Relocating to Arizona? Coming from Michigan...ADVICE??? (Phoenix, Yuma: military, jobs)

[TeacherMan]

Greetings dear fellow City-Data heads!

So, my wife and I looking to relocate from the slowly dying state of Michigan. I have recently been offered to positions. One is to teach in in the Avondale (Littleton) school district. The other is to teach in the Yuma school district.

General thoughts or recommendations or advice? Yuma vs. Avondale??

Housing? Paralegal opportunities for my wife? Cost of living?

[sablebaby]

Wow, those are interesting choices. Even though I'm not fond of Avondale, I'd choose there just due to being near a large area and amenities.

[AksarbeN]

I’ve never lived in Yuma and only been there a couple of times. However I don’t think I’d want to live there. I’d pick the Avondale area. You can find nice homes near the west side of metro Phoenix area and you’ll enjoy the opportunities that the larger cities provide you and your family. The west side of the valley is growing and you can enjoy seeing it happen.

[TeacherMan]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Wow, those are interesting choices. Even though I'm not fond of Avondale, I'd choose there just due to being near a large area and amenities.

Why are you not fond of Avondale? Is there a "better area" within 20 - 30 minutes drive to live?

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP SO FAR...LOOKIN' FOR MORE!!


P.S... I know that I have been offered "two" positions...not "to"...it's just been a LONG day...

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by TeacherMan

Greetings dear fellow City-Data heads!

So, my wife and I looking to relocate from the slowly dying state of Michigan. I have recently been offered to positions. One is to teach in in the Avondale (Littleton) school district. The other is to teach in the Yuma school district.

General thoughts or recommendations or advice? Yuma vs. Avondale??

Housing? Paralegal opportunities for my wife? Cost of living?

Avondale has some very nice areas generally north of I-10 and some historic poor areas south of the i-10. There are some very upscale areas in Litchfield Park and Goodyear nearby. But Littleton SD is going to have a lot of english learners and working class people. You might find it an enjoyable challenge, but it is not your highly performing school area for sure. I think I would still take it over Yuma. IMO, Phoenix is just a lot better place to live than Yuma.

[sfw1979]

Originally Posted by TeacherMan

Greetings dear fellow City-Data heads!

So, my wife and I looking to relocate from the slowly dying state of Michigan. I have recently been offered to positions. One is to teach in in the Avondale (Littleton) school district. The other is to teach in the Yuma school district.

General thoughts or recommendations or advice? Yuma vs. Avondale??

Housing? Paralegal opportunities for my wife? Cost of living?

Look down the threads a little, there is one by redwingfan and her family is moving to Yuma from Phoenix....

[sfw1979]

Originally Posted by sfw1979

Look down the threads a little, there is one by redwingfan and her family is moving to Yuma from Phoenix....

I'm sorry, I meant her family is moving from Michigan as well!!!

[formerYuman]

Yuma is a growing community - in some respects too fast for its own good. The housing prices are astronomical. They are building new schools - but don't have qualified teachers to fill them. They are using too many emergency certified teachers to fill the vacancies. Traffic is horrendous, the gang problem is getting out of control, and I'm not sure that the respective governments - city and county, have a clue that they're losing control of the area.

It is only a matter of time until the complete infrastructure collapses due to the government's incompetence, lack of money, or a combination of many factors. You will be much better served to stay in Michigan, or if you can't do that - go to Avondale - at least there is a semblance of civilization there. I lived in Yuma twice - from 92-98 and again from 2002-2005, and no, I'm not military - but we ran screaming from there the last time and will never venture back.

[Old Surrender]

Yeah, I knew a couple of the emergency certified teachers when I lived in Yuma and they only took the jobs for, this is the laugher, the money. They both moved down there for their spouses' jobs. I lived there for 18 months and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Give Avondale a shot, first.

P.S. I was born in Michigan, wish there were jobs there.

[bstree]

1. Not Yuma.
2. You DO NOT want to teach in AZ. Under NO circumstances should you take a public school job teaching in AZ.
3. Rinse and repeat!