I'm looking for a "cooler" climate where I can commute to Phoenix. Payson? Prescott? (Mesa: apartment, renting)

[4WD Greg]

I have an opportunity to spend part of the year in the Phoenix area running a remodeling company for some investors. I may live there for six months out of the year and I might live out there year round. If I end up living out there year round, that will include the dreaded summer months!
I will have a lot of freedom in this business venture to set my own work hours, work locations etc.
We can choose to do all of our work on the northern half of Phoenix, anywhere from the Litchfield Park area to the Paradise Valley area.
I am looking for an area to live while working in the area.

I have three main considerations in looking for a place to live:

1) I am terrified of your summer heat. I've lived in Michigan for decades, so cold weather doesn't bother me. I can always put on another layer of clothing, but in a Phoenix summer what can you do? The only escape seems to be living in the moutain areas. I'm thinking of the Payson or Prescott areas.

I may choose to have a place to live in both places (Arizona and Michigan). Because of this, another concern becomes:
2)Housing costs. At least for starters, I will need to live relatively cheaply, so I am thinking of either a condo, or renting an apartment. I don't have children, so I don't need too much space. I just don't want to live in a "bad neighborhood".

3) I am also concerned about my commute time. I know your traffic problem is bad, but I will have the freedom to commute when I want to. i.e. I can leave for work at 6 a.m., or I can leave at 9 a.m., avoiding the rush hour. This includes my commute home. That being said, I still want to live relatively close. I think the commutes from Payson and Prescott to Phoenix are about 1.5 hours or even a little bit more. Does anybody drive these routes on a daily basis who can tell me what they're like?

My main question is: Where can I live that meets all of my requirements: 1) A cooler climate than Phoenix, 2) Relatively cheap housing costs, and 3) A reasonable commute. i.e. close to one hour max each way?

Are there areas closer to Phoenix in the direction of Payson or Prescott that still have the benefits of the "cooler" climate, but without the longer commute that I would have living in either of those two cities?

I'm not concerned with living in a certain sized city. I'll live in a tiny community if it fits the bill. I'm not concerned with schools, or hospitals, or most of those other "service" related concerns that people with children have. I'll be in Phoenix several days per week, so I can do all of my shopping or anything else there. I'll also have plenty of contact with other human beings there, so I won't get too lonely if I'm living out in "the boonies". I'm also a builder so I can build a small house on a cheap piece of property for a relatively low price.

In order to shorten the commute, I'll consider some of the smaller dots on the map between Phoenix and Prescott or Payson. Toward Prescott, I'm considering the general area of Cordes Junction, or anywhere a couple of miles up the moutains from there. Will anything in that area meet my needs for a cooler climate? I know it will cut down on the commute time, but the climate is a major concern of mine. When it's 110+ in Phoenix, I'll be much happier with 90+ degrees somewhere else.

What about the areas toward Payson? Places like Sunflower or Jake's Corner are closer and would cut down on the commute time, but are they up in the mountains far enough to keep the air cooler?

Does anybody commute from "downtown" Payson or Prescott into the city of Phoenix who can tell me exactly how long the commute is, both during rush hour and at off times?

Thank you for reading this far and for indulging me! Any help you can give me is GREATLY APPRECIATED!

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by 4WD Greg

I'll be in Phoenix several days per week, so I can do all of my shopping or anything else there.

Mmm, not your grocery shopping! Not unless you've got a big cooler in your car!

[Gretchen B]

I live up in the Prescott area (Dewey, to be exact) and might be able to offer some insight. If you decided to commute to Phoenix from up here (and there's quite a few people that do), I'd definitely stay to the SE side of PV. A commute from Prescott itself would add another 30 minutes. From Dewey you're looking at a minimum of 75 minutes if traffic is good and you're working someplace on the northern edge of Phx. I usually allow 1-1/2 hrs to the airport as long as I'm not in rush hour traffic.

I hate to say it, but I really don't know of a "better" time to head down I-17. For sure, at 6 a.m., you would be right in the thick of things. 9 a.m. would be better, but once you hit Anthem and south it really bottlenecks. If you can carpool, you can do pretty good once you hit the HOV lane at the 101.

Cordes Jct and Spring Valley would get you cooler temps and put you a little closer to Phx, and home prices are cheaper there. Keep in mind, though, there's virtually no stores (except for a couple of small/expensive convenience stores) in those towns. The Dewey area puts you closer to conveniences. Payson housing prices are higher than the Prescott Valley/Dewey prices.

One thing to consider in choosing between Payson and Prescott Valley/Dewey is where in Phx you'll be commuting to. If you're going to be working in the east valley or Mesa, then Payson would be a MUCH easier commute.

Unfortunately, I don't think you'll find much difference in temps until you get up to Payson or at least Cordes Jct. Any lower elevation and you're still going to be in pretty hot summer temps.

[DreamworksSKG]

Might suggest Flagstaff area. Prescott, Sedona (is a little cooler than phoenix and southern az)...tho still warm. - Payson. etc.

-jeff
Winchester, MA

[vegaspilgrim]

I'm sure you don't want to hear this, 4WD Greg, but Phoenix is not for you. There is no place with a "reasonable commute" that is significantly cooler than Phoenix. Even Cordes Junction will be hotter than **** in the summer-- a couple degrees less hot, that's it. Forget trying to commute on I-17 in and out of town everyday, despite what some people may do, that it is a totally stupid idea. It's a dangerous road, with too many cars going too fast (even on the weekdays), too many accidents, and plain too far of a drive to do that every day. The other road leading to cooler temps, AZ-87, doesn't really have any significant non-Indian reservation population settlements until you get to Payson. AZ-87 is a four lane, but with steep grades in parts and a lot of idiots who burn out their brakes, instead of using their gears to slow themselves down. I'd say #1 either scrap the idea and look for a different place to move, or #2-- learn to adjust to the heat. The dry heat might be different than the humid heat you are used to.

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by DreamworksSKG

Might suggest Flagstaff area. Prescott, Sedona (is a little cooler than phoenix and southern az)...tho still warm. - Payson. etc.

-jeff
Winchester, MA

Although Flagstaff would have the coolest summer temps (seldom gets warmer than the 80's), it would be about a 2-1/2 hr commute to Phoenix. Prescott Valley only reaches 100 a few (as in 2 to 5) days a year. Once monsoon season hits, the temps are back down in the upper 80's/low 90's. Payson temps are about the same. Sedona is about 5-7 degrees warmer than Prescott Valley/Payson, and it would probably be a 2 to 2-1/2 hr commute from there, too. As you head to lower elevations the temps will increase.

PS - Cordes will be about 10 - 12 degrees cooler than Phoenix in the summer.

[Gretchen B]

This might help (from Weather.com):

Prescott Valley avg temps (avg July high temp - 88)
Average Weather for Prescott Valley, AZ - Temperature and Precipitation

Payson avg temps (avg July high temp - 93)
Average Weather for Payson, AZ - Temperature and Precipitation

Cordes Jct/Spring Valley avg temps (avg July high temp - 96)
Average Weather for Mayer, AZ - Temperature and Precipitation

Phoenix avg temps (avg July high temp - 104)
Average Weather for Phoenix, AZ - Temperature and Precipitation

[vegaspilgrim]

Those "official" averages, compiled from over 100 years of weather data, are worthless IMO. The actual present-day 21st century average July high temp for Phoenix is probably more like 108, not 104. This last year it was probably more like 110.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I'm sure you don't want to hear this, 4WD Greg, but Phoenix is not for you. There is no place with a "reasonable commute" that is significantly cooler than Phoenix. Even Cordes Junction will be hotter than **** in the summer-- a couple degrees less hot, that's it. Forget trying to commute on I-17 in and out of town everyday, despite what some people may do, that it is a totally stupid idea. It's a dangerous road, with too many cars going too fast (even on the weekdays), too many accidents, and plain too far of a drive to do that every day. The other road leading to cooler temps, AZ-87, doesn't really have any significant non-Indian reservation population settlements until you get to Payson. AZ-87 is a four lane, but with steep grades in parts and a lot of idiots who burn out their brakes, instead of using their gears to slow themselves down. I'd say #1 either scrap the idea and look for a different place to move, or #2-- learn to adjust to the heat. The dry heat might be different than the humid heat you are used to.

I agree with everything vegaspilgrim said. Don't try doing the I-17 in and out daily. I know that many blackjack dealers who work up there do that drive, but it's mostly very off hours in the middle of the night. One friend of mine got into a BAD accident one night driving back down here. Gretchen is also right about there really isn't a great time to commute from up there and back.

[Captain Bill]

You're not going to find a place to commute, that is cooler, in less than one hour's drive.

Near Prescott is the closest. GretchenB is an expert in those areas and knows what she's talking about.

Sedona is beautiful, but it is very expensive and doesn't seem to meet your criteria.

If you're going to work in the north area of Phoenix, I suggest that you would be better off living somewhere in that area so the commute would be bearable.

When you finish your day's work in the field, you would be very close to home and not have to deal with a commute. If you have emergencies at one of the job sites, you will be close at any time. Once you're established here for a year or so you will have a much better idea of where to locate.

You can get used to the heat. It may take you a little time, but you can do it. This heat is dry and 110 at 5% humidity is not as bad as 90 with 90% humidity in Detroit. You just have to pace yourself a little more here, and drink more water. But you're really not out in the heat that much.