Arizona or Nevada?

[azriverfan.]

Let's be blunt. Outside of the Strip, there is NOTHING in Las Vegas. That is the real problem. There are no jobs. Phoenix at least had a significant hardware/engineering and manufacturing base besides the construction/housing. Vegas doesn't have anything close to that. It relies entirely on tourism.

What many don't know is that Las Vegas was ranked as one of the highest for people leaving the city annually. In other words a lot of people moved there but a lot of people moved out each year too. There is a reason for that. People move there for the perceived glamor the Strip provides but after 1-2 years, people leave because it's just not enough of a real city. All of the perceived problems of Phoenix is magnified in Las Vegas. Vegas has a less of a diversified economy than Phoenix. It's schools are worse. It has less colleges, universities and graduate schools. They have no professional sports teams. And their housing bubble was worse than ours.

The reality is you can live in Southern California or Phoenix and essentially make a road trip to Vegas over the weekend and experience all of it's pros and then return to your city. That's what Phoenix and L.A. residents have been doing for years. Unfortunately, I just don't see Las Vegas developing into a real city. It's always going to be a fun tourist city but it doesn't seem like Vegas truly cares about developing itself outside the Strip.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Let's be blunt. Outside of the Strip, there is NOTHING in Las Vegas. That is the real problem. There are no jobs. Phoenix at least had a significant hardware/engineering and manufacturing base besides the construction/housing. Vegas doesn't have anything close to that. It relies entirely on tourism.

What many don't know is that Las Vegas was ranked as one of the highest for people leaving the city annually. In other words a lot of people moved there but a lot of people moved out each year too. There is a reason for that. People move there for the perceived glamor the Strip provides but after 1-2 years, people leave because it's just not enough of a real city. All of the perceived problems of Phoenix is magnified in Las Vegas. Vegas has a less of a diversified economy than Phoenix. It's schools are worse. It has less colleges, universities and graduate schools. They have no professional sports teams. And their housing bubble was worse than ours.

The reality is you can live in Southern California or Phoenix and essentially make a road trip to Vegas over the weekend and experience all of it's pros and then return to your city. That's what Phoenix and L.A. residents have been doing for years. Unfortunately, I just don't see Las Vegas developing into a real city. It's always going to be a fun tourist city but it doesn't seem like Vegas truly cares about developing itself outside the Strip.

I wholeheartedly agree! Vegas is a fun place to spend a weekend or a short vacation, but I certainly wouldn't want to go there in the summer when it can be just as hot as Phoenix. Vegas is also much colder in the winter ... and also receives less rain than Phoenix does. I get so tired of the dryness here, but it can be even worse in Vegas! So add the climate as another drawback to Vegas. (Not that Phoenix's climate is anything to brag about, but at least we get a little more moisture.)

Another thing Vegas is lacking in: Fortune 500 corporations. You'll find some satellite offices of major corporations and a few electronic firms, but nothing competitive in the job market (unless you want to work in the hotel or entertainment industry). Phoenix and San Diego are also somewhat lacking in this area, but Vegas is worse. It has a higher transient population than even Phoenix does ... and the area is the worst in the nation for home foreclosures. Unemployment there is horrible.

The bottom line is: Vegas is a great place to visit ... but not reside.

[AndroidAZ]

I have relatives in Vegas and go visit frequently. I also agree I would never live in Vegas.

Phoenix is far more diverse with a lot more things to do. Phoenix beats Vegas by far.

[TBCasino]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

The reality is you can live in Southern California or Phoenix and essentially make a road trip to Vegas over the weekend and experience all of it's pros and then return to your city. That's what Phoenix and L.A. residents have been doing for years. Unfortunately, I just don't see Las Vegas developing into a real city. It's always going to be a fun tourist city but it doesn't seem like Vegas truly cares about developing itself outside the Strip.

You have to take into account, Las Vegas' history, it has always been a gambling Mecca. That's it's base, it's lure, it's attraction, and for better or worse ( mostly better ), they've made it work for them. LV has been a real city, for a long time, and whether you like it or not, it's a city a lot more popular than Phoenix.


and just so you know, I could've taken a job in LV, I chose AZ. LV just wasn't for me long term, but apparently, I was/am in the minority, it's doing pretty well census wise.

[Ritchie_az]

To me, Las Vegas is a city you visit. It's a very large tourist town.
Phoenix is a city you live.
That's why I'd choose Phoenix over Vegas.
Even so, half of Vegas metro looks very similar to half of Phoenix metro (and visa versa). You could live in either one and for the most part have the exact same life.

[Ponderosa]

If you awoke from a coma in a residential area of either place, you would need a GPS to know which city you were in. Aside from that, Las Vegas has gambling and night life, but there is a much more diversified list of things to do in Phoenix.

[kytoaz]

i have friends that bought in henderson at the height of real estate prices. at that time the neighborhood was amazing. great schools, nice restaurants, etc. i have been shocked to see the decline in that area and city over the last three years. in one square block of thier neighborhood i counted 14 bank owned properties. there are maybe 30 houses on that block. they are planning on a move out of vegas. both have had trouble finding jobs.

at one time i considered maybe living in vegas. not a chance now.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by TBCasino

You have to take into account, Las Vegas' history, it has always been a gambling Mecca. That's it's base, it's lure, it's attraction, and for better or worse ( mostly better ), they've made it work for them. LV has been a real city, for a long time, and whether you like it or not, it's a city a lot more popular than Phoenix.

Las Vegas is more of a vacation & entertainment destination than Phoenix is ... but of the two, Phoenix is the true city. Las Vegas only LOOKS like a very large city along the five mile section known as the Strip. In fact, it resembles Times Square in many ways ... however, it is pretty superficial. There is no industry or competitive job market except for the casino/hotel/entertainment sector. Outside of the Strip, Vegas looks like any other ordinary suburb full of strip malls, big box super stores, and cookie cutter homes (many of which are in foreclosure).

Most people only want to go to Vegas to see shows or to gamble in the casinos & win big money that they're not entitled to. Admittedly, I like to go there once in a while for the entertainment, but I have very little interest in throwing my money away in a casino, or to reside there. Even for a generally low paying job market that lacks in competitiveness, Phoenix has more to offer in career opportunities field than Vegas does.