Flagstaff Neighborhoods for Families (Phoenix: houses, middle school, university)

[MovingtoFlag]

My husband and I have been offered jobs at the University and will be moving there this summer. We are debating between neighborhoods. Kids will probably attend charter schools in the middle/north of the city. We've visited Ponderosa trails and it seems nice, though it will be 15 min. from the kiddos' schools. We're also looking at homes that back up to one of the forests at both north and SW of city. We're looking at homes in the 300K-400K range and need a lot of house for the money with a large family. Shopping for advice as to which neighborhoods are good for families where folks are happy and laid back. Nice views are a great bonus!

[buckeyenative01]

University Heights, although that area is hazard waiting to happen if ever anything catches on fire there...

There's some decent neighborhoods along Lake Mary and High Country (South/Southwest part of town to the east of I-17). I know a couple professors who live back that way. Solid, middle class homes relatively close to the university. Woodlands Village has a Wal-Mart and Basha's, but Flagstaff's not sprawling like Phoenix, so nothing is ever more than 10-15 minutes away (although to be fair, I live and work on the west side and rarely venture to the east side).

[MovingtoFlag]

buckeyenative01, Thanks - very helpful. What do you think of the Continental Country Club area, though I guess that might be on the less-traveled east side for you?

[thedirtman]

Originally Posted by buckeyenative01

University Heights, although that area is hazard waiting to happen if ever anything catches on fire there...

There's some decent neighborhoods along Lake Mary and High Country (South/Southwest part of town to the east of I-17). I know a couple professors who live back that way. Solid, middle class homes relatively close to the university. Woodlands Village has a Wal-Mart and Basha's, but Flagstaff's not sprawling like Phoenix, so nothing is ever more than 10-15 minutes away (although to be fair, I live and work on the west side and rarely venture to the east side).

I see it the same way. The area near Lake Mary Road south of I-40 has good access to NAU and stores and restaurants in the University area.

The Lake Mary area and the Country Club area have a number of similarities. Both have plenty of hills, trees and lakes. The Country Club has the country club, of course, but Lake Mary has quicker access to the Lake Mary, and Lake Ashurst and fishing. The Country Club has better access to the Flagstaff Mall.

[buckeyenative01]

I've been to professors houses in the Country Club area and they're pretty nice. About the same as what I described along Lake Mary and High Country, just on the east side. Ditto for the neighborhoods along Butler heading east past the Humane Society.

[maxm11]

Sinagua Heights is 5 minutes from Sinagua Middle School and Thomas Knolls Elementary School. Taking from experience everyone is nice, and the houses are nice.