Have a choice between moving to Deer Valley or Chandler (Peoria: neighborhoods, elementary schools)

[AZcatFan]

Hello,

I have a choice between moving from the east coast to either the Deer Valley area or Chandler.

My spouse will be working downtown and will have to commute daily from one of these two areas.

Any opinions on which area would be best? My main concerns are schools and overall appearance/feel, and my spouse's commute to downtown.

I am also open to nice neighborhoods that are a decent commute to both (either deer valley and downtown, or chandler and downtown).

I know there are a bazillion threads of questions of "where should I live" and I am very grateful of all the people on here willing to take their time posting responses, but I am really overwhelmed. I don't have the chance to visit the area before I move and I just want my family to find a nice place to live.

Thank you all.

[observer53]

I think Chandler is a nicer area overall. Commute is not great from either one, but schools are good in Chandler, shopping and entertainment options are good either in Chandler or a short drive away.

[Captain Bill]

I second Chandler

[jessebritches]

Is peoria a good place to live between downtown and deer valley? It appears like not too bad a commute from the two and I found a few high rated elementary schools on schooldigger.com

[BuckeyeBoyDJ]

Well Peoria isn't between Deer Valley and Downtown. It's actually further from downtown than Deer Valley. Peoria is 20 or so miles northwest of Downtown. It's a fairly nice city overall. I would stay near the 101 if I could that way you can easily hop on and from there take the I17 south to downtown. The northern part of Peoria is excellent. My aunt lives in Pleasant Valley off of Lake Pleasant Pkwy&Happy Valley and the area is very nice with great schools. Lake Pleasant is a quick skip away for weekend fun. If you want the master planned community experience I hear great things about Vistancia which is kind of off the beaten path(kind of isolated).

[Jkgourmet]

Id choose Chandler over Deer Valley - but it's an ugly commute from either place!!

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

Id choose Chandler over Deer Valley - but it's an ugly commute from either place!!

I'm not sure I'd say "ugly" (though it would be affected by exactly where in Chandler or DV you'd be talking about, and the time of the commute), but the nice part of Peoria would be much further.

[AZcatFan]

Thank you.

Looking at that map. If we were to live up north near hwy 51 (maybe just south of the 101), Is this a good part of town? How is the commute south on 51 into downtown compared to I17 south from Deer Valley?

[observer53]

Can be congested, but it is a wider, better road. One accident on any of these freeways can set back your commute. I still think you would like Chandler better than the 51/101 area.

[kremit]

I am in the same boat with Chandler. The commute from Chandler to downtown is cake. It really is. Taking the 202 in the morning is fast because everyone is driving 80 mph. While the 17 is a nightmare both ways and the 51 is slow also.