Area around Mesa , AZ (Phoenix, Scottsdale: best city, crime, homes)

[luvhawaiiboys]

Thinking about moving to the Mesa area for my husbands job. Where is a good /safe neighborhood and should we even move to AZ. We live in the Newport/ Costa Mesa CA area, and we really feel safe here, but we are sick of the rat race and working our butts off to get no where.

Thank you !

[Irvinedebs]

Originally Posted by luvhawaiiboys

Thinking about moving to the Mesa area for my husbands job. Where is a good /safe neighborhood and should we even move to AZ. We live in the Newport/ Costa Mesa CA area, and we really feel safe here, but we are sick of the rat race and working our butts off to get no where.

Thank you !

I am also thinking about moving to the Phoeniz area this summer I was looking into the Gilbert and Peoria areas, I currently live in Irvine, like you I am so sick and tired of this rat race out here in Orange County and I also work my butt off and still have nothing. It is way to expensive to continue living out here in the OC. I hope someone answers your post.

[JeepGirl118]

Luv, I am formerly from Phoenix - moved out of Fountain Hills in December. Sorry no one has answered you yet. Everyone must be on their boats at the lake this weekend having fun in the sun.

There are many sketchy/unsafe areas of Mesa. Your best bet (not the "only" bet, but the *best bet*) is East Mesa (if it must be Mesa) or Tempe. If you consider the south end of Scottsdale - beware of some of those neighborhoods in the south end as many of them have declined. You can always look into Gilbert as well - Gilbert is a cool community. Not sure where your spouse's job is - but it's worth a looksie.

[aj661]

luvhawaiiboys, you are the only one who can answer whether or not you should move to AZ. If you decide to come, we'd need more info on your family (age bracket, kids or not, what can you afford, homebodies or go out often, etc, etc) to point you toward the best city for you. Mesa is a decent city overall, but it has some bad areas-predominately the west/central and northwest. Most of the east side is okay, northeast around Red Mountain being the most exclusive. Mesa is not exactly a hot spot for young people. There are plenty of generic restaurants and lots of generic shopping, but trendy bars (clubs) are few and far between. If you have kids and enjoy taking them to the park, look at Gilbert. (The best we can do for a beach is in Tempe just south of the Scottsdale border on Hayden Road--Big Surf). Gilbert is a little more expensive but personally I liked living there more than in Mesa. We lived within walking distance of Freestone Park which had a miniature train ride that the kids enjoyed when they were little. Mesa is a large city geographically, so if your husband will be working in Mesa anywhere other than the west side, Tempe could be an expensive commute at $4.00+ per gallon. From our part of Mesa, the closest Tempe border is almost 20 miles away.

[Captain Bill]

It's already been mentioned that Northeast Mesa is a nice area, and there are also nice areas with less expensive homes in East Mesa south of the highway 60.

My daughter lives in east Mesa about 2 miles east of the GM Proving Grounds, and I own an investment home in east Mesa near Signal Butte and Baseline, in the Desert Ridge High School District.

Much will depend on how far you need to commute and the price range for the size home you wish to have. Commuting is not as bad as it is in CA. We have our share of bad impatient drivers, but it's still better than CA, in my opinion.

For the person mentioning Peoria and Gilbert, Peoria is in the northwest Phoenix area, and Gilbert is in the East Valley, mostly situated below Mesa with the dividing line mostly being Baseline Rd. Gilbert is one of the safer towns and is a friendly family oriented area. I live in Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert. We moved here from the Bay Area 4 years ago, and love it here.

The hot weather is easy to get used to for most people because most of the time the humidity is so low. On occassion it will go up, but not much.

[Great Joy]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

For the person mentioning Peoria and Gilbert, Peoria is in the northwest Phoenix area, and Gilbert is in the East Valley, mostly situated below Mesa with the dividing line mostly being Baseline Rd. Gilbert is one of the safer towns and is a friendly family oriented area. I live in Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert. We moved here from the Bay Area 4 years ago, and love it here.

I agree with Capt Bill. Gilbert is nice and safer, and so is Peoria. Gilbert is SE and Peoria is NW. Here's a map to help visualize the Phoenix area which includes city boundaries: http://www.cityofmesa.org/maps/pdf/valley_freeways.pdf Best wishes!

[shilo0854]

here is a link you may be able to look up info on safety
Arizona Department of Public Safety :: Official Homepage
I'll try and find my others. I live in Mesa and do like it but you do need to really be sure of what areas. I have also lived in Gilbert for 17 years and like it. Less areas of questionable population. All areas do have some crime and have good areas, Tempe, Chandler,Phx etc.

[shilo0854]

CityOfMesa [Home]
another link

[luvhawaiiboys]

Thank you all! All of your info has been very helpful!
I have been hearing nothing but GREAT things about Gilbert and I do have a toddler and the park w/ the train would be right up his alley. So Gilbert is sounding like the place. My husband would work in Mesa which isn't that far right? We will definitely be taking a road trip soon.

Thanks Again!

[PhxBarb]

SpotCrime - Know Your Neighborhood is another of those websites.