Where is the best area to live with young kids in Nevada ? (Las Vegas: condo, home)

[keikekai]

Hi,
I am in upstate N.Y. wanting to move out to Nevada this summer (single mom with 3 kids - ages 4, 9, 12). Can't stand this cold, dreary, grey place. Need nice warm weather and sunshine. I have heard Las Vegas is a great town to live in - but I am concerned what it is like to live there with kids. What areas would you recommend and/or avoid ? What is Henderson like ? Is Summerlin nice - is that a development or a town ? What is there to do with kids - any entertainment - fun things for kids under 12 yrs. of age ? Are there a lot of sports teams for the kids to get involved in (soccer) ?
How hot does it get in the summer ? How cold in the winter ?
I don't want to deal with snow (so Reno's out)....
Well, if you can help out I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[lvkewlkid]

Avoid Henderson, not very kid-friendly, the Galleria hates them, the District hates them, drivers are not polite to them. I am growing up in Henderson and its awful for a teen.

Summerlin is a master-planned community. Summerlin has many sport teams.

We have the same entertainment as any other city. Downtown has some nice museums and we have movie theaters and bowling and the such. We also have many arcades.

[PinkString]

Keike, i voted for some other state. If you want lots of sunshine and a kid friendly state, try southwestern Utah. Just a stones throw down the road an hour or two to the north. Very nice there. Nice hot summers, mild winters. Not much different than Vegas weather most of the year. Slightly cooler. But its extremely kid friendly there. And not everyone is mormon nor do you have to be to live there.

[RedWingsFan]

If you are going to move to the area then move to Henderson. The Green Valley area is especially family friendly. And if you do your research you will find the best schools in that area as well. The Galleria mall doesn't hate kids, I took mine there all the time. Maybe they hate unruly teens hanging out by themselves...big difference.

There are a lot of threads on here about living in Vegas. You should search them and read them all.

Hot in the summer? Like you wouldn't believe! Your kids will only get to play outdoors in the summer in early mornings or late evenings. It's too hot the rest of the time, over 100. Winters are great.

There's not a lot of things to do with kids in Las Vegas. You have to remember that it's an entertainment mecca for adults. And just about everything you go to do with kids (bowling, movies, etc.) are almost all located in casinos.

I've posted many times on how Vegas isn't the ideal place to raise kids. You should go back and read them just to hear that side of it. I moved away from Vegas 5 months ago after living there almost 10 years. One of the big reasons was because I don't think it's a place to raise kids.

[olecapt]

There is no question in my mind that the best residental community on all bases other than economic is Boulder City. It is not even close.

Reno/Sparks is reasonable if you can deal with the economics and the climate.

There are numerous other small towns the provide the classical small town benefits but suffer from varying degrees of isolation.

In Las Vegas Henderson is quite interchangable with a half a dozen other areas. It probably finishes a close second to Summerlin as an area of interest on the well off resident with kids quotient. Both areas are fine if you are reasonably well off. If you are not it gets more complex.

Note that Henderson is a subcomponent of Las Vegas...Most of Las Vegas is County of Clark and all shares the same school system.

For middle income and low middle income folk they probably will do better in the NW area of the City of Las Vegas or the north portion of NLV. Those of limited income will likely do better in some of the older but well maintained areas of the middle city.

[RedWingsFan]

Boulder City is a good place... the only drawback is it's pretty far from the places most people like to frequent and where they work. But if you don't mind the commute then it's ideal.

[Sorcerer68]

Phoenix should be a consideration if you want to live in a desert city with children.

[xtranaut]

This area is a grand paradox.

Beautiful climate most of the time
Hardly any good jobs or wages
Los of investors and retirees pumping up home prices
Very Expensivelace to live.
Close to the stunning beauty of California Sierras
VERY CONSERVATIVE
Yet, legal prostitution and gambling
Great for picture taking.
A nice place to visit.

[leavingcali]

If you have the money, and are willing to reconsider the snow thing, I suggest Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas. It's beautiful, there's lots to do (well, I guess this is subjective, but there are lots of outdoor recreational types of things to do), and the casinos and other adult forms of entertainment are much milder than Las Vegas. It is simply far more kid-friendly than Vegas.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by leavingcali

If you have the money, and are willing to reconsider the snow thing, I suggest Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas. It's beautiful, there's lots to do (well, I guess this is subjective, but there are lots of outdoor recreational types of things to do), and the casinos and other adult forms of entertainment are much milder than Las Vegas. It is simply far more kid-friendly than Vegas.

This is where it gets so odd. Well yes Tahoe is nice...but terribly expensive. If you can afford Tahoe you can live in exceptional circumstances in Las Vegas or Phoenix or Boulder City. Simply being able to spend 15K per annum to school each child gets you out of the problems of most cities.

The argument needs to be about people of various economic means. And where they will do well varies. They can't afford 500K for a home in BC or Summerlin or GV. The only gated thing they might be able to afford is a condo of 1200SF. And likely not in GV or Summerlin.