Lowdown on Mesa areas, also Chandler (Tempe, Gilbert: crime, house, neighborhoods)

[puzzlemom]

I'm moving with my husband and 3 small children to Arizona. We've been looking at Chandler and Mesa (my husband will be working in Tempe). With the small kids, schools safety and services are really important to us. I've heard a lot of good recommendations about Chandler, and the schools look good, from what I can find online. I'm having a little more trouble getting a good feel for Mesa, though. We're looking at the northeast (Las Sendas area), and some other neighborhoods on the north side (around the intersection of McKellips and Val Vista). We can get more house in Mesa than we can in Chandler, and the commute's shorter for my husband. However, from what I can tell, the schools in Mesa seem a little spottier (some very good, some not so hot) and I don't really have a feel for the community.

Can anyone help me out? I'm looking for a more info on what it's like to live in Mesa. We're coming from a small town, so I'm looking for a welcoming, safe, and involved community, with lots to do for both the kids and grownups. thanks for your input!

[Captain Bill]

The north and northeast areas of Mesa are the better areas. There are some very upscale homes in that area, with prices in the millions.

A client of mine recently purchased a home near Gilbert and Mckellips. They were looking for a large lot, and there are many homes with large lots in that area.

Val Vista and McKellips area is close to the airport.

Schools in Mesa are not known to be as good as in Gilbert and Chandler. This client home schools, so the public schools were not an issue for them.

Anyway if you choose Mesa, you should find what you need in that north and northeast area.

The city of Mesa police department publishes the crime statistics by precinct on their web site, so you can check that out.

[LocoAZnative]

If your husband works in Tempe and good schools are a concern for you. The Kyrene school district in Tempe is one of the top in the the Valley.

[ninjagrrl]

I live in that area near Gilbert and McKellips. We just moved here 2 months ago but i will say that i like it and feel that it is as safe as any place in the valley. My son goes to MacArthur Elementary, which while not the best school in the district, it is one of the better ones. The good thing about AZ is school choice - you don't have to send your child to the closest school.If there is an open spot in another school and you are ok with driving him or her, than they will take you.My daughter will be starting kindergarten in the fall at another school because when we moved here Mesa was considering cutting full day kindergarten, but they recently reinstated it. But shes already met some of her future classmates so i hesitate to move her now.

Back to the question at hand... i work in Tempe near Sun Devil Stadium and i find my commute time is only 20 minutes on average, less if i'm going in at an odd time when theres no traffic.