/town info pls?

[Bossanovawitcha]

Places to live, middle-class income, in my order or preference (schools, real estate buying power/resale, amenities, crime, family-friendly, etc being highest priority) -

#1 - Gilbert
#2 - S and SE Chandler
#3 - Peoria
#4 - NE Mesa
#5 - Tempe/Ahwahtukee

Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Scottsdale all very nice - but not as affordable; although PV and Cave Creek are probably comparable to SW Tempe/Ahwatukee. Anthem is an hour N out of town, but new. Glendale is up and coming, new stadium should change that landscape entirely over the next decade. But if living near very good schools is a priority, the best public school districts right now are Gilbert, Peoria, and Kyrene (Tempe/Ahwatukee).

If you're into nightlife / single thing, then the list changes dramatically. I'd put Scottsdale, Tempe, and Biltmore/PHX as the top places to live.

I can't stress enough that choosing a good area is the key to being happy in Phoenix. There are plenty of good areas to choose from, and plenty of areas to avoid.

[sweattea]

Originally Posted by Nancy Lynne

Dear EV314,

Thank you for your quick and informative response. It's unfortunate, but it seems there is a resentment/bias against NYNJ folks no matter where you want to live (outside of the NE area). I would like to know more if you can provide: specifically, your daughter is no 10/11...what school did she go to (if you can say) ...or what school would you have preferred for her -- and how is she feeling about moving from her friends and school at her age now - which is my sons age. Why did you move to AZ and why are you moving back. What is it exactly that just seems too much for you to handle?

Thank you very much.

Nancy

I've been here for years from NY, I haven't experienced any resentment towards NY'ers. People are weird don't get me wrong.

[sweattea]

Maybe they expect to be treated special cuz they came from NY and they get ignored like everyone else and it upsets them. Who knows.


Agree!!! and I'm from NY.

[cmist]

Originally Posted by Jill Warner

Hi Nancy!

We moved to AZ two years ago from evil CA. We live in Vistancia, Peoria, AZ. Please come up and see this development it is like a resort and very affordable. There is a school on site with walking trails, swimming pools, golf courses, a basketball court inside a full sized gym. We have an awesome clubhouse that was designed by an award winning architect. The high school is either the new Liberty high or Sunrise Mountain High which scored the highest in AZ. The houses start in the mid to high $200's and there are some incredible resale homes on the market.
Most of our new friends are from N.J and we love their accents. They like our accent too. Please check out www.vistancia.com

Just make sure you know that Vistancia is really FAR from just about anything else, although they are trying to build it into its own self contained community. If you don't have to commute anywhere that might be heaven.

It really cracks me up that the signs on the road say 99th/Happy Valley so you turn west and then drive for about 20 minutes wondering when you will get there! Come to find out its about 40 more blocks west than advertised...

Don't get me wrong its really nice, but as most people will say finding someplace nice to live that will enable you the shortest commute is the most important, and there really is nothing exactly "close" to Vistancia, unless you work at their community welcome center, or maybe at a retail outlet at the upcoming mall at the 303/happy valley?

[sablebaby]

I never heard of any discrimination for New Yorkers. I agree with Ponderosa. We have more of a distaste for CA and that's mostly for the increase in our real estate market and bad drivers! My whole family is from NY (I'm a native arizonian).

I feel that people are friendlier up in NY than here, for sure. But I don't see that we are rude to just NYers, I think we are rude to everyone pretty equally (and more so to CA people).

[Bossanovawitcha]

No resentment towards New Yorkers out here at all.

[cmist]

I will 3rd that... my family is all from new york / new jersey living here, and they fit in just great. All of them live in different areas too and none of them feel out of place in any part of town!

[MotleyCrew]

We happen to live up in Vistancia and love it. Being from N. CA we have never felt unwelcomed here and have met so many people from all over the country. Yes, we are aways away from stores, a whole 18 minutes from major shopping. We went down the 303 loop yesterday to the major stores, and it only took 11 minutes. Sometimes takes a little longer due to all the construction here. We find that the "big" boxes" will eventually find you and surround you. We are seeing our Safeway store going up right next to our development. We sort of like being aways away from the congestion, but that won't last long.
I would suggest to anyone relocating that you rent for 6 months and explore all areas before jumping in.