Would you move to Payson if the economy was better? (Phoenix: motels, house prices)

[popwar]

If the area had more jobs , better infrastructure etc . I've asked people in person and they say they would.

[JGMotorsport64]

If I were going to go toward the White Mountains, I’d just move to Show Low or Pinetop. A bad economy is really the only thing that keeps the White Mountains as nice and peaceful as they are.

I guess my answer is no. The point is to get away from people and that would drive them there, defeating the point.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Nope, I moved to Arizona to escape cold and snow

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by popwar

If the area had more jobs , better infrastructure etc . I've asked people in person and they say they would.

We are considering a move there as I'm a recent retiree and don't love where I currently live. Lack of jobs doesn't affect me but lack of infrastructure could keep me from moving there. Our plan is to winter in our Phoenix house and scout out Payson as well as some other areas of Arizona for possibly moving to Arizona year round.

Payson's positives are a mild 4 season climate and the area is prettier to me than almost any area of Arizona within a 2 hour drive of Phoenix.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

We are considering a move there as I'm a recent retiree and don't love where I currently live. Lack of jobs doesn't affect me but lack of infrastructure could keep me from moving there. Our plan is to winter in our Phoenix house and scout out Payson as well as some other areas of Arizona for possibly moving to Arizona year round.

Payson's positives are a mild 4 season climate and the area is prettier to me than almost any area of Arizona within a 2 hour drive of Phoenix.

I recommend Kingman as a place for year round retirement. Plenty of infrastructure including shopping and dining, only a couple hours to Phoenix, Las Vegas and Flagstaff, and one of the more moderate climates in the state. 52°F/30°F in December, 98°F/70°F in July and just 9" of rain per year. They don't get walloped by the daily summer rains that the high country and SE AZ get, which is a plus to me

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

I recommend Kingman as a place for year round retirement. Plenty of infrastructure including shopping and dining, only a couple hours to Phoenix, Las Vegas and Flagstaff, and one of the more moderate climates in the state. 52°F/30°F in December, 98°F/70°F in July and just 9" of rain per year. They don't get walloped by the daily summer rains that the high country and SE AZ get, which is a plus to me

Thanks for the suggestion Firebird, we'll take a further look. We've driven through there a few times but haven't stopped for anything but gas and refreshments.

[Oklazona Bound]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

I recommend Kingman as a place for year round retirement. Plenty of infrastructure including shopping and dining, only a couple hours to Phoenix, Las Vegas and Flagstaff, and one of the more moderate climates in the state. 52°F/30°F in December, 98°F/70°F in July and just 9" of rain per year. They don't get walloped by the daily summer rains that the high country and SE AZ get, which is a plus to me

I would not compare Kingman to Payson. The scenery around Payson and in Payson is 100 times nicer. Payson is warmer that Kingman in the winter and much cooler in the summer. It barely cracks 90 on a average summer day and is in the mid 50's in winter. You are in the phoenix area in an hour and just minutes to the pine forests. Plus you have the monsoon rains that cool things off in the afternoon almost daily in the summer.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by Oklazona Bound

I would not compare Kingman to Payson. The scenery around Payson and in Payson is 100 times nicer. Payson is warmer that Kingman in the winter and much cooler in the summer. It barely cracks 90 on a average summer day and is in the mid 50's in winter. You are in the phoenix area in an hour and just minutes to the pine forests. Plus you have the monsoon rains that cool things off in the afternoon almost daily in the summer.

First, Kingman is warmer than Payson in winter. Kingman sees low temps 5°F to 10°F warmer year round, which makes a huge difference since Kingman has palm trees and Payson doesn't. Snows much less often in Kingman as well. And yes, Kingman is desert not forest but that's a good thing to me. I hate the daily rain that the high country gets in the summer. I still remember the trip I took to Flagstaff for a week in August 2003 and it rained every day I kid you not; ruining any outdoor activities we had planned

[Oklazona Bound]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

First, Kingman is warmer than Payson in winter. Kingman sees low temps 5°F to 10°F warmer year round, which makes a huge difference since Kingman has palm trees and Payson doesn't. Snows much less often in Kingman as well. And yes, Kingman is desert not forest but that's a good thing to me. I hate the daily rain that the high country gets in the summer. I still remember the trip I took to Flagstaff for a week in August 2003 and it rained every day I kid you not; ruining any outdoor activities we had planned

You said it was 52 in December in Kingman and in Payson its 54. So that is why I said what I said. But I compared both cities now and Kingman is about 2 degrees warmer in the winter. Payson is farther south so you get more moderate weather. Its 5 degrees cooler in Payson in the summer. For example Las Vegas and Tucson are at about the same elevation but Vegas is colder in the winter and hotter in the summer. Being at 5,000 feet when winter storms come through it will snow in Payson.

I like the monsoons, they are usually over so fast it does not really effect anything except cools things down. To get more than a 5 minute downpour is unusual. I would take pine trees over palm trees any day. And if you can have that and similar winters and milder summers its a win win.

I considered Kingman when I decided to move to Arizona 20 years ago. Stayed a couple nights there and to me its the stereotype of Arizona that people who live elsewhere but don't like Arizona think it is. You have the outdated cheezy motels, all the Route 66 stuff and just a dusty run down looking city. Most people driving on the main street are simply passing through to somewhere else. Deming NM is similar to me also. Sorry not trying to offend you or anyone but my first impression of Kingman was not good. First time I went to Payson I was pleasantly surprised. It had a feel like a town in Colorado or the Sierras in California.

I also considered Payson but the local economy was lacking jobs. Same for Kingman. Unless you want to work at the casinos in Laughlin.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by Oklazona Bound

You said it was 52 in December in Kingman and in Payson its 54. So that is why I said what I said. But I compared both cities now and Kingman is about 2 degrees warmer in the winter. Payson is farther south so you get more moderate weather. Its 5 degrees cooler in Payson in the summer. For example Las Vegas and Tucson are at about the same elevation but Vegas is colder in the winter and hotter in the summer. Being at 5,000 feet when winter storms come through it will snow in Payson.

I like the monsoons, they are usually over so fast it does not really effect anything except cools things down. To get more than a 5 minute downpour is unusual. I would take pine trees over palm trees any day. And if you can have that and similar winters and milder summers its a win win.

I considered Kingman when I decided to move to Arizona 20 years ago. Stayed a couple nights there and to me its the stereotype of Arizona that people who live elsewhere but don't like Arizona think it is. You have the outdated cheezy motels, all the Route 66 stuff and just a dusty run down looking city. Most people driving on the main street are simply passing through to somewhere else. Deming NM is similar to me also. Sorry not trying to offend you or anyone but my first impression of Kingman was not good. First time I went to Payson I was pleasantly surprised. It had a feel like a town in Colorado or the Sierras in California.

I also considered Payson but the local economy was lacking jobs. Same for Kingman. Unless you want to work at the casinos in Laughlin.

Yeah this is pretty much how I see it. I also checked the average wind speeds and Kingman is much higher than Payson which is a huge negative for us. While I was looking at Kingman housing today, I discovered the area of Pinion Pines which is at 5000' like Payson and obviously is green and has pines. Kingman land and house prices are much cheaper so that is a good thing. The monthly temps are pretty nice from my point of view.