Rough areas (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler: low crime, motels, house)

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by silverbear

South Phoenix has traditionally been viewed as a high-crime, blighted area, but it's actually doing much better these days -- at least in certain sections along Baseline Road where a lot of new housing is being built. I would agree with the post above stating that Maryvale is now the most problematic part of town.

The AZ Central Web site, operated by the local paper in Phoenix, has a crime maps feature that allows you to view crime reports by address or zip code. It's very useful:

Arizona Crime Search - Crime In Arizona - Phoenix Crime Search - azcentral.com

Wowee, what a lot of crimes in certain zip codes. In fact, there are many in the neighborhood of where I used to work. In fact, my crazy coworkers actually stood outside a building to ID who they thought were robbers before the cops came. Fortunately, I had the good sense to comment...what if they have guns?...and I walked off.

My zip has very little crime, which is comforting. Mostly vehicle theft related incidents.

Thanks for this great site!

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by jco

I can't give the exact streets... perhaps someone can help... but Sunnyslope is SCARY. It's around Dunlap and Central I believe.

Yes, I worked there. I think on my first or second day of employment there were gunshots nearby. They thought for sure I'd quit (I live in Scottsdale), but I did not. When I lived in North Park in San Diego I'd hear the same thing. I guess I just had a strategy of rolling off the bed or sofa. I'm glad I don't have to deal with it any longer.

[nevercoldcall]

Originally Posted by jco

I can't give the exact streets... perhaps someone can help... but Sunnyslope is SCARY. It's around Dunlap and Central I believe.

It's not that bad, it just looks slummy. I lived in a townhouse at Mtn View and 7th St (north of Dunlap, south of Peoria) for 3 years and absolutely loved it. It was friendly, and in my experience, safe. In fact there hasn't been a break-in since the 1980s in the development where I lived.

Then I moved to south Scottsdale near downtown to be close to the nightlife and had a rude awakening when I found that it has the valley's highest burglary rate. The # of homes broken into in that area was just outrageous. And my girlfriend's car was broken into twice, and she lived in an "affluent" complex about a mile away. Another girl I know left her car in her driveway overnight and it was vandalized for no reason. That zip code, 85251 in Scottsdale was named on a local news program as the #1 "rape zone" in AZ.

Let me put it this way - when I lived in Sunnyslope I didn't even own a gun. After moving to Scottsdale (Hayden & Indian School) I began carrying a gun. (Legally of course with a CCW permit.)

[my sharoana]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Well, I hate to say it, but if you think Arrowhead is too pricey then you're definitely going to think Moon Valley is, too. How much are you looking at spending? There are parts that are not as expensive but I have to argue if they are really in moon valley.

Thanks for the info, sablebaby...
Actually, it was Arrowhead VAlley - older homes, each unique & mature landscaping - rather than the entire Arrowhead area that runs from $475K to $1 mill -too pricey for us. We did see some homes in our price range there as well ($400K - $25K either way) in the general Arrowhead area for $400K but the lots are postage stamp-size, and no mature landscape and all cookie-cutter houses. When we looked at Moon Valley recently we found homes that started at $425K but did also see higher price like you were suggesting (600K, 750K & $1 mill) as well.

So our concern re: Moon Valley is that were being told the crimes rate is high? Zip codes 853022 & 85023....I really appreciate your feedback.

[my sharoana]

Originally Posted by micrguy

One thing to always bear in mind about Phoenix is that you can go from a nice neighborhood to slums in sometimes less than a quarter of a mile. My in-laws live at 15th Ave and Northern in an area of beautiful old ranch homes where some of them sell for almost a million bucks. But if you go just down the street, there are run down apartments and duplexes that are pretty sketchy. Even in Glendale or Peoria you can have a really nice subdivision that is right next to an old poorly constructed subdivision full of rentals. Wherever you look at houses, you really need to drive around in all directions to see what the neighborhood is like.

Thanks mcrguy, we do drive around (until I can't see straight & have to go lie down) so thanks for the support on that one! I did notice that areas can change quickly.

[sun queen]

Originally Posted by jksouthbay88

Back again
I was wondering this time what are the roughest areas of the valley?I know south Phoenix is real bad but what else?Street names as borders would help me alot because I'm not from there!!!
Peace

Hi u again. South Phoenix is not that bad. In fact if u want to live in that area u r gone need some money or darn good credit. Granted there are pockets in that area that r not so good, but u can say that of any area in the Valley. Areas I would avoid would be 43Ave and Mcdowell, Thomas Indian School, Apache Jct., 16St and Roosevelt area, and Mesa...well there r some parts of Mesa that r okay, but I would still avoid it for the most part. If I were relocating Tempe area or the East Valley would be my first choice. The area is pretty nice and there is more diversity. U can always contact the police dept. in a particular area and get crime stats. Happy hunting

[artvandelay]

I've found that if you want to get a mile or more away from slums, it'll cost ya. All I can think of is N. Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Chandler, Gilbert, and that's it. If having a sketchy area on one side is acceptable, many areas of Peoria, Arrowhead and north, are nice. Just avoid the places that have beautiful houses but are engulfed by trailers, shacks, etc.

Lookf for graffiti, any animals other than dogs (not pitbulls) and cats, shopping carts on the road, and avoid those areas.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by my sharoana

Thanks for the info, sablebaby...
Actually, it was Arrowhead VAlley - older homes, each unique & mature landscaping - rather than the entire Arrowhead area that runs from $475K to $1 mill -too pricey for us. We did see some homes in our price range there as well ($400K - $25K either way) in the general Arrowhead area for $400K but the lots are postage stamp-size, and no mature landscape and all cookie-cutter houses. When we looked at Moon Valley recently we found homes that started at $425K but did also see higher price like you were suggesting (600K, 750K & $1 mill) as well.

So our concern re: Moon Valley is that were being told the crimes rate is high? Zip codes 853022 & 85023....I really appreciate your feedback.

Ok, I guess Arrowhead Valley is a subdivision?

Anyway, I looked up several of the zip codes of areas that I have lived in and ALL of them had more than 200 crimes in the last year. The thing is I only live in good areas (n.glendale, n/e ph, n. scottsdale). So, you will find lots of crimes just about everywhere, unless you pay a million bucks for a home.

I just looked up those zips for the last month and yes they have a lot of crime, but you have to look at the map to see where it is exactly. You will find clusters closer to Bell rd and north of that. Also the zip of 85023, the crime is more north 9and west) as well, which isn't even moon valley. That is not a good area. Moon Valley generally is a good area.

[nitram]

Hmmm, when or where are million dollar homes exempt from crime???

[sablebaby]

Did I even say exempt? Boy, I wish people would actually read what others write instead of implying something just to start something. It's almost trollish behavior. You will find LESS crime in areas that are a million plus.