Where to live in Phoenix for this hopeful newcomer? (Mesa: relocating, apartments)

[footballer0607]

I'm a lifelong resident of the Bay Area who's just completed his bachelor's degree. It looks as though I will be unable to cope with the cost of living in my hometown, and one of the places I'm seriously considering relocating to is the Phoenix area (within the next year after working to save up enough money). Visited relatives over Thanksgiving and enjoyed it very much. Anyway, I just have some basic questions. What are the pros and cons of the place? Are there any suburbs that are both affordable and safe while at the same time having a good mix of ethnicities? The downtown didn't seem to be that happening to me when I visited; if someone could elaborate on what the nightlife is like for younger people, I'd appreciate it.

[alpo73]

The safest is Gilbert of more east. You may want to be more centralized like Chandler/Tempe/Mesa. But with the new 202 freeway living East is easier to get around. The nightlife is in Tempe near ASU. The more upscale nightlife is in downtown Snobsdale. You may find good deals in the west valley, if you want to put up with traffic congestion, violence and just plain dirty. Everytime there is a shooting or an illegal drop house it seems to be in the west side. West phoenix is not a place you want to drive thru at night. The west side just seems to have a different feel, it doesnt feel friendly and safe like the east valley.
just my .02 I move here from Los Angeles 11 years ago and I love it.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by alpo73

The safest is Gilbert of more east. You may want to be more centralized like Chandler/Tempe/Mesa. But with the new 202 freeway living East is easier to get around. The nightlife is in Tempe near ASU. The more upscale nightlife is in downtown Snobsdale. You may find good deals in the west valley, if you want to put up with traffic congestion, violence and just plain dirty. Everytime there is a shooting or an illegal drop house it seems to be in the west side. West phoenix is not a place you want to drive thru at night. The west side just seems to have a different feel, it doesnt feel friendly and safe like the east valley.
just my .02 I move here from Los Angeles 11 years ago and I love it.

Safest is Surprise - west valley - according to FBI. East valley is in decline and will be mostly ghetto in 20 years. Vast areas already are in Mesa, and Tempe. Go west, young man (but go far enough west - past Avondale.) It's the future of the Phoenix metro area. For a young person, though, I'd would still be looking at Tempe. You'll be OK in Tempe until your mid-20s and then it will be too young for you. Scottsdale is better from that age up through wife/husband and kids and then it's off to the suburbs. Gilbert is a lily-white sleepy suburb with a lot of mormons and "children of the corn" feel. You would not be happy there until you reach the family stage of life. The other place that has some action though it is in the very early stages of development is the area around the Cardinals stadium. Lots of bars and night life coming there. But best choice for right now is the OK areas of Tempe and Scottsdale.

[JoePAz]

Tempe is good for a recient college grad. Decient prices and close enough to all major stuff. Plus there is more night light activities there than other places. Downtown Scottsdale is also nice for that, but everything is more expenisive. The other areas of Phoenix tend to be more family centric so I would stick to that area.

When I moved back here after college I got an apartment in Atwatukee. 48th St and Warner. Not a bad place and still close to most of the Tempe nightlife. I then move way out to Avondale to buy a house. I loved it because I got a cool house at 23, but it was far from anything. Most kids that age would have hated it and I spent alot of time driving to tempe or downtown scottdale to hang with friends/bars/etc.

Now I am 34 married with a 2 year old so my life needs are entirely different and live far up north in Anthem.

[Phoenix lady]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

. East valley is in decline and will be mostly ghetto in 20 years.

Why is this?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Phoenix lady

Why is this?

I probably overstated a bit in response to the ridiculous comments in a prior post, but, basically, that is the way it is here. Everything goes downhill with time. Even the best neighborhoods decay as people rush to what's new and renters replace owners. People here seem obsessed with moving up to new homes and new shopping centers. That's all on the (far) west side now as anything resembling close-in land is disappearing on the east. Well over 50% of the valley growth investment is out west and it is accelerating. The new stuff - baseball, hockey, football stadiums - ASU campus, community center malls, new homes, Bidwill's business center, hospitals that are going up on the west side will draw people like a magnet.

Look what is is going on. I used to go to Fiesta Mall - it was a nice place. Now it is in the middle of a bad area. AZ Mills is by most reports a haven for gangs. Mervyns announced they are closing the store in Ahwatukee. I remember well when that shopping mall was built. Now it is in decline, apparently, with sales dropping.

PHX is the most "throw-away" area I have ever seen. I can still go back to my boyhood home in the midwest and the house and surroundings are better than when we lived there. That's nearly impossible in PHX.

Believe me, in 20 years the places to be are going to be Buckeye and south Goodyear - way down by Mobile, north Peoria near and around L Pleasant, etc. Gilbert will be an old and dated community of aging genx'ers.

[Phoenix lady]

Understand what you're saying. When we rented out here in a certain neighborhood in the late 90's, neighborhood was okay;when we went back to look recently, there were houses with the windows sealed up and lawns unkempt (for months)--very much deteriorating.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Well for one I would go with the west side but then I am partial to things west. Your moniker showes that you are into football. I am as well. The stadium is on the west side and a beautifull place it is at that. Also a great shopping and potential party place if you like. I love Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville and that can only be found at one place in the valley, near the stadium. If you want to hang out with the rest of us Parot heads, come on down. (My family also enjoys the original in Key West.) For me I like what is happening on the West side. Plenty of stuff to do in Peoria, Glendale, and even in Surprise. If you also like Baseball then spring training can be found all over the valley. One city that is very affordable although I am finding that traveling to work does take a little time is Surprise, AZ. You can find new homes for $150,000 and new 2 bed room 2 bath apartments with your own washer dryer, cable, internet, and many other ammenities for around $750 a month. These are apartments that were built since 2006. Nice places if your not ready to buy.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by footballer0607

I'm a lifelong resident of the Bay Area who's just completed his bachelor's degree. It looks as though I will be unable to cope with the cost of living in my hometown, and one of the places I'm seriously considering relocating to is the Phoenix area (within the next year after working to save up enough money). Visited relatives over Thanksgiving and enjoyed it very much. Anyway, I just have some basic questions. What are the pros and cons of the place? Are there any suburbs that are both affordable and safe while at the same time having a good mix of ethnicities? The downtown didn't seem to be that happening to me when I visited; if someone could elaborate on what the nightlife is like for younger people, I'd appreciate it.

Most posts in this thread seem to assume that you have to choose between a Downtown that didn't thrill you and living in outer suburbs because everything in-between has "gone ghetto." That's not true at all. There are huge areas within Phoenix city limits, as well as inner suburbs like Tempe, Scottsdale, and Glendale, that are attractive and stable.

The big question, not addressed in your post, is where you'll be working. You should decide this before deciding where to live. It doesn't matter how attractive a community is if you are faced with a long and expensive commute.

[azjack]

"You may find good deals in the west valley, if you want to put up with traffic congestion, violence and just plain dirty. Everytime there is a shooting or an illegal drop house it seems to be in the west side. West phoenix is not a place you want to drive thru at night. The west side just seems to have a different feel, it doesnt feel friendly and safe like the east valley."

Alpo, thanks for registering your account yesterday and providing this well thought-out and reasoned post. I am glad that you set nuance aside. Because as everyone knows, the entire swath of cities from east Phoenix through Mesa, Gilbert, etc are universally idyllic settings in contrast to the ongoing warzone west of Central through Peoria, Surprise, etc.