If you had choose for relo from east coast... (Mesa: rental, homes)

[transmanjay5]

Relocating from the east coast and need some ideas about decent areas to live. It will be myself, wife and two boys(11, 6). We are moving fairly soon so some insight on the "best" location would be great. We plan on renting a house. Any information on the following Zips would be greatly appreciated:

85281 - Tempe

85257 - Scottsdale

85201 - Mesa

85281 - Tempe.


Thank you in advance.

[observer53]

You've got 85281 twice, you may have meant to list 85282. That said, as a Tempe resident and fan of the city, I'll say that any ZIP code in Tempe (-81 through -84) is a fine place to live. 85281 puts you closest to the University, families may prefer to live a little farther south in one of the other codes. Nothing really wrong with any of the ZIPs you list, mostly older homes, working class neighborhoods. Other than Tempe, my next choice would be 85257, south Scottsdale.

[transmanjay5]

Thanks for the catch on the zips. I will be working in what I assume is N. Scottsdale and my wife will be in NE Mesa so a half way point would be best for both. Thanks for the above info.

[fennec2009]

85201 would be last on my list. Of the zips you listed it is the most spotty. Some areas are very nice (for example, north of Rio Salado along Alma School), some are just ok (near Dobson and Rio Salado) and some are more run down (Country Club and University). In fact, my friend just moved to Country Club and University and her dog dug under the back gate. When we split up to look for it, my other friend and I were approached and asked if we wanted to buy weed by one guy and another asked if we "partied" and did "G" (meth). The only place I personally would live in that zip is off Alma School by the freeway. There is a very nice neighborhood south of the canal on the west side of the street, but it's not large and would be hard to find a rental there.

All the Tempe zips are very nice but since you have two younger children I wouldn't recommend 85281 (at least south of the freeway). If you look north of the 101 around Papago Park, those neighborhoods are more an extension of 85257. You won't find loud parties or many college kids up there, and Papago Park is a great place to take the kids (and dogs if you have any). There is a playground, dog park, and ramadas as well as trails around the buttes.

South Tempe is very nice but I would say given your work locations it would be better to locate closer to the 202/101 interchange. You could hop on the 101 to go north and your wife on the 202 to go east. For that reason I would probably recommend the northern part of 85281 or the southern part of 85257. However, South Tempe won't add too much to the commutes so if you find something you really like there that's not a big deal.

[transmanjay5]

What about zip 85204? Any thoughts?

[observer53]

Going even that much further east in Mesa gets better, but I would go further north and further east in Mesa if I had to be there. Since you want to be somewhere in the middle, south Scottsdale or north Tempe make more sense to me.

[fennec2009]

Yeah I would much rather live further north in 85213 than 85204.

[El_Waiboi]

Originally Posted by transmanjay5

Relocating from the east coast and need some ideas about decent areas to live. It will be myself, wife and two boys(11, 6). We are moving fairly soon so some insight on the "best" location would be great. We plan on renting a house. Any information on the following Zips would be greatly appreciated:

85281 - Tempe

85257 - Scottsdale

85201 - Mesa

85281 - Tempe.


Thank you in advance.

Personally, out of the areas you asked about, I like 85281 the best by far. Just my opinion.