Retirement in the City of Maricopa (Phoenix, Chandler: low crime, houses, utilities)

[slice235]

Considering retiring in the City of Maricopa. Would appreciate comments on the pros and cons of this community. Specific questions would be wind conditions, agricultural odors, traffic into Phoenix, utility costs, quality of local shopping and restaurants, crime, etc.

Thank you

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by slice235

Considering retiring in the City of Maricopa. Would appreciate comments on the pros and cons of this community. Specific questions would be wind conditions, agricultural odors, traffic into Phoenix, utility costs, quality of local shopping and restaurants, crime, etc.

Thank you

I've owned 3 houses there since 2011 and here are my thoughts:

The pros are low cost housing, proximity to Phoenix, low crime, friendly people.

Cons are not many jobs or services there, traffic is bad at rush hour to Phoenix, bad cow manure smell when the wind blows from the dairy, utilities are high.

Wife and I had planned to winter there after I retired (16 months ago) but family circumstances and now CV-19 have stopped us until this thing is over. We had considered retiring there full time but poor air quality (wife has asthma), the dairy smells and limited services has us looking at other options in southern Arizona.

[AZPam]

Maricopa is a great community! My only concern there for retirement is lack of medical. Closest hospital is in Chandler, so quite a drive, especially if there is traffic.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by AZPam

Maricopa is a great community! My only concern there for retirement is lack of medical. Closest hospital is in Chandler, so quite a drive, especially if there is traffic.

Thanks for adding that, no hospital probably is the biggest negative for retirees. I hope they get one soon. If you can afford it and don't mind the larger city and traffic, Chandler is a much better location.

[sh9730]

Or Casa Grande in the same price range...basic same travel distances, but much more infrastructure , including a full service Banner Hospital.

[slice235]

Would anyone know the common wind conditions in Maricopa. Casa Grande 20 min. away is very windy and therefore not a consideration. Yes I understand the desert is naturally windy, but some areas are consistently windy (ie. 10mph - 20 mph+). Wish to avoid these locations.

[sh9730]

Originally Posted by slice235

Would anyone know the common wind conditions in Maricopa. Casa Grande 20 min. away is very windy and therefore not a consideration. Yes I understand the desert is naturally windy, but some areas are consistently windy (ie. 10mph - 20 mph+). Wish to avoid these locations.

There will be virtually no difference in wind (or weather for that matter) from Casa Grande to Maricopa. In the summer, storms pop up here and there and one day could hit CG and another Maricopa and miss the other completely.

As you say - wind is always a factor in the desert - especially in the outskirts.

Best of luck - doesn't sound like either place is for you. I was just pointing out that CG had more of your other requests in place than Maricopa does currently. Eventually you will not be able to tell the difference between the two as city limits border each other and as development occurs they will merge. Only small pockets of the Ak Chin Indian community will separate them.

When will that occur? Who knows for sure. There are already plans towards the city limits of both communities along the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by slice235

Would anyone know the common wind conditions in Maricopa. Casa Grande 20 min. away is very windy and therefore not a consideration. Yes I understand the desert is naturally windy, but some areas are consistently windy (ie. 10mph - 20 mph+). Wish to avoid these locations.

I've struggled to find reliable data on winds speeds at different locations. I checked the CD site for cities and they have Maricopa having slightly less average monthly wind speeds than Casa Grande and definitely not enough to make a marked difference to make a determination on whether to live in either.

Anecdotally, I've heard that wind born dust storms are most common from outside of Marana to Casa Grande.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

I've struggled to find reliable data on winds speeds at different locations. I checked the CD site for cities and they have Maricopa having slightly less average monthly wind speeds than Casa Grande and definitely not enough to make a marked difference to make a determination on whether to live in either.

Anecdotally, I've heard that wind born dust storms are most common from outside of Marana to Casa Grande.

It seems the prevailing winds change by the season as well. See https://leafnetworkaz.org/resources/...Directions.pdf . I'm not sure how that all plays into the cause of the dust storms.

[KurtAZ]

If you are retiring...and want to be in that area, why not consider Sun Lakes?