Glendale, Mesa, or Gilbert/Chandler?? (Phoenix: insurance, neighborhood, cost)

[sheena]

Originally Posted by PG77

Yeah, I have heard a lot of good things about Gilbert. When and if I make it there, I think I will try to move in that area. There was a certain tv show (dont want to advertise) on a certain tv network (dont want to advertise) on the other night and they featured places in AZ to live and Gilbert was one of the locations. I really liked what I saw.

House Hunters?

[sheena]

Originally Posted by skylamesa

I live in Mesa and have for most of my life. Mesa is okay it just depends where you live. The best area is between Lindsey and power between Mckellips and Thomas, but its not cheap at all. Gilbert is really nice and its cheaper than Scottsdale, stay away from Tempe.

East Mesa is ok too from Power to Ellsworth and Baseline to Elliot, except I don't care for that Mountain Ranch area off of Elliot in between Ellsworth and Signal Butte.

South Tempe is fine I would live there.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by PG77

Yeah, I have heard a lot of good things about Gilbert. When and if I make it there, I think I will try to move in that area. There was a certain tv show (dont want to advertise) on a certain tv network (dont want to advertise) on the other night and they featured places in AZ to live and Gilbert was one of the locations. I really liked what I saw.

Gilbert has a lot going for it. The police are great. They send out a weekly e-newsletter advising of road closures, security warnings ( recently they stated that vehicle burglaries have increased because of the holiday season and gave recommendations to help prevent it), and other information valuable to the city residents.

There are great schools, and communities. I'm partial to Val Vista Lakes, that just won the Gilbert Community of the Year Award. It's a lake community with plenty of activities for all ages, including tennis courts, handball courts, weight room, cardio room, junior olympic pool, spa, a sand volley ball court, and a sand beach pool, all sitting on the lake, and a $10,000,000 club house.

They have Magic Mountain, that's decorated with one million
Christmas lights this year and is open to the public on Fri, Sat and Sun evenings from 6 to 10 pm.

Santa Clause is at the gazebo on top of the mountain on Fri and Sat from 7 to 9 pm. The public is welcome on those days, and there is no charge.

This is not advertising; it is an invitation to visit a community to enjoy the lights and bring your kids to see Santa Clause. They do appreciate a donation of a can of food for their charity, but it is not required.

As I mentioned, this is free, and they open it to the public on those days as a public service for everyone to enjoy. People take tours to see the city Christmas lights and we get a lot of busses full of visitors.

Bill

[AZ_singlemother]

Glendale has some of the highest crime in the area. Mesa's crime is growing and is pretty high.

Gilbert is 2nd on safest city list and I know people who live there and love it. Obviously this should be the choice.

[PG77]

Originally Posted by sheena

House Hunters?

Very good! You have just won $1,000,000.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by PG77

Very good! You have just won $1,000,000.

I love house hunters!

[GilbertMom]

If one of you works in Scottsdale, I would get a home there, as one of the worst commutes is into/out of Scottsdale every day. The person working in Chandler would have a pretty easy reverse commute but it won't work the other way around.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

Glendale has some of the highest crime in the area. Mesa's crime is growing and is pretty high.

Gilbert is 2nd on safest city list and I know people who live there and love it. Obviously this should be the choice.

It's really not as easy as that to say Glendale has a higher crime rate. Glendale is huge. I would choose many areas of N Glendale over some of the areas in Gilbert and Chandler. Gilbert and Chandler have some scary areas as well as good areas. Chandler has a rapist running around at the moment.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by sheena

It's really not as easy as that to say Glendale has a higher crime rate. Glendale is huge. I would choose many areas of N Glendale over some of the areas in Gilbert and Chandler. Gilbert and Chandler have some scary areas as well as good areas. Chandler has a rapist running around at the moment.

Shenna, I think that is the same rapist that has hit Gilbert and Chandler. If I'm not mistaken he may be the one they suspect in the daylight attack of a young girl near Val Vista and Baseline.

Hopefully they'll catch him soon.

Bill

[cxray]

First, you have to assess what you mean by "North Scottsdale." North Scottsdale is very big and you may live closer to certain segments of it. For example, Arrowhead in Glendale is closer to the Frank Lloyd/Scottsdale and 101 junction than Shea and 101. There is no definite border that separates north from south. Some people think of Shea and Scottsdale as the start of North Scottsdale and others don't consider it north until you hit the Kierland/Frank Lloyd Wright area. That will make a big difference. What part of North Scottsdale will you be working in?

Chandler is really big and there is a signficant difference between living in the north and south. You can safely and realistically add 20-30 minutes to your commute if you live in South Chandler versus living in north Chandler. You have to account for all the lights and the 202 traffic if you live in South Chandler. Chandler is not close to North Scottsdale. I live in north Chandler and it's about 45 minutes-1 hour for me so add another 20-30 minutes for a South Chandler resident.

Glendale and West Mesa will be your closest options in terms of distance. If you live in Arrowhead, Glendale, it will be about 30-35 minutes to the Scottsdale/101/Frank Lloyd Wright area. If you live in west Mesa (Dobson), you will live close to the 101 and can reach Shea/101 in about 25-30 minutes.

I'm not advocating living in Glendale or Mesa but I am just discussing the commutes. You have to be careful when discussing driving distances because I find people are very biased and can provide unrealistic estimates. I have friends in Ocotillo who argue they can drive to downtown Phoenix in 20 minutes. I drive fast and live off the I-10 and Warner area and I can get to downtown in 20 minutes if I'm driving 90 mph the entire way so I fail to see how someone living in Ocotillo is going to get their in 20 minutes. Just use your common sense!