Moving from Iowa to Flagstaff (Sedona: apartment, for rent, school)

[anp1107]

I am currently taking classes through NAU online and found out I have to spend a spring semester (Jan-May) at the college. I currently live in Iowa and don't know much about Arizona. I won't be moving for a couple years but I have a few questions:

1. What is the weather like? (Jan-May)

2. Is Flagstaff expensive to live in? I am thinking an apt for $500/month if possible.

3. What areas should I stay away from? I am a 22 year old female that will be living alone.

4. What areas should I visit? I like outdoors and scenic places.

5. How are jobs? Are there a lot of part time jobs available?

Thanks!

[CodyW]

1. What is the weather like? (Jan-May)

January through May is cold in Flagstaff. Cold, and very windy. Frequent heavy snows- it's not uncommon for there to be a snow storm during finals week in May. Such is life in a mountain town, though..

2. Is Flagstaff expensive to live in? I am thinking an apt for $500/month if possible.

Flagstaff is very expensive to live in, and I can guarantee you that you will NOT find your own apartment for $500 a month. At the very best, you could rent a room for that rate. The one bedrooms around town start around 800-900 and often have very long waitlists.

3. What areas should I stay away from? I am a 22 year old female that will be living alone.

There aren't really any bad areas in Flagstaff. None that you should stay away from no matter what. You'll hear bad things about the "4th Street" area, but it's just the lowest income part of town and has a reputation of being less than desirable. There isn't a single part of Flagstaff I would consider outright "dangerous."

4. What areas should I visit? I like outdoors and scenic places.

Flagstaff is an excellent place for day trips. Lots of scenic places near by. The Grand Canyon, Sedona, Sunset Crater, Wupatki, Walnut Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon... the opportunities are almost endless if you like the outdoors. The weather in your time period may be hit or miss for out door activities, though.

5. How are jobs? Are there a lot of part time jobs available?

Bad. Very bad. Jobs in Flagstaff are scarce and hard to come by. If you're going to be at NAU - NAU is your best place to start. On campus jobs are the most frequently available and the easiest to get. You don't have to be work study for all of them. They don't pay well, but it's better than nothing. Other than that, most of the jobs open up in May once all of the students start to leave for the summer. So it's slim pickings until then.

[Harleyzona]

Quick reply.
Serving with the US Air Force a ton of years and visiting the world over I can say Flagstaff Arizona would be my prefered location to live.This would be taking EVERYTHING into consideration.Having said that, a distant second would be Jerez de la Frontera Spain, where I reside now.Cant always have #1 !

[Scottay]

1. Weather is almost identical to Denver, if you've ever been there. Summers are absolutely perfect, 85 degrees, lots of sunshine, very little humidity, no mosquitos and just enough rain to keep the mountain (Humphries) green. Winters have lots of sunshine, very little humidity and intermittent heavy snows. It'll be sunny and 50 degrees for two weeks then a storm will come in and dump 2' of snow.

2. Relative to Iowa, anywhere out west is going to be expensive. Flag is semi expensive. Nothing like L.A., San Diego or the Bay Area though. $500 will get you a room for rent. $700 will get you a small apartment

3. I would venture to say that there really are no bad areas.

4. It's all there if you love the outdoors. Mountains, canyons, redrock. 20min to Sedona, 2 hours to the Grand Canyon, 3.5 hours to Zion and Bryce Canyon. If you want to gamble or see a show then Vegas is only about 3 hours away.

5. Unfortunately jobs are scarce. You could always round up a seasonal job at a ski shop or bar tend. If you're an engineer you might check out Gore Industries. You might also look in to NAU or the forest service for jobs.

[TrentBeaver]

Originally Posted by anp1107

I am currently taking classes through NAU online and found out I have to spend a spring semester (Jan-May) at the college. I currently live in Iowa and don't know much about Arizona. I won't be moving for a couple years but I have a few questions:

1. What is the weather like? (Jan-May)

2. Is Flagstaff expensive to live in? I am thinking an apt for $500/month if possible.

3. What areas should I stay away from? I am a 22 year old female that will be living alone.

4. What areas should I visit? I like outdoors and scenic places.

5. How are jobs? Are there a lot of part time jobs available?

Thanks!

Weather in Flagstaff is very cold for Arizona You can expect temperatures in Jan and Feb to be below freezing with highs in the 40-50's and snow. Summer months tend to get up into the high 80's low 90's.

I know of a nice apt. complex near South Campus of NAU that rented for $450 a month per person. However, it was with 3 total roommates. Each had their own room with a shared living room, kitchen and laundry. About 3 blocks from South Campus.

Everyone that I have been friends with that went to NAU Flagstaff was all able to find jobs there while going to school, but their $10 /hour type jobs. Some at Target, Bookmans, etc.

As for areas to steer clear of, their aren't any dangerous areas, but I will say the downtown area late at night can get a little creepy from time to time, but their is always typically people nearby, because of the bars, events, Pita Pit, etc. going on.

Hope this helps. PM me and I can try and get you the name of that apt. complex if you'd like.

-Trent