Denver Or Phoenix (Scottsdale, Flagstaff: relocation, job, health)

[DaveV]

The question was: "Denver or Phoenix", not whether to stay in Chicago. It's not even close! DENVER

[Mathiasthegreat]

DENVER!!! I spent at least 12 years in each city. Phoenix is an absolute joke compared to Denver. Matter of fact you cant even compare the two... Phoenix is a hell hole..simple as that.

[progrowth]

Here are some stats. that relate to the discussion here

EXTREMES
_________________________________________
PHOENIX= VERY HOT (highest temp 122)
summers are awful
tornadoes are extremely rare( one in the last 15 years)
______________________________________________

DENVER = VERY COLD(coldest temp -30)
summers are nice

winters are awful (60 inches annually)

tornadoes happen occassionally
________________________________________
HOWEVER, both cities are alike in some cases
________________________________________
both cities are the capital cities of their respective state.
both cites are the biggest cities of their respective state.
both cities have nearly the same amount of "freeway miles"
(meaning the total length of all the freeways "IN" the city and metro
areas put together)

both cities have a freeway loop around 3/4 of metro area

yet climate wise they are completely opposite.


I dont know about you but I think 122 degrees "F" is easier to deal with than -30 degrees

because:

you can still drive around and not have to worry about slick roads
you can still be outside as long as you are underneath some dense shade
you can go for a swim ( but DONT SUN BATHE !!!!!!!! )
Note: thats what people in los angeles did when the mercury topped
104 degrees this past week.
yea I know phoenix doesnt have a beach, but you can go to a waterpark (big surf, waterworld safari, sunsplash) or the nearby lakes (Lake pleasant, roosevelt, etc) or at worst hang in a swimming pool .
If the suns rays are too much, just wait for the sun to set then half of the
"pain" will be taken away even though it will still be hot.


In the cold if you want to be outside you have to wear HUGE parkas or 5 pairs of sweats and about the same layer of shirts or top garments
and something to cover your head.
when its cold its cold all the way around it doesnt matter if the sun has set
You cant do much for recreation except ski.
In the worst cold/snow weather you are trapped in your home especially
in blizzard conditions. Even after the blizzard stops you cant drive around anywhere for at least a day or so (depending on the manpower available to make the roads driveable)
Or unless you want to "TEST DRIVE" a hummer or four wheel drive vehicle or rent a snowmobile then maybe, maybe just maybe you will be able to go somewhere!


those are just my opinions.

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by progrowth

Here are some stats. that relate to the discussion here

EXTREMES
_________________________________________
PHOENIX= VERY HOT (highest temp 122)
summers are awful
tornadoes are extremely rare( one in the last 15 years)
______________________________________________

DENVER = VERY COLD(coldest temp -30)
summers are nice

winters are awful (60 inches annually)

tornadoes happen occassionally
________________________________________
HOWEVER, both cities are alike in some cases
________________________________________
both cities are the capital cities of their respective state.
both cites are the biggest cities of their respective state.
both cities have nearly the same amount of "freeway miles"
(meaning the total length of all the freeways "IN" the city and metro
areas put together)

both cities have a freeway loop around 3/4 of metro area

yet climate wise they are completely opposite.


I dont know about you but I think 122 degrees "F" is easier to deal with than -30 degrees

because:

you can still drive around and not have to worry about slick roads
you can still be outside as long as you are underneath some dense shade
you can go for a swim ( but DONT SUN BATHE !!!!!!!! )
Note: thats what people in los angeles did when the mercury topped
104 degrees this past week.
yea I know phoenix doesnt have a beach, but you can go to a waterpark (big surf, waterworld safari, sunsplash) or the nearby lakes (Lake pleasant, roosevelt, etc) or at worst hang in a swimming pool .
If the suns rays are too much, just wait for the sun to set then half of the
"pain" will be taken away even though it will still be hot.


In the cold if you want to be outside you have to wear HUGE parkas or 5 pairs of sweats and about the same layer of shirts or top garments
and something to cover your head.
when its cold its cold all the way around it doesnt matter if the sun has set
You cant do much for recreation except ski.
In the worst cold/snow weather you are trapped in your home especially
in blizzard conditions. Even after the blizzard stops you cant drive around anywhere for at least a day or so (depending on the manpower available to make the roads driveable)
Or unless you want to "TEST DRIVE" a hummer or four wheel drive vehicle or rent a snowmobile then maybe, maybe just maybe you will be able to go somewhere!


those are just my opinions.

Good points: allow a friendly debate on this if you will:

In the snow you can put a coat on and go about your business.

The snow usually goes away in a day, and then its sunny again

Snow is fun to play in, phoenix heat will cause skin problems when your older, of course people in phonix look older. Heat makes me want to stay inside, and stare out the window wishing I could go out and enjoy a beautiful sunny day. In Denver, its actually cozy with the fire place going, watching the snow,not only that but usually the sun is shinning there too. Like I said, Just put on a coat and go for a nice walk.

An 80 degree xmas, just doesnt do much for me....the cold kinda puts me in a better mood.

hey if it wernt for cold, I would not have felt so snuggly with my wife 5 years ago and my son may not have been born Cold is great for getting that arm around your lady on the first date

I just came from Austin Tx, with horrible heat.....I feel like I was running for my life when I discovered wonderful Denver. I will admit that I would take the dry heat of Phoenix/LA/Las Vegas over Austin.

I enjoy a nice cool feeling on my face when I go outside in the morning. I missed that when I lived in hot cities.

[chicagocarol]

Well- I currently live in Chicago, have a brother that has lived in Littleton, Colorado for about 20 years, and we hope to move to Arizona soon! There are so many differences its hard to compare... sort of like apples and oranges?
If you like the changes of the seasons, you probably wouldn't want AZ as much as Denver. Colorado is a beautiful state, I love to visit there.... except for the long drive from Stapleton Airport to Littleton. My brother would never leave Colorado. My neighbor is moving to Evergreen, Co. soon. ME? I love Arizona, have since my first visit there at least eighteen years ago and vacation there now as much as possible.
IMO compare everything you like about each state. I would definitely go with a real estate agent, more so if you aren't familar with different communties in each state and what the communties offer that you are interested in.
Good luck to you.

[diamontesareforever]

So far the replies have been helpful in terms of the weather. I got a great idea that Phoenix is real hot and Denver has the 4 seasons but is sunny most of the time. Let me assure you, Denver's not as cold as Chicago. How I know this is because Chicago's in the path of the Arctic blasts that swing down through the Great Lakes. So Denver will seem like a respite in comparison. No, I can't stay in Chicago. My fience who's not a native Chicagoan doesn't want to settle here and the job has to be more West centric. I'm concerned about other issues though. Weather can't be controlled by society. hat about thse things that can? Like recreation, nightlife, the local economy, tax burden, schools, housing, etcetera? Thanks so far.

[sablebaby]

[quote=sberdrow;1462347

Snow is fun to play in, phoenix heat will cause skin problems when your older, of course people in phonix look older. Heat makes me want to stay inside, and stare out the window wishing I could go out and enjoy a beautiful sunny day. In Denver, its actually cozy with the fire place going, watching the snow,not only that but usually the sun is shinning there too. Like I said, Just put on a coat and go for a nice walk.

An 80 degree xmas, just doesnt do much for me....the cold kinda puts me in a better mood.[/QUOTE]

I agree with your first point about Phx people looking older from the sun. Leathery skin is NOT attractive! Also, looking out the window wishing I could go out and "play", but it's too hot.

What I don't agree with is the statement of 80 degrees on xmas day. Not even close! Our average for Halloween is 80! Xmas is much lower. Yes, I always wear a sweater or jacket during that time. We do get cold in the winter.

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

I agree with your first point about Phx people looking older from the sun. Leathery skin is NOT attractive! Also, looking out the window wishing I could go out and "play", but it's too hot.

What I don't agree with is the statement of 80 degrees on xmas day. Not even close! Our average for Halloween is 80! Xmas is much lower. Yes, I always wear a sweater or jacket during that time. We do get cold in the winter.

Ok I checked and you are correct, the average is 66. I do perfer 40 degrees or less in december to keep the with the spirit of winter and holidays. You are also right about Halloween. I have been in phoenix in December in 80 degrees though, but I guess it isnt the norm.

[vegaspilgrim]

Regarding the cities themselves:
Denver is an old, historic city chock full of gentrified neighborhoods built in the late 19th and early 20th century-- surrounded by more modern suburbs. Downtown Denver is much bigger and much more vibrant than downtown Phoenix. In addition to that there are dozens of mini neighborhood downtowns and pedestrian areas around the city. Phoenix is basically one giant suburb-- a miniscule sized downtown with nothing to do when no events are going on, surrounded by burnt out decay, surrounded by a vast 1950s-era suburban area, surrounded by more recent suburbs. Both cities have a lot of urban infill, highrise condo projects going on, so they are both getting more urban-- with Denver being about 15 years ahead. Phoenix has a HUGE Mexican/ Latino population (not that that's a good or bad thing-- just a fact)-- certain areas of town feel like you're in Mexico. Denver has this too in some areas but nothing like Phoenix. The suburbs of Denver are very comparable to the newer parts of the Phoenix area; Highlands Ranch, Lonetree is basically the same thing as Chandler or Gilbert. Aurora is really similiar to Mesa-- a giant suburb that has some old, rundown areas and some new areas too. Overall, Denver has more in common with Chicago than does Phoenix.

Regading the weather:
You guys are exaggerating big time. The coldest I've ever experienced in Denver was -10 degrees, and I didn't really "experience" anything because that was the temperature late at night, and I was in a warm house. And that is an extremely rare, freak event, about as often as Phoenix getting over 120 degrees. For the OP-- Phoenix can get pretty hot-- we had a bunch of days this year around 112 degrees, and July 4th, was 117 degrees, but 120 degrees is REALLY rare. In Denver, 95% of the time, the daytime highs in the winter will fluctuate somewhere between 20 and 50 degrees, with night time lows in the teens. Sure, that's cold, but it's not "your-going-to-die" cold. Get a nice ski jacket and presto, problem solved! What people here don't get is that snow is a good thing. It adds variation to the year. Getting snow is normal. Living in a place with no snow is not normal.

BTW, I was back home last winter when Denver got pounded with the double mega-snow storm, and I was here this summer when Phoenix had 30+ days of above 110 degree temperatures. After experiencing both extremes within one calendar year, I will confidently say that Phoenix's year round weather setup is worse. Why? Think of it in terms of pain. Denver's cold and snow is an accute pain-- like getting pricked with a needle. It sucks for the moment, but it's over before you know it, the sun comes out (even in the winter, Denver is VERY sunny), it might warm up into the 40s or 50s, and you can enjoy being outside again. Denver's summer is hot too, but it cools down comfortably at night, there's frequent afternoon mini-showers, and there's more variation of the temperatures. Phoenix, on the other hand, is more of a low intensity, but annoying headache that never goes away. For six months straight, 24/7, you'll be living in relentless heat that never goes away. No breaks, no variation.

I've really, really tried hard to like Phoenix the several years I've been here, and at times I did. I've tried to have a positive attitude. Unfortunately, I'm starting to think now that when you look at all the good and bad with this place, the overall package just doesn't add up. Eight more months and I'm out of here-- and there's probably a 75% chance I'm going back to Denver. So, for the short story: I'd choose Denver.

[johnfthorley]

The bottom line here is that the entire Phoenix metro area used to be a nice, clean, safe place to live. Now it's been overrun with illegals and crime and even the "nice" places like Scottsdale have turned into garbage. If you go way up north to the "affluent" areas well it's so desolate and dusty that it's depressing.

Denver takes the cake all the way.