Help me decide if moving to Gilbert/Chandler area is a good idea.. Thank you! (Phoenix: buying a house)

[taldv]

Hi,
We're (wife+2) planning to move end of June to Gilbert or Chandler AZ. We visited the area for a week and really liked it. Recent heard about the large community of Mormons around this area, after reading and learning about the Mormons belief through official web sites, I know the Mormons are nothing but goodness. Thus, in many forums I've read that they are usually meeting with their kind only and not befriend with others. I have 2 boys 11 and 9 which are very nice and friendly and I'm wondering if limiting friendships options is the right thing to do for them? We're Jewish but not orthodox, we believe in g_d and we love sharing this land with other believers.. We're just looking to find a good quality place to settle. It's a big step for us, especially for the fact that we're investing in buying a house in this area. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you, T.
P.S.
I'm also planning to open art school for kids & adults at this area. I had a successfu art school here in Orange County, CA..any advise here might help, tnx!

[sandy6879]

There is a strong Mormon community in the area, however, there are many who are all different religions as well. They won't be shunned, but they may not be invited to birthday parties, sleepovers, etc. of the children who are Mormon. My daughter made friends with no problem, and she does have Mormon friends, but she understands that they aren't allowed to have sleepovers. Gilbert and Chandler are both great areas for raising a family.

[observer53]

The reported population of Gilbert is only about 13 percent Mormon. You are going to find a lot of great neighborhoods there (and in Chandler) where, as the above poster indicates, there is not going to be a significant problem with what you are concerned about.

[PlainWhite]

The largest, most concentrated population of Jewish people in the Valley is in Scottsdale. There are several synagogues and a beautiful JCC there.

[BuckeyeBoyDJ]

Chandler and Gilbert are great areas to raise a family....no argument there at all. Chandler is personally more to my liking. It's suburban enough yet close enough to Tempe, Phoenix, and Scottsdale. It's also more diverse than Gilbert. Gilbert is very suburban and far out. It's not that diverse at all. My girlfriend and I are pretty much the only black people at San Tan Village on the rare occasion we do go to Gilberto. Although the Mormon thing is definitely over hyped, the LDS church however does run the town government but that's not a bad thing just a lot of people dislike that. Being Jewish like someone mentioned above there is a more visible presence of a the Jewish community in Scottsdale and Central Phoenix.

[DetroitN8V]

Chandler and Gilbert are both very nice areas. In Scottsdale, both my new neighbors are Jewish and we have have no shortage of menorah and dreidel displays around the holidays. I know you said you're not orthodox but there are also several Kosher restaurants around town too. As others have said, Scottsdale has a larger Jewish population.

[MissMinority]

This is very interesting that you point out the fact that the population of Mormons has declined; to the point where they are actually a minority. I do not know how accurate this information is or where it was obtained; but if you live, work, or have children who attend Gilbert schools, this low percentage just doesn't seem to be accurate. I did however read another person's post on this forum validating your point; that the percentage of Mormons is actually not as high as one would think (or as it used to be) HOWEVER....the percentage that does exist, happen to be some of the oldest, prestigious families in AZ, they are in control politically and active in the school board which has recently caused some major problems. So, even though the percentage itself may be low; its the point is that this now "small" group of people take up all the positions of power.

"They won't be shunned....but may not be invited to birthday parties, sleepovers"....I have a true understanding of what you are saying here and I agree. I have experienced a charter school situation where over 90% of the students and staff were Mormon. Though it's true that I did not see any outright bullying, shunning, or hostile behavior; I did see that the students that were not Mormon; not part of the inner circle of the Ward and tight nit community, did not have opportunities to socialize outside of school. They were left out and excluded. Unfortunately, even though it's not done with malice, and I wouldn't label it being shunned; it's certainly not what you'd want for yourself or your child. Who wants to feel excluded, left out, not part of a very close group, and the feeling of never really being accepted for who you are? It is something to be concerned about as a parent. Be concerned, and know this is what you may be putting at stake when living in this community and enrolling your child in a Gilbert school.