Looking for a family oriented neighborhood in the west Phoenix area... (Glendale: apartment complexes, rental)

[debreena1]

Hello I currently moved to Phoenix, AZ due to work. My fiance and children will be joining me at the end of July. My cousin lives in the Camelback Ranch subdivision zip code 85037. I would love to live near her, however my children love playing out side and like my fiance and I love making new friends. If anyone can recommended a safe, clean, nice, family oriented neighborhood with a lot of families with younger children around Glendale, Peoria, Lichfield, Avondale, or west Phoenix area. We first would like to rent then eventually buy house. Thank you in advance and please don't hold back the more information is better ;-)

[sunluv]

Start driving. Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Pk, Glendale.

[El_Waiboi]

What is your approximate rental budget?

[debreena1]

@sunluv I dr!ove around for hours yesterday morning in these areas and never seen any children anywhere not even at the parks in the neighborhoods. @El_Waiboi we would like to stay under $1,000 a month.

[observer53]

Just because you don't see kids in a park or out on the street on a summer day doesn't mean it's not a family friendly neighborhood.

[debreena1]

I didn't say it did... I was replying to someone who said drive around. Now since I didn't see any children playing I thought you lovely people could direct me to a nice area since I'm new here. Hell eveywhere I drove looked nice and clean. I just want my kids to have neighborhood friends to play with since their loosing all their neighborhood friends back in Georgia.

[observer53]

Which is why driving around, at least this time of year, isn't always the best indicator. But, if you find a neighborhood with a park and a play area in it, you can bet there are families living there.

I'm sure people who live in the areas will chime in with some specific suggestions. Good luck!

[Ponderosa]

Try googling some of these for ideas:

Stetson Valley (NW Phoenix)
Vistancia (Peoria)
Estrella (Goodyear)
Canyon Trails (Goodyear)
Crystal Gardens (Avondale)
Coldwater Springs (Avondale)

of those Vistancia and Estrella are on the more expensive side with extensive community facilities including private waterparks and lakes. The Avondale ones are on the lower end of the price scale but nice.
As for kids, you won't see them until school starts in August (yes the beginning of August) and then you will wonder where they all came from. Many people leave town here in summer to visit relatives because everyone moved here from somewhere else. The ones who stay tend to shelter in place from the heat, coming out at night or to go into the pool for a while. Things pick up in September and it is outdoor play for about 8 straight months.

[El_Waiboi]

Ponderosa's post above ^^ has some solid advice.

The only thing I would add is that if you want to check out some cheaper options there are a bunch of new apartment complexes on McDowell between 79th Ave - 115th Ave. Granted - May will consider this a less "desirable" area, but it's safe and definitely worth mentioning IMO.

[debreena1]

Thanks Ponderosa and El_waiboi