Moving from Oklahoma to Mesa? (Phoenix, Scottsdale: apartments, job, campus)

[srb11]

I am a college transfer student who is moving from Oklahoma this fall to attend ASU. I have been looking at apartments in East Mesa for awhile and I have found several potentials. But I have heard alot of bad things about Mesa, like it is a ghetto town and the it is a too dangerous city for a single college student. I am wondering where is a safe place to live in Mesa? And if not there how about the surrounding towns? I did not want to move to the campus or anywhere near it because I hear it is not the safest place to live in Phoenix.

[JenniferAZ]

I am a native, and attended ASU... I totally disagree!! If I were you, I would move as close to campus as you can! Tempe is definitely safe, and a way more fun area than Mesa. Mesa is safe, there are some bad areas, but not like you'll get murdered or anything. East Mesa is very trailer trashy... Chandler is nice, and pretty hip... safe too. But I'd go for Tempe, and be close to school. The commute can be hellish, I did it for 4 years! Hope this helps.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by JenniferAZ

I am a native, and attended ASU... I totally disagree!! If I were you, I would move as close to campus as you can! Tempe is definitely safe, and a way more fun area than Mesa. Mesa is safe, there are some bad areas, but not like you'll get murdered or anything. East Mesa is very trailer trashy... Chandler is nice, and pretty hip... safe too. But I'd go for Tempe, and be close to school. The commute can be hellish, I did it for 4 years! Hope this helps.

Jennifer is right man, I would really recommend looking closer to campus if you want a short commute or none at all.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by srb11

I am a college transfer student who is moving from Oklahoma this fall to attend ASU. I have been looking at apartments in East Mesa for awhile and I have found several potentials. But I have heard alot of bad things about Mesa, like it is a ghetto town and the it is a too dangerous city for a single college student. I am wondering where is a safe place to live in Mesa? And if not there how about the surrounding towns? I did not want to move to the campus or anywhere near it because I hear it is not the safest place to live in Phoenix.

This is like someone who got a job in downtown asking where to live in South Phoenix because they heard downtown is dangerous. Trust me, you want to live on campus because its safer than most parts of Mesa. Tempe is a nice community and pretty wealthy too. It's not your typical college town. There were many safe and nice areas on campus. Whoever told you that being near campus is unsafe is highly uninformed. Tempe would outshine most "upscale" cities in many parts of the country. Have you been to Norman? Okay, Tempe is 3 times nicer than Norman so hopefully that should give you some idea that it's decent to say the least. Whatever you do, don't move to east Mesa, it's very trailerpark out there

[mesamom]

Definitely live either on campus or close to campus. From Northeast Mesa the commute would be 35 minutes - with minimal traffic. It's like going to work. Don't do it until you HAVE to. Mesa is not all that bad. I would much rather live in Mesa than anywhere in Phoenix (except Awhatukee). However, it is definitely not very college oriented. You will most likely be driving to Tempe or Scottsdale all of the time to "go out". Might as well live where you work/learn/play.