Future outlook of Queen Creek - affluent or ghetto? (Phoenix: hotel, custom home)

[i'm not a cookie]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

This made me laugh, but to each their own!

Every single time he/she writes ANYTHING about the Phoenix metro area I laugh.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by Ranger21

Depends if the majority of the population out there is as under educated, under employed, and rife with single parent households as the majority of the valley is.

If you want to say that about the valley, you better include the entire US of A.

Maricopa County has about 4 million residents. About 85% of them are white. The median value of an owner-occupied home is $175,600 and the median gross rent is over $900. Where do people move here from? In Wisconsin the median is $167,100. In Minnesota, it's $187,99. In Illinois, it's $182,300. Of course it's not sensible to compare anywhere in AZ to states where housing value are very inflated, such as California or Massachusetts. My point is, Maricopa County's median is reasonable.

More than 86% of the population has a high school degree and 30% have one or more college degrees. That is almost EXACTLY the national average for people between the ages of 25 and 65, according to the Census Bureau.

Maricopa county's median household income (figured in 2014 dollars) is $53,689. That compares favorably to the U.S. average which was $51,939 in 2014. About 17% of county residents live at the Federal poverty level (compared to 13.5% nationally). 26% of the population is under 18 and about 14% are over 65.

There is nothing unusual about single-parent households. This chart from U.S. county public health rankings shows that the percentage of single parent households in Maricopa County is better than the state's average. Only four counties rank slightly lower.
Health Rankings | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
In fact, Maricopa county's statistic for single parent households is far better than the national average, which the Pew Research Center estimates is now more than 50%, more than three times the number in 1960.

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl

If you want to say that about the valley, you better include the entire US of A.

Maricopa County has about 4 million residents. About 85% of them are white. The median value of an owner-occupied home is $175,600 and the median gross rent is over $900. Where do people move here from? In Wisconsin the median is $167,100. In Minnesota, it's $187,99. In Illinois, it's $182,300. Of course it's not sensible to compare anywhere in AZ to states where housing value are very inflated, such as California or Massachusetts. My point is, Maricopa County's median is reasonable.

More than 86% of the population has a high school degree and 30% have one or more college degrees. That is almost EXACTLY the national average for people between the ages of 25 and 65, according to the Census Bureau.

Maricopa county's median household income (figured in 2014 dollars) is $53,689. That compares favorably to the U.S. average which was $51,939 in 2014. About 17% of county residents live at the Federal poverty level (compared to 13.5% nationally). 26% of the population is under 18 and about 14% are over 65.

There is nothing unusual about single-parent households. This chart from U.S. county public health rankings shows that the percentage of single parent households in Maricopa County is better than the state's average. Only four counties rank slightly lower.
Health Rankings | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
In fact, Maricopa county's statistic for single parent households is far better than the national average, which the Pew Research Center estimates is now more than 50%, more than three times the number in 1960.

The only concern about your comparisons is that you are comparing Maricopa County (with rich areas and poor areas) to entire Midwest states which isn't a fair comparison. It would be more fair to compare city by city, as most people move here for cheap housing WHILE having city amenities. So if we compare Phoenix metro's median house costs versus Minneapolis, or Chicago, or Indianapolis... that we be more justified.

[DougStark]

^^^^^ I agree JTW.

[jvalen34]

Queen Creek is constantly making very good progress since it gets something new every day and it keeps becoming more similar to Gilbert in terms of affluence. However, STV doesn't seem to be going anywhere since there is NO economic/commercial development whatsoever, most of it is still trashy, and its way too cheap to ever become nice. So in short words, Queen Creek could very well become a notably affluent area, STV not so much.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Development patterns over time in the metro suggest exactly the opposite of what you imply. Older areas decline and newer areas improve. Maryvale did not start out at the top of affluence, but that whole area was middle class in the 1980s. It declined as people moved out to the exurbs. People move further and further out for new homes, the latest in shopping malls, theaters, etc and the old areas turn into, while not Maryvales, certainly less desirable areas. It's already happened to vast areas of Phoenix proper, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, and even Chandler.

I generally agree about the leap frog development element, but there are instances where location and home build quality negate this problem. For example, the Broadmoor/Mach8 area of Tempe is old, but maintains a reasonable quality because 1) Orbit runs right up the middle of it providing free public transportation into both Downtown Tempe/ASU and the Light Rail and 2) those houses are built very well. Some are 60+ years old and are impeccable.

Contrasted with Maryvale and other John F. Long homes which while quality enough to stand, are comprised of low cost materials and little incentive for upgrade. Why fix the plywood roof of a John F. Long when you can either roof paint over the shingles or place a tarp and some bricks?

This will be a problem for a lot of Peoria, Glendale and other similar areas. These areas offer cheap housing and not much else, the areas that offer housing and more (location, transportation, jobs and schools). Maryvale and the like offer none of that. Laveen is the same way. Tolleson, Avondale et al. Areas like Chandler will survive and are surviving in the older parts pretty decently because of the employment available in Chandler that others don't offer.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

Tolleson, Avondale et al. Areas like Chandler will survive and are surviving in the older parts pretty decently because of the employment available in Chandler that others don't offer.

Where Chandler seems to lag is public transportation despite the high amount of employment. Currently, Chandler ranks sixth in total bus ridership behind Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Glendale, despite having more employment (especially in the tech industry) than Mesa or Glendale. Chandler needs more bus service and IMO should have light rail lines along Chandler Boulevard (Pink Line) and Rural Road (Brown Line). A downtown circulator route wouldn't hurt either, considering Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Glendale have such routes.

[TanLegs]

Queen Creek is exploding, in everything, new store's, new restaurant's, 1000's & 1000's new homes coming
Right now, They are building there 1st new Fire Station, new police station for the future Queen Creek Police department
a 3rd new fire station 413 is going up on Sossman rd & Queen Creek Rd later this summer, plus 2 more are coming Station 414 at Riggs Rd & Signal Butte Rd and Station 415 & Queen Creek Rd & Signal Butte Rd, Also there is another large shopping center going in Ellsworth loop & Hunt Highway, Germann Rd is being built from Rittenhouse to Ironwoood, 3 new bridges over the railroad tracks for Germann Rd, Sossman Rd & Riggs Rd are coming to prepare for high speed rail
going right threw the middle of the town, SR24 Freeway is going to be expanded to Ironwood Rd , that just for starters

[murfslaw]

Originally Posted by lovecrowds

I like Queen Creek as it's much like Gilbert. Gilbert and Queen Creek offer a nice suburban lifestyle.

Queen Creek is and will continue to be a mecca of upper-middle class families who like a big house for a good price. It is a very stable area that growing fast and for good reason.

Most of the homes are new which is what a majority of Valley prefer. It has HOA's to keep the undesirable residents out. It is sterile, clean and very safe which is also a big benefit.

Queen Creek and Gilbert are the best cities by far for the dollar in the Phoenix area. Having lived in Gilbert it is amazing how superior Queen Creek and Gilbert are to other parts of the area.

As a person looking for the best place to retire, I have been viewing this forum for a while. Phoenix suburbs are on my short list. I have looked at Queens Creek and like the new developments. I have also looked at homes in Paradise Valley and am equally impressed. Why isn't Paradise Valley in this discussion? The location is certainly closer to the city and airport.

[swbrotha100]

Originally Posted by murfslaw

As a person looking for the best place to retire, I have been viewing this forum for a while. Phoenix suburbs are on my short list. I have looked at Queens Creek and like the new developments. I have also looked at homes in Paradise Valley and am equally impressed. Why isn't Paradise Valley in this discussion? The location is certainly closer to the city and airport.

The average person can't afford to live in Paradise Valley. Mostly very affluent people live there.

As far as Queen Creek, I don't see it being a bad area anytime soon, if ever. The only thing that may affect QC is if there was a really severe housing crash. But I think places like Chandler, Mesa, or even Gilbert would suffer before QC.