AZ or bust.. Glendale, Surprise or Peoria? (Phoenix, Gilbert: house hunting, income)

[maya11]

Can anyone give me any information about the Glendale, Peoria and Surprise area, especially what areas to stay away from and any info regarding the best High Schools in these areas. Is the crime they talk about so bad that you feel unsafe or is it just like every where else, because here in N. Florida you hear about crimes everyday, but certain areas are great. How is the cost of living? I hear the job market in construction is good. I know about the heat, I lived in Las Vegas for over 10 years. Looking for quiet, safe, family area with great schools. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

[sheena]

Originally Posted by maya11

Can anyone give me any information about the Glendale, Peoria and Surprise area, especially what areas to stay away from and any info regarding the best High Schools in these areas. Is the crime they talk about so bad that you feel unsafe or is it just like every where else, because here in N. Florida you hear about crimes everyday, but certain areas are great. How is the cost of living? I hear the job market in construction is good. I know about the heat, I lived in Las Vegas for over 10 years. Looking for quiet, safe, family area with great schools. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Urgh anything is an inprovement over Vegas. North Glendale Arrowhead ranch is ok. People seem to like the schools in the area. I lived in Glendale and my kids went to the Peoria school district before we moved to Gilbert, Ironwood HS to be exact. Crime is everywhere you just have to be careful it's not as prevelant in N Glendale as it would be the southern areas of Glendale but it can happen anywhere. I would feel comfortable living in Arrowhead Ranch.

[sablebaby]

North Glendale is a great place to live - very safe! North Peoria is also very safe as well. In my opinion, I like these two areas more than Surprise. Surprise is fine, it's just far to commute to phx. But I have lived in northern area of both Peoria and currently Glendale. Arrowhead Ranch is a very nice area. I hear the schools are good up here and also in peoria. I lived in a subdivision called Fletcher Heights in peoria, and it's very close to tons of shopping, very family friendly, and an overall great place to live. Homes here are $275k-500k. Arrowhead is more at $300k-1+ million.

I worked in Surprise for a short time doing home visits (family therapist at the time) and I can tell you I went to a lot of lower income/educational levels with lots of family problems. I was surprised at the amount of children who didn't go to school and parents who didn't really care. But Surprise is a big area and it's not all like that.

[maya11]

Thank You sablebaby, this help us pin point an area. Something we could not do by just looking at a map or reading about a specific area.

[maya11]

I so appreciate your suggestions, they were very helpful. Thank You Sheena

[sheena]

Originally Posted by maya11

I so appreciate your suggestions, they were very helpful. Thank You Sheena

Great! I really don't think you can go wrong with Arrowhead Ranch, unless your commute will be bad.

As far as the heat is concerned, Vegas is cold compared to Phx But I'll take Phoenix over that place anytime. I went running back after only 1 year....LOL
How did you last 10 years? It's a nice place to visit.......but.....you know the old saying.

Good Luck with your move

[june]

Originally Posted by maya11

Can anyone give me any information about the Glendale, Peoria and Surprise area, especially what areas to stay away from and any info regarding the best High Schools in these areas. Is the crime they talk about so bad that you feel unsafe or is it just like every where else, because here in N. Florida you hear about crimes everyday, but certain areas are great. How is the cost of living? I hear the job market in construction is good. I know about the heat, I lived in Las Vegas for over 10 years. Looking for quiet, safe, family area with great schools. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

I have family in all these areas and each place is nice like everywhere in this nation each city or town has good and bad but over all in surprise and peoria its very nice. I love both areas.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by jade4

Anywhere here is full of crimes, Az is compared to L.A. and Las Vegas, the school standards are very low too. There is nothing to do here. Our advice to you research it more, maybe spend some time here. People here are not that friendly either. We are moving to a friendlier, nicer State. Good luck to you.

Where are you headed?

[enigmadsm]

as stated above, the arrowhead ranch/arrowhead area are very nice, northern peoria and glendale are good areas also.

I peronally live in surprise, its a good area, and is said to be majorly expanding, it is just tiresome with the everyday traffic, there is only 1 major road going through surprise at this time.

as far as schools. Personally i like the peoria school district.

the high schools have block scheduling with is a plus in my opinion. I graduated from Ironwood Highschool, after transferring from a Deer Valley district, and the teachers were amazingly better, seemd more qualified. The schools were cleaner as well.

[Axiom]

When we were house hunting here we thought we wanted Peoria district. Found a house we liked and started to check in more depth.

I don't know what the current policy is, but at the time while they draw attendance boundaries by area... once a school hit a certain # of kids, instead of re-drawing boundaries, they would close it. So any new move-ins would not be able to attend.

We would have lived within the boundaries for a school I was happy with, but my kids would have been bussed to a much less desirable school. With all the growth that was not an uncommon thing.

Again, I'm not sure what current policy is there - but be sure to check if you're looking in that district. (I would assume it would not be an issue with high schools, although I don't know for sure, it certainly was with elementary schools)

We're in Deer Valley district, specifically Mt. Ridge High School and we have been pleased. My daughter loves it there.