Looking to move to Arizona. Wondering what area to move to!

[Dewey59]

Thanks for coming back, Ira123. It's frustrating sometimes when we respond in good faith to a post only to have it never be seen by the OP. So appreciate you checking back.

In your original message, you said you were not interested in Phoenix, so I (and probably a lot of the other posters) assumed that meant the Phoenix metro... of which Tempe is a part. Personally, I think Tempe is an awesome place for young people. Definitely a college vibe (especially close to the ASU campus). But it is smack dab in the middle of the Phoenix metro.... lots of traffic, fair amount of crime, (relatively) high cost of living, etc. All the big city issues.

Tucson is a college town also (Univ. of AZ). Although, I wouldn't recommend living too close to the campus (not a great area).

[WilmaWildcat]

I went to college and worked on campus and lived in Sam Hughes neighborhood on the east side of the UA campus in Tucson. It's a good neighborhood and the neighborhood elementary school is good. Apartments are doable but houses are expensive.

Another good campus neighborhood is Blenman-Elm, where the Arizona Inn is located; Blenman-Elm is just east of the medical school. There's a good parochial school in that neighborhood if one has kids.

I think people say Catalina Vista neighborhood just northeast of campus is a good neighborhood, and it looks good to me; but I have not lived there, although a friend lived in the neighborhood across the street just north of the medical school and liked it. There is handy shopping on Campbell Avenue and a lot of restaurants. Also the eastside light-rail terminus is nearby that runs from there through campus and downtown to the west side.

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[SeattleCat]

Hi again Ira, yes Tempe would be a good place to check out too. Again, Tucson and anything in Phoenix are close enough that you can live in one and visit the other and see what is the best fit long term. If you discover after a year that Tucson isn't your thing and you prefer Tempe than it would be easy to make the move. I hope when you make your choice you'll let us know.

[saffordpastor]

Don't know if smaller cities would work for you....Sierra Vista is a great place, Prescott is beautiful, Cottonwood/Clarkdale ...great place, my home town of Safford is a great small city,

Flagstaff is gorgeous but cold.

I love Safford but it is a tad isolated....2 hours from the city.

All of these places have great scenery, reasonably good climates, and economies that are fairly healthy....although not as good as larger cities.

Honestly I have never seen outright racism anywhere in Az.....there are bigots everywhere but most folks really do judge by the content of character.

That is what I have seen.

Of course I am speaking from a white mans perspective and probably don't notice things because I am not being subjected to them.

But still folks I know couldn't care less about race....they like getting along.