Considering moving to Phoenix (live in, reverse commute, working)

[scoba]

Yeah, I have to keep reminding myself that I don't necessarily have to live in Cartwright. I hear that Tempe's really nice.

[Finger Laker]

It is .... You may also like the central corridor which would be a little closer

[observer53]

I am biased, I love Tempe, but it'd be a pretty long commute to Cartwright district. Central corridor would be a good option.

[scoba]

I know that with traffic and everything spaced apart that it'll take longer to get to places, but according to Google maps Tempe is closer to Cartwright than Central Corridor. Am I looking at the wrong thing? Is there anything closer that would be safe as well? Thanks for all your input!

[ReadyFreddy]

I think you're looking at the wrong thing. Here's a google map of 'cartwright school district in phoenix'. Zoom out to show the whole metro area. Central corridor is kind of mid-Phoenix (the word on the map anyway).

[imartin26]

I have some friends in Avondale that really like it there, around 107th ave and the i10. I personally dont live there, I am out in Scottsdale but when I visit it doesn't seem to bad of an area. Also looks to only be 8 to 10 miles from Cartwright school district.

[Finger Laker]

I live next door in Goodyear and wouldn't recommend Avondale - especially given her situation and some of the things she's looking for

I would probably recommend central corridor, arrowhead and then tempe in that order ........ in part because coming from tempe you have to clear the tunnel and face some real rush hour commute to get to/from work

I like the SW suburbs, but would avoid them as a young single person new to the area ........ if I were to land in the SW suburbs I would probably pick a couple places over that particular section of Avondale

The other spots would have more apartment options, a little bit more "single person infrastructure" ... central & tempe would have light rail access ........ plus you'd have the museums and sports/music venues that go along the line with only a short jog out to westgate in glendale

there are some differences though so a lot will come down to wht she's looking for and who knows, maybe a sleepy suburb is what is preferred ..... if so there are plenty within reach

[Finger Laker]

Originally Posted by ReadyFreddy

I think you're looking at the wrong thing. Here's a google map of 'cartwright school district in phoenix'. Zoom out to show the whole metro area. Central corridor is kind of mid-Phoenix (the word on the map anyway).

Good idea

The area I'm referencing is roughly between 7th ave and 7th street ... pretty much from downtown up to the Camelback area

You probably wouldn't even need to mess with getting on the freeway from most locations

To get to tempe from the cartwright district you have to go past that section, past the airport and then into Tempe so it is a bit longer and you would be pretty much tied to the freeway for least part of it

Which may or may not be a big deal to you ...... I'm on the freeway every morning and consider it just part of the job ....... both locations are definitely fine and I wouldn't knock tempe, especially for someone new to the area in their early 20s

[ReadyFreddy]

She's said several things that make me think a smaller town or more 'bedroom community' feel might be better. You won't find small town here, at least not in commuting distance. But a suburb might be less likely to cause culture shock than Central Corridor?

scoba- What was culture shock about Portland? The size? The weather? The attitudes?

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by scoba

Yeah, I have to keep reminding myself that I don't necessarily have to live in Cartwright. I hear that Tempe's really nice.

If the Cartwright district is in Maryvale, I would highly suggest NOT living around there. Maryvale is widely known as a high crime area. You'd be better off living further west or further east of there. If you want a quieter suburban location, you might consider Avondale, Goodyear, or Litchfield Park in the west Valley.

East of there is getting more into central Phoenix, and that's pretty hit & miss as far as good areas ... but most of central Phoenix is still better than Maryvale. Downtown and the Central Corridor areas are where you will find most of the big city activity ... so if you're more into the simple things (WalMart, Taco Bell, etc.), that may not be for you.

Tempe would probably be too much of a commute from your school district. Besides, a good part of Tempe north of the 60 freeway is heavily dominated by college students who attend ASU. Not a bad area, just a lot of younger twenty somethings who like to party. South Tempe, on the other hand, is typical suburbia, but still an even further commute.