From WA to AZ (Phoenix, Tempe: house, job market, school)

[Elkanah]

My wife and I are looking at possibly moving down from WA to AZ to be near family. AZ isn't our first choice if we were picking on our own, but we really want to be within a couple of hours or so of family in the Phoenix area and the Cottonwood area.

Being that neither of us are from AZ, we are hoping to find an area that works for us but could use some help in coming up with possibilities for us to look at when we fly down this weekend to browse around and decide if we really want to move to AZ.

TEMPERATURE/WEATHER: I really can't take the heat. We're looking for somewhere that caps out in the summer at around 90 (but not much higher). We're also interested in four seasons. I grew up with snow and I want my kids to know what snow is.

POPULATION: I enjoy the small town feel. Something around 4,000-8,000 people with a larger city (30-50,000) within about half an hour (for work) or so would be great.

LAND/SCENERY: We'd like to end up with some land, at least 5-10 acres where we can have some chickens and maybe a horse or two. When it comes to moisture, my wife doesn't want to feel like she is living in the Sahara. We also prefer green.

So, tell me, is there anywhere like that in Arizona? What is the closest you can think of? What are some suggestions of where we could drive through to take a look?

Thanks to anyone with some suggestions.

[BriansPerspective]

Hi Elkanah, Welcome to AZ. What price range are you looking in? And what kind of job are you planning to have? Those two questions will greatly impact your options. That said, you might want to look at the Williamson Valley area north of Prescott. The area consists of large acreage lots with rolling hills of juniper. There is not a town per se, but you are in a rural area about 15 minutes from Prescott. You might also look at Chino Valley or the Antelope Hills, Coyote Springs area north of Prescott Valley. These areas are less green, mostly sweeping prairie, but less expensive than Williamson Valley.

As far as weather is concerned, summers are in the 80s to low 90s. Winters are in the 40s-50s. We get snow, but it melts the same day. There is rarely snow on the roads. Basically, you get a pretty view of snow cover, and then it is gone.

There are jobs in Prescott and Prescott Valley, depending on your qualifications.

If you want colder, you will need to go to Flagstaff or Showlow.

[Kingnormie]

. . . . tell ye my Secrets, I mean!

Within a couple of hours "or so" of Cottonwood
and/or Phoenix- Springerville/Eagar (Several
Paved-yet-less-traveled Back Roads available.

Within half an hour or so of a Larger City
(Showlow-Lakeside-Pinetop) - Springerville/Eagar

Four Seasons - Springerville/Eagar

Unless you are "Well-To-Do" financially, most all of our high-country towns, Prescott, Showlow, Payson, Flagstaff, are very expensive places to live.

You will need to increase your Elevation parameters to avoid Hot Summers. Look at 6,000 feet and higher. Springerville/Eagar, for example.

It was an Oddity, seeing Flagstaff suffer 100 Degree temps at around mid-night, back in 1990! But not really a Rarity!

If Ye ARE Well-To-Do, please look toward Prescott, Flagstaff, Payson & Showlow! Rich Folks Ruin Towns fer us Po' folk!

[Gretchen B]

I agree that Springerville/Eagar would come the closest to what you're looking for, especially the rural setting and the small population. Temperatures are on a par with Flagstaff, but the home prices are much, much lower.

As with any small town finding work will be more difficult than in a larger city. If you can find a job, though, then I think Springerville/Eagar probably has almost everything you're looking for.

[Ponderosa]

Springerville/Eager may fit the criteria to a degree, but I really think AZ is not for you. We just don't have nice small towns. This is a urban state where most of the population lives in clusters. Springerville is a town dominated economically, culturally, and politically by farming and the LDS church. You will be an "outsider" there. Aside from that, it is my personal opinion that it is an unattractive place. It is flat and on the leeward side of the moisture flow so there are few trees that haven't been planted and the wind blows constantly. You can see the White Mountains from there, but since the overall relief at this elevation is small, the view is nothing remarkable. Honestly, there is nothing in AZ for you. If there were, it would already be run over by people looking for paradise.

[Elkanah]

I'm finishing my Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I anticipate having to commute for work to a larger population than where we live (hence my looking for something with a 30-40,000k population within about a half hour's drive).

As for price range, well, probably between 100,000 and 200,000 or there abouts.

Right now, we are just looking for some places to drive through and generally look over so that during this coming year that I have left of school, we have a visual of those places while we research online and make a decision on where to start house hunting.

I am looking for a bit colder than winter lows in the 40's (wouldn't mind snow sticking around for a couple of days). Are there any nice towns outside of Flagstaff? As gorgeous as Show Low looks, I'm not sure the population is sufficient for my work.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Elkanah

I'm finishing my Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I anticipate having to commute for work to a larger population than where we live (hence my looking for something with a 30-40,000k population within about a half hour's drive).

As for price range, well, probably between 100,000 and 200,000 or there abouts.

Right now, we are just looking for some places to drive through and generally look over so that during this coming year that I have left of school, we have a visual of those places while we research online and make a decision on where to start house hunting.

I am looking for a bit colder than winter lows in the 40's (wouldn't mind snow sticking around for a couple of days). Are there any nice towns outside of Flagstaff? As gorgeous as Show Low looks, I'm not sure the population is sufficient for my work.

I think you should focus on the southern part of the midwest. That population model with larger full-service town is common there. I think that coming from the west you have to have some mountains around too. What would fit your bill in many ways is a place like Ozark or Nixa, Missouri. Nice, growing towns just outside Springfield. The Ozarks are on your doorstep and while it snows occasionally, the winters are quite mild.

[MotleyCrew]

I agree with the others, AZ probably is not your cup of tea. We would be living in a town such as you describe, but we are down here in the heat, working in a larger town. We have made the mistake in the past of moving to a small mountain town deluding ourselves into believing that we could make a good living while avoiding the rat race. This is a very difficult formula to make happen, and with your line of work you will need a population just like we do.

[Gretchen B]

Okay, here's a couple of other suggestions. Chino Valley - pop @ 10,000. Within 1/2 hr to Prescott/Prescott Valley - with your degree I think there would be job possibilities there. My other suggestion would be Williams - a little colder/snowier. You'd probably need to commute to Flagstaff for work. I don't know the job situation there, but since it's a college town, I think you'd have a lot of competition in the job market.

[Elkanah]

Thanks for the suggestion on MO. Washington (where we are now), Montana, Northern Idaho, Colorado, and a host of other places fit our ideal too. The problem is that our big consideration in this move is family. We want our kids to grow up around aunts, uncles, and cousins. Right now, AZ is the only place that fits that bill.

I realize that there may not be a place that exactly fits what we are looking for, but I'd be interested in hearing about what comes close.

Gretchen, thanks for the suggestions on Chino Valley. Prescott has been on our list to look at as well. Williams we just heard about and will be driving through there also. The commute to Flagstaff seems doable.

Any other thoughts on possible locations would be welcome.