Glendale, AZ (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria: renting, houses, tech jobs)

[Ars longa]

The company that owns the hospital I work in right now opened a new one in Glendale (6015 W Peoria Ave, Glendale, Arizona 85302, to be exact) and since I'm sick to the bottom of my guts of Chicago climate I seriously think of moving. Is there some decent place to live nearby? My ideal requirements: a good house, 4-bedroom with a private pool, somewhere around $300K, good schools (I'm especially interested in the quality of services for autistic children), peace and quiet, a lot of nature around, big city life is not required - got as much of it as I can stomach here in Chicago.

I'm an RN, so getting a job is not exactly a problem for me, but my hubby needs a computer tech job, possibly part-time. Is there a lot of them around?

Since I don't know a thing about the place, any input would be much appreciated.

[sablebaby]

Glendale is a great place to live. There are parts that are not as nice, but there are some really nice areas. If you look around Glendale, try and stay as north as possible. Since your hospital is near 59th ave, I'd go up (north) that street about 5-8 miles, and you will be in the Arrowhead Ranch master planned community (or surrounding neighborhoods). It's a very safe area with lots of shopping. You should be able to find a house for your price, although you'll be finding a lot of 3 bedrooms. Your commute would be a BREEZE. There are mountains and lots of trails that many people go on, but you'll be seeing dirt and that's about it- no trees. Come out and take a visit. Oh yeah, do you like 100+ weather?

[Ars longa]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Glendale is a great place to live. There are parts that are not as nice, but there are some really nice areas. If you look around Glendale, try and stay as north as possible. Since your hospital is near 59th ave, I'd go up (north) that street about 5-8 miles, and you will be in the Arrowhead Ranch master planned community (or surrounding neighborhoods). It's a very safe area with lots of shopping. You should be able to find a house for your price, although you'll be finding a lot of 3 bedrooms. Your commute would be a BREEZE. There are mountains and lots of trails that many people go on, but you'll be seeing dirt and that's about it- no trees. Come out and take a visit. Oh yeah, do you like 100+ weather?

Yeah, I happen to like 100+ weather, especially if it's dry. 90 degree with 80% humidity in Chicago in summer is probably worse. What I'm most concerned with is finding a good school for my son (can you believe, I can't find any info on quality comparison on the schools for autistic children ANYWHERE? What the heck happened to google?) and a job for my husband. Seems like a lot of people have a pretty low opinion on schools there. Not that they are excellent where I live now, of course...

Also, if you happen to know, can you give me a zip code for the area you suggested? Tnx in advance.

[sablebaby]

They are mostly 85308, and some of 85310.

[HollyhockGarden]

Hello -- I live quite close to the hospital you are referring to, in Marbrisa Ranch, which is an in-fill subdivision just across the street from Saguaro Ranch Park, so the homes are newer than some of the other ones. My husband and I actually moved south, from northern Glendale, in order to shorten our commutes. Please be assured that there are many wonderful, well-kept, safe areas in Glendale, and you do not have to live way up in the northern reaches to be in a safe area. Demographically, we are Caucasion, university graduates. Our neighbor around the corner is a Harvard graduate. We live in the Peoria Unified School District. I just want to point out that some posters seem to fear living closer to downtown Phoenix because they perhaps are afraid of diversity. Hubby and I are so happy to be more centrally located and able to avoid traffic jams on the freeways, and know we can even take public transportation if the gas situation worsens. The extra time we have gained every day is a blessing. We were both born and raised in a suburban Chicago area, in a historic suburb, and perhaps because of that, enjoy living closer to old town Glendale, with the railroad running through town, with the old houses, town square, antique shops, library, and band shell in the park. There are many nice areas -- you have to come and look. And there is always the option of renting while you get to know the area a little better. There is a very nice subdivision with well-constructed solid block homes adjacent to the hospital -- it would be a great place to live. You would be within walking distance of Saguaro Ranch Park, the hospital, the Post Office, Walgreen's, Home Depot, a grocery store, Applebee's and other restaurants, the Glendale Adult Center, the main Glendale Library, and Saguaro Ranch Elementary School, which is in the Peoria School District, and several churches. It's a wonderful location -- you could walk to work and lots of other places, too! The neighborhood around here is very pedestrian friendly --- you can walk to all the places I just mentioned, which is unusual in the car-oriented Phoenix area. Summers are HOT, though! Good luck to you.

[Ars longa]

Originally Posted by HollyhockGarden

Hello -- I live quite close to the hospital you are referring to, in Marbrisa Ranch, which is an in-fill subdivision just across the street from Saguaro Ranch Park, so the homes are newer than some of the other ones. My husband and I actually moved south, from northern Glendale, in order to shorten our commutes. Please be assured that there are many wonderful, well-kept, safe areas in Glendale, and you do not have to live way up in the northern reaches to be in a safe area. Demographically, we are Caucasion, university graduates. Our neighbor around the corner is a Harvard graduate. We live in the Peoria Unified School District. I just want to point out that some posters seem to fear living closer to downtown Phoenix because they perhaps are afraid of diversity. Hubby and I are so happy to be more centrally located and able to avoid traffic jams on the freeways, and know we can even take public transportation if the gas situation worsens. The extra time we have gained every day is a blessing. We were both born and raised in a suburban Chicago area, in a historic suburb, and perhaps because of that, enjoy living closer to old town Glendale, with the railroad running through town, with the old houses, town square, antique shops, library, and band shell in the park. There are many nice areas -- you have to come and look. And there is always the option of renting while you get to know the area a little better. There is a very nice subdivision with well-constructed solid block homes adjacent to the hospital -- it would be a great place to live. You would be within walking distance of Saguaro Ranch Park, the hospital, the Post Office, Walgreen's, Home Depot, a grocery store, Applebee's and other restaurants, the Glendale Adult Center, the main Glendale Library, and Saguaro Ranch Elementary School, which is in the Peoria School District, and several churches. It's a wonderful location -- you could walk to work and lots of other places, too! The neighborhood around here is very pedestrian friendly --- you can walk to all the places I just mentioned, which is unusual in the car-oriented Phoenix area. Summers are HOT, though! Good luck to you.

Thanks a lot for such a detailed answer. We're not afraid of diversity, having lived for 6 years in the officially most diverse area of Chicago, but we were definitely looking forward for the rural lifestyle. But you're right, I have to come and see for myself. Wonder if I can arrange a temporary relocation for a month or two, to see if I like it or not...

[Master Shake]

Originally Posted by Ars longa

I'm an RN, so getting a job is not exactly a problem for me, but my hubby needs a computer tech job, possibly part-time. Is there a lot of them around?

I don't think anyone answered the tech job portion. Tech jobs are easily available in the greater Phoenix area, but they will most likely be entry-level, phone support type jobs that pay around $10-$13/hr. Anything greater than that will be more difficult to find, and will most likely be in Downtown Phoenix or North Scottsdale. Both locations would be about an hour or more of rush hour commute from Glendale.