Retire to Kingman Qs Please help! :-) (Phoenix, Tucson: to rent, high crime)

[Catalina786]

Greetings!

I relocated to Tucson almost 2 years ago and I find it's just not for me.

After much researching I really feel Kingman would be more to what I was looking for but have
a "few" questions that I hope someone can answer. :-) Your help/advice is truly appreciated.

1 - Traffic - Is it as crazy as Tucson? Is it fairly ok getting around?

2 - Winters - Is there much ice and or freezing rain?

3 - Utilities - $$ or $$$?

4- Shopping - are all the stores on one or two main roads?

5 - Recommended - Limo/Shuttle Services?

6- Recommended - Moving Companies?

7 - Recommended Realtors?

8 - Areas to Avoid (High Crime)?

9 - Things to do?

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU! :-)

[grmi66]

Have you driven up to Kingman yet to spend a few days there?

[Catalina786]

Hi grimi66,

I plan to go up there end of summer or fall. Thanks to some really awesome folk on YouTube I've seen just about
every Kingman related video there is and am also trying to gather info from some previous posts here.

At this point I just wanted some current answers to my questions before I get there. It sure would help a lot!

Thanks!

[NW Crow]

Things to do? There will be things typical to a 30k city, 200k metro. And Lake Havasu and Las Vegas and the desert. What particular / special things do you like / need to do?

Shopping for ... beyond the basics? Art, crafts, fashion...? Jet skis, guns, rocks?

[WiringGuru2]

Right now I am working between Phoenix, Kingman and Prescott Valley and living in Prescott. Why don't you list the things you like/don't like about Tucson and maybe some of us can comment that way.

[Catalina786]

Hi NW Crow,

I think Kingman has a great location! I definitely would take some trips over to Vegas, BHC, Laughlin, Grand Canyon.
I love the desert and nature (including rocks) :-).
I love also doing artwork for example (painting on wood, painting/drawing scenery, animals.
I appreciate other artists and handcrafted work. I like things about Route 66, classic cars. Things from the past.
I used to like fashion but now not as much since I've left the office behind. I definitely need a Walmart nearby though. lol

Thanks for your help!

[Catalina786]

Hi Wiring Guru2,

Although the scenery around Tucson is amazing, I just cannot get used to the traffic.
I mean I've never seen a place that has so many accidents.
I just want to get from point A to point B without feeling like I'm in the Indy 500.
I know some folks don't mind it but I do.
Also it's way too crowded here for me. I stopped going to Costco in the winter because it's hard to even get a parking spot.
Again I'm sure big crowded cities are fine for some but not for me. I never lived anywhere with a very large population.
I thought I could handle it but I just don't like it. Pure and simple.
Another thing, I know Kingman gets hot and I think Tucson has more hot days. But I like that Kingman is a bit cooler.
I don't mind a little snow since where I come from originally (upstate NY) snow is like 6 months long. lol
I did ask if it gets icy in Kingman in winter. Like much freezing rain?
Thanks for helping with some of my inquires!
:-)

[WiringGuru2]

Yeah Tucson traffic is horrible, it's almost always top 5 for road rage and traffic fatalities.



Kingman is not like that. There's plenty of desert around it for offroading and the river is nearby (the public beaches can be a zoo though). There is a mountain nearby so I would imagine hiking trails but there's no water whatsoever. Not much local industry, mostly service jobs or people who retired/commute to vegas. Housing costs aren't as high as Prescott, Phoenix or Tucson.



I would encourage you to rent there for awhile if possible rather than just buying a home right away.

[Catalina786]

Thanks so much WiringGuru2,

I will definitely take your advice and rent before buying.

Have a great weekend!

[Oklazona Bound]

Originally Posted by Catalina786

Greetings!

I relocated to Tucson almost 2 years ago and I find it's just not for me.

After much researching I really feel Kingman would be more to what I was looking for but have
a "few" questions that I hope someone can answer. :-) Your help/advice is truly appreciated.

1 - Traffic - Is it as crazy as Tucson? Is it fairly ok getting around?

Its a fairly small town. Not at all like Tucson. Problem with Tucson you just have I-10 as a freeway. Most people have to drive across town to get to it.

Originally Posted by Catalina786

2 - Winters - Is there much ice and or freezing rain?

Not going to get ice or freezing rain. It snows a little each winter but melts pretty quickly.

When relocating to Arizona I looked at Kingman as an option. But at that time I was in my mid 30's and there are not many jobs there. It is cooler than Tucson in the summer and a lot cooler in the winter.

Personally if I was retired and looking for a town in Arizona. I would take Sierra Vista, Nogales, Patagoina or Bisbee over Kingman. Greener, better weather. Bisbee or Patagonia would be the top choices by far.