Carefree/Cave Creek (Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale: relocate, job, housing)

[frogandtoad]

How is this area for raising kids? As in...are there lots of families there, or is it largely a retired population? Are there activities for the kids to enjoy the natural landscape? We are not into shopping at all, and have visited the area and found it to be beautiful. We didn't see any kids, which is not surprising during a heatwave, but wonder whether it's the kind of place kids would all play in the neighborhood, where there is a tight-knit community, etc?

The other place we're considering is Boulder and it largely comes down to which is a "better" (I know that's subjective!) place to raise kids. We can afford both Carefree and Boulder and commuting isn't an issue...this all comes down to personal choice and with only 3 days in each place to check them out, it's a tough decision!! We did look around a LOT of other areas in Phoenix and Carefree/Cave Creek is the only one we just loved.

[frogandtoad]

Anyone have any input on Carefree/Cave Creek and whether it's a good place to raise a family?

Thanks.

[az4good]

Carefree has a very small town feel to it. The houses tend to be on acreage so you won't have kids out in the street playing. The one person I know who lived up there really liked it and had 3 little kids.

We lived in Ft. Collins for a few years so I have some knowledge of Boulder.
You're kind of comparing apples to oranges as Boulder is a fairly big city and Carefree is a little nothing of a place.

If I had to pick based on what I know I would go with Boulder. The schools are better, you get pretty much 4 seasons without a completely miserable winter and I would imagine Denver has a better economy/job market. Boulder is kind of snobby and there is a ton of money. Though I live in Scottsdale now and I imagine it isn't much different. They also are built out so housing is completely ridiculous (or it was).

I find Carefree kind of blah so I wouldn't want to live there myself. The area just doesn't do anything for me. If we had to leave AZ, the Denver area would be my first choice of where to relocate.

Sorry I wasn't much help. I'd go with your gut on this one.

[omle]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

How is this area for raising kids? As in...are there lots of families there, or is it largely a retired population? Are there activities for the kids to enjoy the natural landscape? We are not into shopping at all, and have visited the area and found it to be beautiful. We didn't see any kids, which is not surprising during a heatwave, but wonder whether it's the kind of place kids would all play in the neighborhood, where there is a tight-knit community, etc?

The other place we're considering is Boulder and it largely comes down to which is a "better" (I know that's subjective!) place to raise kids. We can afford both Carefree and Boulder and commuting isn't an issue...this all comes down to personal choice and with only 3 days in each place to check them out, it's a tough decision!! We did look around a LOT of other areas in Phoenix and Carefree/Cave Creek is the only one we just loved.

Carefree is beautiful (I live here)...but there are very, very few kids. Mostly retired people with a growing number of artists, writers, etc. Most of the people I know up here are in the arts and work out of their homes. A few have kids but the kids are either tiny or nearly grown. I don't think it's an ideal "family" kind of place.

Cave Creek really is a great "family" place. You can get a great house in North Cave Creek (north of the "downtown") have horses, or other animals, maybe 5 acres....lots of people have young families and the schools are nice. It's got a rural feel, but quite upscale....but Cave Creek still has a lot of old desert people, too....so it's very odd and fun, too. There is a parade every year that the high school kids paricipate in...Very nice area for teens. Not a "hard" kind of place with "city" problems. JMHO.

[frogandtoad]

Thanks for the feedback from you both!!

We've spent time in both Boulder and Carefree. Job market isn't an issue, nor is price. More about where we want to raise the kids. I could do w/o 4 seasons myself but I can see the appeal for kids! I thought the schools in Carefree/Cave Creek were supposed to be excellent so I'll have to look into that some more. If they are not as good as Boulder (which I also heard/saw on Greatschools is excellent) then that would make the decision for us.

So if Carefree is lots of retirees, few kids, then that's not something we'd want. Even Cave Creek...if everyone has 5 acres, it's not really what I want. We're on 2 acres now and few kids here. I often wish the kids could just head out the door on their bikes (w/me watching of course!) and ride around the neighborhood like I did as a child.

I'm fine with it being a "small town" feel. I would like that actually, esp. if everything I could possibly want and not get there could be found 15 min. away in Scottsdale. Boulder is a bit "urban" for me for the most part, although there are areas there which would fit the bill for us.

OK, this is good info, thanks!! My husband wants to move to Boulder--I am the holdup here as I loved living in Tucson and have been leaning toward Carefree/Cave Creek.

[omle]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

Thanks for the feedback from you both!!

We've spent time in both Boulder and Carefree. Job market isn't an issue, nor is price. More about where we want to raise the kids. I could do w/o 4 seasons myself but I can see the appeal for kids! I thought the schools in Carefree/Cave Creek were supposed to be excellent so I'll have to look into that some more. If they are not as good as Boulder (which I also heard/saw on Greatschools is excellent) then that would make the decision for us.

So if Carefree is lots of retirees, few kids, then that's not something we'd want. Even Cave Creek...if everyone has 5 acres, it's not really what I want. We're on 2 acres now and few kids here. I often wish the kids could just head out the door on their bikes (w/me watching of course!) and ride around the neighborhood like I did as a child.

I'm fine with it being a "small town" feel. I would like that actually, esp. if everything I could possibly want and not get there could be found 15 min. away in Scottsdale. Boulder is a bit "urban" for me for the most part, although there are areas there which would fit the bill for us.

OK, this is good info, thanks!! My husband wants to move to Boulder--I am the holdup here as I loved living in Tucson and have been leaning toward Carefree/Cave Creek.

If you have a minute or two do a search on DC Ranch. It's a development in far North Scottsdale. If money is not so much an issue, it might be of interest to you. It is a LOVELY development and far north of city stuff, but close to shopping, etc. I'm suggesting this area because it is very family oriented but has a beautiful desert look that is like Carefree/Cave Creek. I have a friend that lives there with her two kids (6 & 9) and they ride their bikes from one house to another all day long. The school is great, crime is pretty much non existant, the houses are beautiful and there are mountain vistas everywhere you look. Try Googling DC Ranch Scottsdale Arizona and you'll find a lot, I guess. Maybe something you'll like!

[frogandtoad]

We actually looked at DC Ranch but it wasn't what we were looking for....we are looking for more natural areas and loved that Carefree/Cave Creek are right at the base of the mountains b/c we love to do outdoorsy things rather than shop.

I think the way they did the shops at DC Ranch are really beautiful--I love what they did there, but it wasn't screaming "let's hike and bike!" to me the way Carefree/Cave Creek were if that makes sense...

[CaveCreekMom]

I'm not sure if Phoenix has more to offer kids but we've been sad to realize there's nothing much for kids here in Cave Creek. We have a small child and there's no playgrounds nearby, there aren't any activities for small children, parks and rec doesn't have any programs such as classes a person (of any age) can take like golf lessons for kids, yoga for adults, etc. We're actually considering leaving our dream home to move to OH just because this isn't such a great place to raise a child. School systems aren't so good. There have been sex abuse issues in the MIDDLE school in the past few years.

Not sure if this is too late. Just saw your post as I was searching for anything to do for small kids in the area.

[altus2006]

My dad lives in Desert Mountain, which is about 5 miles from Carefree. One thing I don't like about Carefree is that it does not have a grocery store, so my dad has to drive about 10 miles to the nearest store in Cave Creek.

In his area, there are a lot of critters that would make me uneasy about letting my kids out to play by themselves. I have seen rattle snakes, a mountain lion, big deer and bobcats near his house.

The area is all too "natural" for my liking. I don't know if Carefree and Cave Creek have as many critters, but it is worth checking out before you move there with little kids.

altus2006

[AZHawkeye]

I belong to a Cave Creek moms group thru meetup.com and there are 100 moms in our group. We are pretty active. So there are definitely kids in Cave Creek.
As far as kids going off and riding their bikes, etc. just remember, it is super HOT here in the summer. I do not know how old your kids are, but I have 2 little ones and it is miserable in the summer because we are stuck indoors. The parks are too hot and sometimes it is even too hot and sunny to go in our pool. I know that sounds crazy! I actually love Colorado and we are hoping to move out there in the next couple of years. I just don't think AZ is the best place to raise kids, IMO. That is probably because I am from the midwest and I miss the seasons and want my kids to experience them as well. Good luck!