Mesa vs. Gilbert

[PlainWhite]

Originally Posted by ajonesaz

I live in Gilbert and I am not Mormon, maybe two families total on our street are Mormon and they are perfectly nice to us. I haven't seen any mormon "stigma" here.

Do you have kids? Do your kids play with their kids? It's not about you so much as it's about the exclusion problems non-Mormon children face.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by PlainWhite

Do you have kids? Do your kids play with their kids? It's not about you so much as it's about the exclusion problems non-Mormon children face.

Not sure, I have never questioned my children's friends as to what religion they are

[PoppySead]

Originally Posted by ajonesaz

Not sure, I have never questioned my children's friends as to what religion they are

Well in Gilbert my children are asked by parents where they go to church before they establish any kind of friendship. It's not about if I care, they care.
But on that note you'll know soon enough if it matters. My kids have managed to find those who don't care that we aren't religious. It just takes awhile and it felt a bit odd because we were not at all use to it mattering.
It's more like the Bible Belt here.

Mesa has a bit of it as well but not as bad. Didn't feel it at all in Chandler, Tempe one Scottsdale.

Otherwise on a surface level it's great. You feel safe, and it's politeness extends beyond necessary. The mountain views are awesome.

The schools are ok, pretty new and traditional for the most part. The district is of course run by Mormon leaders and that makes for clean traditional old fashion environment, especially in the charters.

Shopping is great in Gilbert with an outdoor mall and an easy drive to the Queencreek mall as well.

I think by the description of what you'd like Gilbert fits the bill nicely. In Mesa you might find that house full of illegals you hate. So, check around first if you choose it. I never see that in Gilbert, the neighborhood is pretty involved in reporting things of that nature quickly. I did see it in the other cities I mentioned, it's what happens in border states, not much getting around it.

I like both CA and AZ but as soon as work allows I'm back in the OC or San Diego full time. I just fit better there and don't mind the trade offs, plus i don't like how the politics here effect insurance, state IDs, etc. it's just getting to be a headache. But that said sounds like you'll benefit from it.

It's a good fit for a lot of people.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by PoppySead

Well in Gilbert my children are asked by parents where they go to church before they establish any kind of friendship. It's not about if I care, they care.
But on that note you'll know soon enough if it matters. My kids have managed to find those who don't care that we aren't religious. It just takes awhile and it felt a bit odd because we were not at all use to it mattering.
It's more like the Bible Belt here.

Mesa has a bit of it as well but not as bad. Didn't feel it at all in Chandler, Tempe one Scottsdale.

Otherwise on a surface level it's great. You feel safe, and it's politeness extends beyond necessary. The mountain views are awesome.

The schools are ok, pretty new and traditional for the most part. The district is of course run by Mormon leaders and that makes for clean traditional old fashion environment, especially in the charters.

Shopping is great in Gilbert with an outdoor mall and an easy drive to the Queencreek mall as well.

I think by the description of what you'd like Gilbert fits the bill nicely. In Mesa you might find that house full of illegals you hate. So, check around first if you choose it. I never see that in Gilbert, the neighborhood is pretty involved in reporting things of that nature quickly. I did see it in the other cities I mentioned, it's what happens in border states, not much getting around it.

I like both CA and AZ but as soon as work allows I'm back in the OC or San Diego full time. I just fit better there and don't mind the trade offs, plus i don't like how the politics here effect insurance, state IDs, etc. it's just getting to be a headache. But that said sounds like you'll benefit from it.

It's a good fit for a lot of people.

Gilbert wants to remain a clean, safe, pristine, conservative suburban area no matter how big it might get.

I agree with you, it's very family-friendly and it seems like it has some sort of bible belt influence but Gilbert is an exception, the rest of the valley isn't like this.

I read recently that Phoenix was fifth in the nation for most non-religious or religiously unaffiliated residents.

[PoppySead]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

Gilbert wants to remain a clean, safe, pristine, conservative suburban area no matter how big it might get.

I agree with you, it's very family-friendly and it seems like it has some sort of bible belt influence but Gilbert is an exception, the rest of the valley isn't like this.

I read recently that Phoenix was fifth in the nation for most non-religious or religiously unaffiliated residents.

Wow, really? That's how I use to feel, I hardly ever ran into someone who asked what church I went to right off the bat. Aw, but since I've lived in Gilbert I feel like such a minority. It must just be here. I was starting to think all of Phoenix was changing over from all the bible belt transplants. lol
When I go over to my place in CA it's so different, it's made me think of leaving Phoenix for good. Maybe I should just find a place in Phoenix again. My poor kid feels like the devil.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by PoppySead

Wow, really? That's how I use to feel, I hardly ever ran into someone who asked what church I went to right off the bat. Aw, but since I've lived in Gilbert I feel like such a minority. It must just be here. I was starting to think all of Phoenix was changing over from all the bible belt transplants. lol
When I go over to my place in CA it's so different, it's made me think of leaving Phoenix for good. Maybe I should just find a place in Phoenix again. My poor kid feels like the devil.

I know what you mean, Gilbert might as well be a suburb of Nashville, Atlanta, or some other southern city because it seems like you're an outcast there if you're not an active church member.

Or so I've heard.

But yes Phoenix itself is the fifth most religiously unaffiliated city in the nation so you shouldn't move entirely out of Arizona just because of what you experience in Gilbert. How Religiously Unaffiliated Is Your City?

[Quizillla]

I live in Gilbert and I went to college in Northern Cali (Sonoma area). I graduated about a year ago. While Gilbert feels very safe, especially compared to Downtown Phoenix/ parts of Mesa where I take the light-rail (to avoid parking). I feel very out of place here... maybe because I'm 22 and it's mostly families around 30+ with kids. I DEF. get the religious vibe here. There are LDS churches everywhere and my boyfriend (who works in Gilbert, I work in DT Phoenix) has co-workers and they are all religious. His boss is very religious. It's hard to go to brunch here on Sundays because everywhere is PACKED after church :P heh. I have nothing against religious people, I just don't have a religion so it makes me feel a bit awkward.

I go to ASU for graduate school. I would recommend Scottsdale-- it's very high end and safe-- it also has quite a bit more to do than Gilbert. My FAVORITE part of Gilbert though is Agrocopia, the farming community. The coffee shop there is the BEST !!

Agritopia Gilbert Real Estate - 8 Homes For Sale | Zillow

here are some homes around that area let me know if you want to know more about Gilbert, I've been here about a year. It's a cute place, a little boring. I want to eventually get back to California, but Arizona is great

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by Quizillla

I live in Gilbert and I went to college in Northern Cali (Sonoma area). I graduated about a year ago. While Gilbert feels very safe, especially compared to Downtown Phoenix/ parts of Mesa where I take the light-rail (to avoid parking). I feel very out of place here... maybe because I'm 22 and it's mostly families around 30+ with kids. I DEF. get the religious vibe here. There are LDS churches everywhere and my boyfriend (who works in Gilbert, I work in DT Phoenix) has co-workers and they are all religious. His boss is very religious. It's hard to go to brunch here on Sundays because everywhere is PACKED after church :P heh. I have nothing against religious people, I just don't have a religion so it makes me feel a bit awkward.

I go to ASU for graduate school. I would recommend Scottsdale-- it's very high end and safe-- it also has quite a bit more to do than Gilbert. My FAVORITE part of Gilbert though is Agrocopia, the farming community. The coffee shop there is the BEST !!

Agritopia Gilbert Real Estate - 8 Homes For Sale | Zillow

here are some homes around that area let me know if you want to know more about Gilbert, I've been here about a year. It's a cute place, a little boring. I want to eventually get back to California, but Arizona is great

Gilbert is very conservative this way.

You would fit in much better living in Tempe or central Phoenix near your work and school.

Your boyfriend could still work in Gilbert and do a reverse commute.

[RudyOD]

My family (parents and younger siblings - 11 and 7 years old) has now been living in Gilbert for a little more than a year, and they've liked it so much they went from renting a home to selling their home in California and buying one in Gilbert (whether that works out in the Long run, we'll see). Btw, my family is Latino and strongly Roman Catholic, so they definitely don't blend in with the typical Gilbert resident.

The only person in my family who hasn't enjoyed their experience so much is my 26 year old sister. She moved back in with my parents to go back to school, and she has found her social life incredibly lacking. So, yeah, it isn't for everyone. ..but i think a young family will do well.

Funny enough, what my sister does like is the weather, and as much as it got hot in Arizona, they would actually complain more about the awful humidity we had this summer in California every time they visited, lol.