Flagstaff or Santa Fe - Santa Fe or Flagstaff (Phoenix: best cities, real estate)

[Miami_Dan]

If you had the the opportunity to live in either Flagstaff AZ or Santa Fe NM which would it be? I would really like to find someone who has lived in each (or resides in one or the other currently, etc.).

I make a solid salary and understand the real estate issue (no need to ramble on about high costs of living, etc.).

I am much more interested in the 'vibe': entertainment, arts, surrounding areas to visit, music, people, crime, good areas to live, etc.

I have visited each area (Flagstaff considerably more), but am leaning toward SF. What is the rumor about Crystal Meth problems around SF/Espinosa? Crime in Flag?

I am a 40 yr old, hetro-male, single; hence, 2cents on dating scenes?

Lastly, Santa Fe Aspens really threw me off while I was there....did not expect that = awesome. I am considering relocating to one of the above as I enjoy the high desert environment and am an avid outdoorsman.

Thanks so much.
Peace On.

[Miami_Dan]

C'mon ya'll - I already received 6 hits in NM on this question!

[nmnita]

just my opinion from 1-living for many years in NM and visiting Flagstaff plus have friends there: it depends on your personality and what you really are looking for. Sante Fe is more artsie and liberal, although both lean left. Flagstaff is influenced by the university to some degree. Of course Sante Fe is larger and close to Albuquerque, but very touristy.

Crime wise, both will have their share, but I think Sante Fe may have more, again, this is hard to judge..It partly depends on what type of crime you are talking about. Neither is like a major metropolitan area.. Real crime is what you see in Phoenix and Albuquerque.

The weather would be similar, with Flagstaff getting a little more snow. If you like winter sports Sante Fe is close to great skiiing. Flagstaff area offers some winter sports but not what you would get in Sante Fe.

If it were me, I would lean toward Flagstaff, but if a busy life is what you are looking for, Sante Fe might be better.

Nita

[ibarrio]

Santa Fe is one of the best cities in the world...

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ibarrio

Santa Fe is one of the best cities in the world...

not necessarily to live in; of course that is my opinion...It is great for the super libs, and those who are really artsie, but for the average Joe Blow it may not be their cup of tea. What is "best" for one, may be a "worst" for someone else..

Nita

[drb85650]

lived in Flagstaff, have been thru Santa Fe multiple times. Santa Fe hands down.
The "vibe" as you put it in Flagstaff isn't always pleasant. It's like they cannot decide whether they are college, old hippy, new agers or rednecks hiding from the government.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by drb85650

lived in Flagstaff, have been thru Santa Fe multiple times. Santa Fe hands down.
The "vibe" as you put it in Flagstaff isn't always pleasant. It's like they cannot decide whether they are college, old hippy, new agers or rednecks hiding from the government.

that is an interesting way to discribe Flagstaff..

Nita

[BillR1]

Originally Posted by drb85650

lived in Flagstaff, have been thru Santa Fe multiple times. Santa Fe hands down.
The "vibe" as you put it in Flagstaff isn't always pleasant. It's like they cannot decide whether they are college, old hippy, new agers or rednecks hiding from the government.

I completely agree. I live in Flagstaff, and would not recommend it to many people at all. Santa Fe wins easily!

[Miami_Dan]

drb85650 - Good point. I have visited Flag > 20 times and completely agree - just didn't know how to express that! I posted this same thread on the Santa Fe site.......most everyone so far has said SF is a better place to be (of course in their perspective - for various reasons).

I will say I had a blast in Flag this summer (4 days) hopping around the local bars listening to a great variety of music. Something I did not find in SF after 3 weeks!

Thanks so much everyone; this is confirming what I was thinking.

[Ria Rhodes]

Although a smaller town, Flag has more of those raised "cloud of black diesel" pickup trucks with the thousand dollar pimp wheels. Was out on Route-66 yesterday at Flagstaff Planet Nissan and some Billy Jack bubba was exchanging his elevated red F-250 with apocalypse now wheels and rims that you need a six foot ladder to get into for a shiny new low-sling Nissan sports coupe - imagine, going from a "look-at-the redneck with a inferiority complex" persona to a Michael Shumacher wanna-be. Tagline: You can dress it up to be something it's not, but a pig's still a pig, and as soon as Billy Jack opens his mouth to speak, the truth will be known to one and all, especially in a university town. Both Santa Fe and Flag are nice, but tread carefully around the goofballs.