Biracial Family - Is Mesa, Scottsdale or Gilbert better? (Chandler: best cities, to rent)

[nomadlifestyle]

My husband might have a new job opportunity in Mesa Az. We are a young family - I'm Chinese, husband's Caucasian and we have 3 kids 4 and under

We know nothing about AZ. Are the three cities close enough that we can consider staying in Scottsdale or Gilbert while working in Mesa?

Any nice and safe sections with good schools? I myself hate driving on the highway and busy roads. Also, anyone knows if there are Asian grocery stores in any of these cities?

Thanks!

[nomadlifestyle]

Sorry! Should add that we are looking to rent. $1600 is reasonable?

[sheena]

Originally Posted by nomadlifestyle

Sorry! Should add that we are looking to rent. $1600 is reasonable?

Gilbert is nice check zip 85236. 1600 should get you a nice rental. Lee Lee in Chandler is a good Asian store. You can also find some Asian products at AJ's as well as Trader Joe's.

[Leaving AZ]

Thats what I was going to say Gilbert is great and lee lees market in Chandler

[nomadlifestyle]

Thanks for your replies!

If he works in Mesa, do you recommend Chandler then? I hear they have great schools?

Does Gilbert live up to it's ranking in Money's Best Cities (16th)?

[ArizonaBear]

Tradtionally; there has been very little prejudice against White/Asian couples, especially if the wife is Oriental here in the USA.

Your kids may; if anything, be mistaken for either Hispanic (most Latinos in the USA are actually of partial Native American stock....of which they are a genetic Asian group) or possibly Italian.

A friend of mine who is of Hungarian heritage looks Eurasian------she has the inner eye folds, high cheekbones, etc. yet is 100% 'White' legally speaking.

As for lots of Asian retailers; try the Southern/Dobson area of Mesa; it is barely E of Tempe.

[Afterburn]

Originally Posted by nomadlifestyle

Thanks for your replies!

If he works in Mesa, do you recommend Chandler then? I hear they have great schools?

Does Gilbert live up to it's ranking in Money's Best Cities (16th)?

Regarding Chandler. Don't laugh, but the AARP Magazine voted Chandler one of the top 5 places to live in the country, and not just for people who want to retire, but for younger families too. It's in their Sept/Oct issue. Here's a quote from the article: "one of the planning goals has been to develop a complete, diverse, family-oriented city...well-designed neighborhoods, parks, open space, greenbelts for walking, recreation and educations programs, plus attractive neighborhood centers and commercial areas..."

Also, Prevention Magazine voted Chandler among the "10 best towns in the nation for walking".

They note in the AARP article that the median housing price in Chandler is $297,900; Average temperatures 56.1 (January) 94.8 (July) - I find that one hard to swallow, but they are going on 'averages'.

Just so you know, Chandler is NOT a retirement city. There is a good blend of older, middle, and young families there.

I've only been to Chandler a handful of times, but it looks very nice to me. I live in the northwest part of the valley, so we only get down that way (Chandler/Mesa areas) when we have a function to go to there.

Since you are going to rent first, you will be able to make a much more educated decision about where you want to live permanently in the Valley once you are actually living here, your husband sees if his commute is bad from the area you are renting in, and so forth.

[Artliquide]

Any of those towns are fine. I live in Gilbert, and I feel very safe. There's also a good sense of community here (and I'm not even mormon...sorry haha). I agree that Gilbert is one of the nicest places I've lived. There are some spots in Mesa and Chandler to avoid, but overall, both are very nice places to live too. Oh, I'm in zip code 85234, just south of the Mesa, and just east/north of the Chandler borders. I don't frequent Asian markets much, but I agree, Trader Joe's has a lot of international foods. Also, I've visited the Chinese Cultural Center on 44th St and the 202 freeway, and there were some nice markets there.

[nomadlifestyle]

Thank you so much guys! Will post again if something comes through with the job. Can't wait to see AZ!

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by nomadlifestyle

Thank you so much guys! Will post again if something comes through with the job. Can't wait to see AZ!

Side note: a recent former mayor of Mesa was of Chinese heritage; Willie Wong, he had to leave politics due to medical problems------otherwise Wong would likely have been a state legislator or possibly the governor by now.

And Wing F Ong was the first person of Asian heritage to be elected to political office on at least the Mainland-------here in Arizona back in 1945!

Of course there is Ishikawa Elementary School also in Mesa; it was named in honor of an old Mesa family who had a son pass away from a heart attack while playing HS sports back in the 1930's. The family was of Japanese lineage. And Brian Ishikawa as an Az state judge.