Nicer place to live overall: Arizona -or- Florida ? (Phoenix, Flagstaff: transfer to, scorpions)

[maineguy8888]

I don't live in either, but I like to visit both (and have seen almost all parts of both states).
From an outsider, here's what I see:
Both incredibly hot for five months a year (in different ways). Both have slightly more temperate northern areas, with blistering southern areas.
Florida has beaches but is SO flat.
Arizona has no beaches but has such varied topography.
Both getting a bit overrun with development.
Both have ridiculous amounts of sketchy immigration.
Both have really dangerous creatures/critters.

Both are great places to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there..........lol

[Restless in Florida]

Lol MaineGuy, for an outsider, you sum it up pretty well. But I have to say Florida is incredibly hot 9 months of the year (and we're heading into our next long stretch of brutal summer now... yaaaaaaaayyyy ��).

[squirrel516]

Originally Posted by goolsbyjazz

If you're seriously planning to move here I hope you can take another trip to check it out from the perspective of a resident opposed to a visitor.

I think that is the best advice I've seen on the board in quite some time.

[markeg]

I live in Phoenix and just moved from Tampa, FL. I would take Phoenix any day because of the weather. No bugs, no hurricanes, only dust storms and monsoons. They are nothing compared to Florida's everyday rain in the summer.
We do get some humidity in the summer during monsoon season.

[Makati123]

I’ve lived in South FL now for 6 long years (originally from CA) and I am already planning a move out to Scottsdale area. FL is WAY TOO HUMID & sticky hot. When it’s 94 it’ll feel like 105 and you are stuck in your house 8-9 months of the year. Awful heat begins in May - ends in Sept and you have hurricane season from June - Nov with terrifying thunder lightning storms that can last through night so you really only have 4 months of decent weather when humidity drops. Infested with crime, a lot of road rage, no sophistication , rude people, and the absolute worst drivers in the world. There are an average of 1 fatal accidents in S FL alone per week as highway 95 is only main freeway.
I’ll never come back here. Worst experience

[lluvia]

Originally Posted by Makati123

Awful heat begins in May - ends in Sept

You're being generous. Often the awful heat stretches into mid October.
Agreed with everything else you wrote.
But the lizards (human & reptile versions) love it in Florida.

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by lluvia

You're being generous. Often the awful heat stretches into mid October.
Agreed with everything else you wrote.
But the lizards (human & reptile versions) love it in Florida.

Not really. Avg high goes below 100 mid Sept. and by Oct 20 it’s 86 which is totally comfortable. Of course there can be an occasional outlier and it’s just as likely to be a high of 76 as it is 96. ( Averages). Also, compare the heat indices.

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

I don't live in either, but I like to visit both (and have seen almost all parts of both states).
From an outsider, here's what I see:
Both incredibly hot for five months a year (in different ways). Both have slightly more temperate northern areas, with blistering southern areas.
Florida has beaches but is SO flat.
Arizona has no beaches but has such varied topography.
Both getting a bit overrun with development.
Both have ridiculous amounts of sketchy immigration.
Both have really dangerous creatures/critters.

Both are great places to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there..........lol

Northern Arizona has tremendously lower summer temps!! The avg high in the hottest month of July is 81.

[tasha34684]

I currently live in Florida. The Tampa Bay area to be exact. Hate it. Been here six years. Granted the ocean is beautiful! But I'm a mountain girl. I love freshwater fishing, hiking, camping, desert life. I've visited Arizona couple years ago and still wish I could be there. First time in my life I felt I had found home. The humidity, bugs, hurricanes, and sinkholes just aren't my thing. If i left would i miss it? No i wouldn't

[markeg]

Originally Posted by tasha34684

I currently live in Florida. The Tampa Bay area to be exact. Hate it. Been here six years. Granted the ocean is beautiful! But I'm a mountain girl. I love freshwater fishing, hiking, camping, desert life. I've visited Arizona couple years ago and still wish I could be there. First time in my life I felt I had found home. The humidity, bugs, hurricanes, and sinkholes just aren't my thing. If i left would i miss it? No i wouldn't

Tasha I lived in Tampa Bay too. Phoenix is a great place to live. You should make the move!