Texas Vs Arizona (buying a home, buying, tornado)

[dsypj]

I have a job offer from a company based out of Temple, Texas and one out of Mesa, Arizona and am finding it difficult to decide. Location is a major issue for my wife and I who are a young couple. We are city people having lived in New York and Toronto but are now looking to be closer to family and start a family of our own. I personally need to be close to work because of the nature of emergencies so would be looking to live in Georgetown/Belton at the furthest for Temple Texas, or alternatively Scottsdale, Gilbert or Chandler for Arizona. Would love to hear opinions about either place to help make a decision.

[Pacifico]

Tough choice. No Income tax in Texas, the one in az is fairly low at around 4.5%. Conversely, property taxes are quite high in Texas so consider this if buying a home to start family. Good economy in Texas, perhaps strongest in country. But Arizona is no slouch since Phoenix is a major metro area. Mesa will be more big city living compared to temple. Both are very hot with much higher humidity in temple. Mesa is much hotter temperature wise (desert). In temple the weather may be more harsh because of thunderstorms, hurricane effects, perhaps hail and high winds. Tornado potential is fairly low but still there. Texas will be more conservative in the Temple area vs mesa az. In mesa you'll be close to Las Vegas, CA whereas in temple you will have the likes of dallas houston and San Antonio and nearby areas. You will be close to the Gulf of Mexico, whereas in az you are closer to Pacific.