moving to Maricopa (Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale: low crime, new home, employment)

[moovinon]

Hello Everyone;
I know my questions can be grouped in with those of other outsiders who sincerely disire to find honest answers about the cities in Maricopa County. Crime rate, security, cost of living, job oportunities etc. I don't mean to be reduntent but I must ask.
I was born in New York, raised in Southern California and lived the last 29 years in Memphis, Tn. (not to mention a few other places in the US). My fiance and I are moving to this area in Sept. and will be seeking employment and housing before hand. Gilbert and Scottsdale appear to us as viable places to consider living in. Unless there's severe negitive drawbacks I expect the typical answers from those who have had bad experiences. This will be a tough move after all of these years starting over again, but we are excited to make life in Az. a new chapter. With exception to the weather, what can we really expect as far as over-all friendliness of the natives, crime rate, job opportunities?
Thank-you in advance for your answers and help.

Moovinon

[sablebaby]

Try searching through the threads and you'll find a lot of info your looking for.

[MotleyCrew]

Maricopa is a community that is starting to grow. There is new housing all around and it is very affordable. Shopping is coming soon however, there is not that much to do in town right now. Chandler is not terribly far away and that is where I would go shopping and out to eat if I lived in Maricopa. Our daughter loves her new home and only works 25 min away, but again there is not much to do in town. It would be best to come and visit before making the leap.

[sablebaby]

I think this person is talking about Maricopa County - not the city/town.

[ibarrio]

Gilbert and Scottsdale appear to us as viable places to consider living in.

Scottsdale is more expensive then Gilbert. Gilbert is a very nice community which Borders Mesa & Chandler.

Do you have a family or are you and your soon to be wife looking for a younger/nightlife type of crowd?

If you want nightlife then it is Scottsdale or Tempe. I would say Gilbert is more family oriented.

[moovinon]

[quote=MotleyCrew;907309]Maricopa is a community that is starting to grow. There is new housing all around and it is very affordable. Shopping is coming soon however, there is not that much to do in town right now. Chandler is not terribly far away and that is where I would go shopping and out to eat if I lived in Maricopa. Our daughter loves her new home and only works 25 min away, but again there is not much to do in town. It would be best to come and visit before making the leap.

Thank-you for your response. However, coming out there on a pre-visit won't be feasable. Our trip will be an "all" or "nothing" adventure. We are taking steps to help ourselves ease into this transition before hand in hopes that we can line up employment and housing.

[Stumblina]

[quote=moovinon;993076]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

Thank-you for your response. However, coming out there on a pre-visit won't be feasable. Our trip will be an "all" or "nothing" adventure. We are taking steps to help ourselves ease into this transition before hand in hopes that we can line up employment and housing.

Moovinon, I'm worried about your "all or nothing" adventure. Zona is so big and spread out, I don't know how wise it is to decide where you're going to live based on advice alone. Personally, I think Scottsdale is great. If I had to move like you, I'd choose Scottsdale. IMHO it would be hard to make a mistake choosing Scottsdale . . . but I'll defer to others more qualified than me in this forum. I'm still an "outsider" . . . don't live in Zona - yet!

[twiggy]

Best way to go! Better to jump right in. Gilbert and Scotts are both nice. Coming from TN all the other stuff is about the same except no chance it'll snow!lol Crime and shopping are about the same. It looks about the same except not as many trees and cactus thrown in. Republican state, lots of church (just add in the mormons to). Job climate is also pretty much the same, corps rule, megamarts , megamalls, lots of new jobs just like TN it's cheap for them here. My sister lives in Nashville. She always want us to come there. It shouldn't be to much of a shock. Welcome to AZ!

[bigfez]

Originally Posted by moovinon

Hello Everyone;
I know my questions can be grouped in with those of other outsiders who sincerely disire to find honest answers about the cities in Maricopa County. Crime rate, security, cost of living, job oportunities etc. I don't mean to be reduntent but I must ask.
I was born in New York, raised in Southern California and lived the last 29 years in Memphis, Tn. (not to mention a few other places in the US). My fiance and I are moving to this area in Sept. and will be seeking employment and housing before hand. Gilbert and Scottsdale appear to us as viable places to consider living in. Unless there's severe negitive drawbacks I expect the typical answers from those who have had bad experiences. This will be a tough move after all of these years starting over again, but we are excited to make life in Az. a new chapter. With exception to the weather, what can we really expect as far as over-all friendliness of the natives, crime rate, job opportunities?
Thank-you in advance for your answers and help.

Moovinon

First a clarification: Maricopa County is the county where Phoenix and its suburbs reside. Maricopa is a small town about 50 miles south of Phoenix that used to be nothing but farmland and a gas stop, but now is being taken over by master planned subdivisions and casinos.

I'm a native of the Midwest, but have lived in Metro Phoenix for the past 23 years - Scottsdale for 15 years, and Phoenix for 8 years. I've seen Metro Phoenix grow from an inexpensive, sleepy, culture-less, event-less, quiet, and generally friendly city, to a bustling, expensive, congested, soul-less, crazy-driver filled madhouse. Sure, overall there are lots of jobs to choose from, but unless you find a good job in Scottsdale, and you've got $500,000 to lay down for a nice house there, it's likely you're going to have a long, stressful commute.

In Scottsdale, your neighbors may be nice enough, but they probably won't bother to take the time to bring you a welcome wagon basket. You might not ever get to know them; they are from somewhere else just like you, and this is just a stop on their way to some other place. Their Hummer will cut you off at the corner. Crime is what you would expect in a wealthy suburb of the nation's 5 largest city - 8 a.m. burglaries by professionals who go directly for the jewelry box. And in the span of 2 weeks, they will hit 3 other houses in the same neighborhood. (Seriously - this happened in a friend's neighborhood recently.)

I can't speak for Gilbert, as I've only visited friends who lived there, but my impression is that it's pretty much the same as Scottsdale, but with more religion and less ostentatious displays of wealth.

I am fortunate to live in what I consider to be the best place to live in Metro Phoenix: North Central Phoenix. Older homes, unique neighborhoods, museums, shops and restaurants that are NOT part of a chain, and near the business districts. Your neighbors may actually be Arizona natives who raised their children in the neighborhood, and whose children are raising their children there too. Crime is what you would expect in the nation's 5th largest city - pockets of good, pockets of bad. My job (in the legal field) is 4 miles from my house. I love Central Phoenix. But, my house is a 50 year old, 1300 square foot fixer-upper. Be prepared to lay down $300,000 for one just like it.

In short, whether Metro Phoenix will be a good fit for you depends on your occupation, your pocketbook, and your criteria for a good quality of life. If you choose a pristine, cookie-cutter neighborhood in Scottsdale, and don't mind spending a lot of time in your car, you'll love it there.

[reagnt]

Depending on what kind of housing you want to live in depends on where you will end up price wise. N.E. Phoenix and Scottsdale are the two most desirable areas to live in. Low crime rate and rated upperscale. Clean living. If you can not afford these areas then Gilbert Chandler are good for the more reasonable areas but again you will sacrifice the safeness. Best bet is to go to PHOENIX NEWS | Phoenix News| azfamily - KTVK| News for Phoenix, Arizona and read the news and the crime areas will always be sure to show up there and then you can determine where you want to be. I'm a licensed realtor and I live in North Scottsdale because of everything it has to offer. I can live in any part of the valley but North Scottsdale is for me.