Moving to the Glendale Area.. some quick questions! (Phoenix, Avondale: apartment complex, safe area)

[JOOOE]

Hey everyone...

Just had a quick question. My fiancee and I will be moving out to Phoenix in the summer. We've been there for a weekend visit, but not nearly enough to get a full "feel" of the city. We're hoping to move to Glendale. We've heard both good and bad things. We're mostly concerned with safety, and we were just wondering if there were any specific areas we should look at. We're going for an apartment complex first. As of now, the best one we found was The Metro at Zanjero. It's near the Glendale Sports and Entertainment District. Is this a safe area? Also, I'll be working in Verrado. I know it'll be a bit a commute (25 min) but I'm assuming I'll be going against the traffic, so will my ride be that bad?

Thanks for reading.. We're going into this fairly blind and any advice would help!!

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by JOOOE

Hey everyone...

Just had a quick question. My fiancee and I will be moving out to Phoenix in the summer. We've been there for a weekend visit, but not nearly enough to get a full "feel" of the city. We're hoping to move to Glendale. We've heard both good and bad things. We're mostly concerned with safety, and we were just wondering if there were any specific areas we should look at. We're going for an apartment complex first. As of now, the best one we found was The Metro at Zanjero. It's near the Glendale Sports and Entertainment District. Is this a safe area? Also, I'll be working in Verrado. I know it'll be a bit a commute (25 min) but I'm assuming I'll be going against the traffic, so will my ride be that bad?

Thanks for reading.. We're going into this fairly blind and any advice would help!!

Hello Joooe,

Glendale follows a typical pattern across the PHX Metro newer=better, as in if it looks nice and the area around it looks new and clean then its likely fine. Verrado would require access to the 101 South in order to get there quickly meaning that you could really live in two areas of Glendale. Arrowhead (very nice on the northern end of Glendale) is an established community with very easy access to the 101. The other (and more economical) would be to be around Westgate which is new and nice but not established yet. I guess my question is why specifically Glendale?

Here's my question, if you work in Verrado why not move to Avondale or Western Surprise, you would have access to what will be a hardly used 303 and a much quicker drive. I lived in Surprise briefly and it is very nice and quiet perfect for families. Avondale is a little older but has very nice areas that are much closer and imo equal in terms of niceness and amentities to Glendale.

[JOOOE]

Thanks for the advice! The reason why we picked Glendale is because my fiancee recently got a job teaching at a Glendale Elementary school. However, she's not opposed to a little commute either. Most of the areas that are right in the middle seem to not have the greatest reputations (Maryvale and Litchfield Park [we may be wrong though.. just basing this on hearsay!]). I guess we've heard better things about Glendale than Avondale, which pushed it to the top spot. We haven't considered Western Surprise yet. I'll check into that. Thanks!

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by JOOOE

Thanks for the advice! The reason why we picked Glendale is because my fiancee recently got a job teaching at a Glendale Elementary school. However, she's not opposed to a little commute either. Most of the areas that are right in the middle seem to not have the greatest reputations (Maryvale and Litchfield Park [we may be wrong though.. just basing this on hearsay!]). I guess we've heard better things about Glendale than Avondale, which pushed it to the top spot. We haven't considered Western Surprise yet. I'll check into that. Thanks!

Glad i could help,
Litchfield Park would be a nice middle ground, and it is starting re-development so I wouldn't leave that option out, plus its by the Wigwam, the Freeway, Golf Courses and is very green.

In your situation I would look at the Westgate area (great bar scene by the Phoenix Coyotes and Arizona Cardinals) ,Arrowhead (north of the 101), Surprise, Litchfield Park, Newer Avondale or Goodyear (Palm Valley). Stay away from areas south of the I10, stay away from Maryvale or older parts of Glendale.

Hope I helped

[JOOOE]

Thanks! I think we narrowed it down to the Westgate area or Arrowhead. We're definitely going to look around a bit and explore the area, but it's nice to have a general idea. According to google maps, Glendale is about 25 minutes from Verrado. Should I have any major traffic concerns going out west every morning? I don't see why I would, just trying to get an idea.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

...a typical pattern across the PHX Metro newer=better...

That is a matter of opinion.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by JOOOE

Thanks! I think we narrowed it down to the Westgate area or Arrowhead. We're definitely going to look around a bit and explore the area, but it's nice to have a general idea. According to google maps, Glendale is about 25 minutes from Verrado. Should I have any major traffic concerns going out west every morning? I don't see why I would, just trying to get an idea.

Thearea around Westgate is not that nice. Mostly it is farm fields, but it is in the less desirable part of Glendale. Westgate is better visited than lived near with the exception of the new apts around there maybe.

Litchfield Park which you put in the same sentence with Maryvale does not belong there. It is one of the toniest towns in the metro area, affluent and upscale.

I still think that Goodyear is the best bet for you. Arrowhead is way too far from Verrado when you can find many nice options in Goodyear like Palm Valley or, if you are up to a little extra drive, Estrella. Estrella is a jewel.

[CodyW]

The main part of Glendale is perfectly fine as long as you're living north of about Northern or so. The area around westgate is fine, just still a little rural. It's closer to the bad areas, but you wouldn't have any problems day to day.

Litchfield Park is NOT a bad area. Not by a long shot.

The real question is: Where in Glendale will your wife be working? It covers a pretty big area north to south. If she's working for the GESD, it will be the southern half, in which case Arrowhead would mean you're both backtracking for your commute.

Although you say you've narrowed it down, I would definitely still suggest you look at the Palm Valley area of Goodyear. There are some very nice new apartment complexes on Bullard north of I-10, Aldea at Estrella Falls and a couple others I don't remember the names of.

[LBTRS]

Litchfield Park and Goodyear are both great places to live and would be middle ground as far as the commute goes. Goodyear is a little easier to access the freeway if that is important.

[Goober13]

I agree, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, and there is nothing wrong with Avondale, the newer areas are north of I-10. Your job is waaaay out in Verrado, so those areas would make perfect sense.