People in Metro Phoenix Suburbs Most Similar to? (Scottsdale, Chandler: transplants, neighborhoods)

[Solere]

I've lived in the suburbs metro Phoenix all my life and was wondering if the people and lifestyle of them remind you of any other metro area in the United States? For example, do the attitudes, personalities, lifestyles etc of people and your neighbors in Peoria, Scottsdale, Chandler etc remind of of those in the suburbs of Atlanta, Los Angeles, or Chicago? Can you say that if it weren't for the climate and topography, my neighbors and the people I interact with remind of me being in metro ______ or a certain suburb of metro______? I know the center city, downtown and rural areas of a metro area are very unique in the ambiance, character etc, but is suburban Phoenix pretty much like suburban anywhere else in the USA?

[Bondurant]

This is the second largest metro area I have lived in. The others being Chicago, Grand Rapids and Scranton. For the most part people are the same no matter where I have lived. I don't think people here are ruder nor nicer than other places. Aside from the climate and topography I'd say every place I've lived is essentially the same.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Happs

For example, do the attitudes, personalities, lifestyles etc of people and your neighbors in Peoria, Scottsdale, Chandler etc remind of of those in the suburbs of Atlanta, Los Angeles, or Chicago? Can you say that if it weren't for the climate and topography, my neighbors and the people I interact with remind of me being in metro ______ or a certain suburb of metro______? I know the center city, downtown and rural areas of a metro area are very unique in the ambiance, character etc, but is suburban Phoenix pretty much like suburban anywhere else in the USA?

Phoenix suburbs tend to be very large in area & population, which reminds me a lot of suburban Los Angeles. And like the L.A. area, many people commute to & from the downtown area for their jobs, but a good share of them also commute to various parts of the metro area (suburb to suburb) for employment. I would say that southern CA has had a big influence on the Phoenix area in many ways, including the look, feel, and size of many suburban areas.

[Burning Madolf]

First you would have to identify a suburb that has people (not including students) moving to it every year from almost every state in the union as well as Canada.

As Valley Native said that would probably leave you with Southern CA, but many of the people I've met have said S.CA was out of the question because of taxes, population, etc.

[Champ2399]

Scottsdale is a lot like Overland Park, Kansas ... just turned upside down. Narrow but with a far reach north and south. The northern part of Overland Park is like southern Scottsdale, with neighborhoods that are older, but not ghetto or run down by any means.

Then as you head south through Overland Park, more trails, golf courses...newer buildings and shopping centers, gradually getting more and more upscale until you see properties with horses and more rural area.

Both are definitely conservative areas politically. Very family-oriented and the quality of the schools determines the choice of location.

Overland Park does get a fair share of Midwest transplants also, mainly from Nebraska, Iowa, and the rest of Kansas. Not quite the variety of the Valley ... but enough to keep the population growing.

There's also a town called Leawood next to Overland Park that shares a lot of qualities with Scottsdale. In fact, I think Leawood ranks pretty close to S'dale for household income and wealth.