Moving to Tempe, can any locals share advice? (Mesa, Scottsdale: apartment complexes, crime)

[hellacious911]

I currently live in Rockford, IL and I'm looking to move to Tempe/Mesa area after I return from my deployment (End of september). I'm going to list a few pros/cons but I'm also looking for your advice on what area to move to in Tempe or if I should reconsider somewhere else close by.

Pros:
College town - decent nightlife and dating scene
I want to get away from chicago/northern winters. I dont mind the heat but I dislike cold weather
Not as expensive as chicago or other metro areas

Cons:
Violence/crime rate?
Schools aren't very good? (looking to get into a business program or go right back into a job that can open up to a career)

I'm a 23 year old male and my 19 year sister may move with me. Thanks for the help!

[cacto]

Move closer to downtown Tempe to really enjoy it as a twenty something. Don't get a place 3 or 4 miles from Mill Ave. and University and always try to drive downtown and back or take cabs. It's worth it to be closer to the action, the neighborhoods are more fun, with more interesting people always walking and biking down your street at all hours.

Mid Tempe by Baseline Rd. can be real bad for crime. I don't have statistics just years of experience working and living there. There's several large, inexpensive, apartment complexes along Baseline that are AZ's version of the projects. South Tempe can be nice, but boring.

Consider South Scottsdale too. It's just right over the river from Tempe and similar. You'll be in between Scottsdale and Tempe's nightlife. Scottsdale's got club type places with dancing and crappy dance music. Tempe has college kid bars with rock on the juke box and puke on the floor depending on your preference.

As far as schooling, people bag on ASU because it's the popular thing to do but it's a great school with a few nationally respected departments.

[LocoAZnative]

Originally Posted by cacto

Mid Tempe by Baseline Rd. can be real bad for crime. I don't have statistics just years of experience working and living there. There's several large, inexpensive, apartment complexes along Baseline that are AZ's version of the projects. South Tempe can be nice, but boring.

Moderator cut: rude Baseline isn't real bad for crime. I live in the area for decades never had to deal with crime.

To the OP the Kyrene school district is one of the best in the valley that is South Tempe.

[Goober13]

Apache Blvd, east of Mc Clintock towards Mesa is not desirable. The rest of Tempe would be fine.

[kremit]

Originally Posted by hellacious911

I currently live in Rockford, IL and I'm looking to move to Tempe/Mesa area after I return from my deployment (End of september). I'm going to list a few pros/cons but I'm also looking for your advice on what area to move to in Tempe or if I should reconsider somewhere else close by.

Pros:
College town - decent nightlife and dating scene
I want to get away from chicago/northern winters. I dont mind the heat but I dislike cold weather
Not as expensive as chicago or other metro areas

Cons:
Violence/crime rate?
Schools aren't very good? (looking to get into a business program or go right back into a job that can open up to a career)

I'm a 23 year old male and my 19 year sister may move with me. Thanks for the help!

If you are outgoing, downtown Tempe would be fine. Lots of nice girls to look at.

Violence/crime is more like petty theft and drunks. I would say Tempe is good for people with a level head and cool temper. Lots and lots of 20 somethings saying whatever they want with disregard if a fight would break out of it. Sticks and stones I say is Tempe.

Community colleges are ok, ASU is ok. I would look at the classes and see if it fits the bill.

[Golden_Monkey]

Programs at ASU are hit and miss, but the Business school is very reputable. I live a mile northwest of campus, and it's surprisingly quiet in my neighborhood, so you don't really have to move that far to get away from the Mill Avenue noise.

[ShampooBanana]

If you are 23 years old then close to ASU/downtown Tempe is the place to be. The other choice would be somewhere close to Old Town Scottsdale but it's going to be more expensive there. The Scottsdale scene is a bit older (mostly mid-20's to mid-30's), wealthier, and IMO more pretentious, however.

[cacto]

Originally Posted by LocoAZnative

Moderator cut: rude Baseline isn't real bad for crime. I live in the area for decades never had to deal with crime.

To the OP the Kyrene school district is one of the best in the valley that is South Tempe.

I've worked on Baseline in Tempe for 8 years and I've had my vehicle broken into, had neighboring businesses robbed at gunpoint multiple times, had a co-worker abducted at gunpoint on a smoke break, have had co-workers mugged on the way to work, and remember how close some of the Baseline Killer's murders have been to my work. If you live in a house in one of the neighborhoods around there I would bet it has been tranquil, but the apartments towards priest or so are pretty crappy [mod cut-- personal attack]

[Packard fan]

Originally Posted by Goober13

Apache Blvd, east of Mc Clintock towards Mesa is not desirable. The rest of Tempe would be fine.

It's changing. New apts going in like Griogio (sp).

[Packard fan]

Originally Posted by ShampooBanana

If you are 23 years old then close to ASU/downtown Tempe is the place to be. The other choice would be somewhere close to Old Town Scottsdale but it's going to be more expensive there. The Scottsdale scene is a bit older (mostly mid-20's to mid-30's), wealthier, and IMO more pretentious, however.

Agreed. I live near Old Town and it's not my thing tho I'm pushing 50 in a couple years.