Best Phoenix Suburbs? (Glendale, Gilbert, Peoria: rent , work, violent crime)

[artvandelay]

I know firsthand about trying to find a safe place for a growing family around your price range, though we were considering up to $350K.

DO NOT go west, which includes Surprise. You get more house for your money, but as far a safety and schools go, you get what you pay for.

I don't know how much house/yard you need for your family, but if I could do it over again, I would have looked in the best possible area for a small house. Auhwatukee and Chandler were too far out for our needs, but I liked those areas.

Also, just based on observation, avoid Maricopa and Queen Creek, because there is too much affordable housing there, and the riff-rafff are scooping them up. I hoep you can find what you're looking for, but in Phoenix area, safety has a higher premium than any other area I've been to. Maybe Peoria (Arrowhead area) will have the right balance of safety and economy.

[PhoenixMan]

Originally Posted by artvandelay

I know firsthand about trying to find a safe place for a growing family around your price range, though we were considering up to $350K.

DO NOT go west, which includes Surprise. You get more house for your money, but as far a safety and schools go, you get what you pay for.

I don't know how much house/yard you need for your family, but if I could do it over again, I would have looked in the best possible area for a small house. Auhwatukee and Chandler were too far out for our needs, but I liked those areas.

Also, just based on observation, avoid Maricopa and Queen Creek, because there is too much affordable housing there, and the riff-rafff are scooping them up. I hoep you can find what you're looking for, but in Phoenix area, safety has a higher premium than any other area I've been to. Maybe Peoria (Arrowhead area) will have the right balance of safety and economy.

Exactly when did Surprise become a dangerous place?

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by PhoenixMan

Exactly when did Surprise become a dangerous place?

Yeah, really?? I hate when people generalize an entire city or side of town. Especially when it's someone who is disgruntled about where they live and they have to bash the rest.

[artvandelay]

Since moving here a year ago, Surprise was already dangerous. I don't live there, but watch and read the local news. I guess a gated community most anywhere would be pretty safe, but most people live in non-gated areas, especially for under $300K.

I form my opinions based on things like murders, abductions, large drug arrests, drop house busts, school performance (Not too many horrendous public schools in very safe communities), etc.

I guess safety is a relative term. In my view, safety can be seeing a group of kids playing outside, and those kids don't have gold teeth or concealed weapons or joints in their mouths. I haven't seen kids like that outside yet.

[sablebaby]

I watch the local news too, but rarely do I see anything bad in Surprise. I see a lot in Maryvale or the east side of town. You will find any of the things you listed in ANY neighborhood, even in Scottsdale where it's a lot more expensive, but it doesn't mean it's a "dangerous" place to live. So there's a murder once in a while or a drug bust, take a look at the population rates and it's a tiny amount of crime compared to people. You make it sound like it's a war zone here. I think you need to get out more and stop hanging in the ghetto.

[artvandelay]

I call em like I see em: If it's affordable, or was so in the past 3 years, don't expect much peace of mind or things American.

[CodyW]

I'd regard surprise as one of the safest west valley cities, myself!

Indeed, there is crime in the west valley, but if certain people would take into account that they can not judge an entire region simply based on what it is like in their own neighborhood - The west valley's image might improve a bit.

[ejk]

Originally Posted by artvandelay

DO NOT go west, which includes Surprise. You get more house for your money, but as far a safety and schools go, you get what you pay for.

I don't know how much house/yard you need for your family, but if I could do it over again, I would have looked in the best possible area for a small house. Auhwatukee and Chandler were too far out for our needs, but I liked those areas.

Really? According to the Valley Crime map, Chandler had over 200 incidents over the past 3 months, while Surprise had 143.

Many of those Chandler reports were categorized as "violent" while Surprise had only 11.

I agree that Chandler is very nice, and I am sure its larger size accounts for the higher number of crime reports, but still, Surprise is certainly not dangerous in comparison.

Originally Posted by artvandelay

I guess safety is a relative term. In my view, safety can be seeing a group of kids playing outside, and those kids don't have gold teeth or concealed weapons or joints in their mouths. I haven't seen kids like that outside yet.

I see it nearly every evening.

Originally Posted by CodyW

I'd regard surprise as one of the safest west valley cities, myself!

Indeed, there is crime in the west valley, but if certain people would take into account that they can not judge an entire region simply based on what it is like in their own neighborhood - The west valley's image might improve a bit.

I completely agree.

[sassieb75]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

I watch the local news too, but rarely do I see anything bad in Surprise. I see a lot in Maryvale or the east side of town. You will find any of the things you listed in ANY neighborhood, even in Scottsdale where it's a lot more expensive, but it doesn't mean it's a "dangerous" place to live. So there's a murder once in a while or a drug bust, take a look at the population rates and it's a tiny amount of crime compared to people. You make it sound like it's a war zone here. I think you need to get out more and stop hanging in the ghetto.

There's a "Ghetto" in the valley???? I thought it was mainly "white trash".......

[ibarrio]

Surprise is not Maryvale or El Mirage. I think you have El mirage and Surprise mixed up.

I didn't see any thugs in my neighborhood (Surprise). I actually saw children waving to us and saying hi. Which is something we are not used to coming from California. In Cali it is usually a finger, cuss word, or sneer.

I have friends in Albuquerque who have a home in Mesa and now want to buy another home in Surprise because they have heard great things about the area.

They are very well off and own many homes throughout the country. They research and invest their money wisely. Bottom line is they would not buy in Surprise if their group did not say good things about the area. They are trying to buy before the super bowl in hopes of renting it out for the week at a nice profit. Limo service to the game included.