Relocating to Phoenix - West Valley vs. East Valley - Pros and Cons (Mesa: high crime, houses)

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by jimj

You need to remove one of the "X's". The majority of police activities happen below the 50's and between Northern and the I-10. I've always said "nothing good happens after dark below the 50's".

Yeah. I live about 150 "avenues" west of all that. Nobody around here shops or has any reason to go in that area. Implying that Goodyear or Surprise are close or part of Maryvale is about the same as saying Gilbert is part of South Phoenix. The real "west valley" begins about the 101 freeway and the new and future growth areas of the west are around the 303.

[JGMotorsport64]

The West side is bland and the traffic is worse going into Central Phoenix. Additionally, you get to stare into the sun for both long commutes. I say this as a West sider who moved East before moving Central. As a rule I generally recommend West Chandler/South Tempe for most people like you.

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Yeah. I live about 150 "avenues" west of all that. Nobody around here shops or has any reason to go in that area. Implying that Goodyear or Surprise are close or part of Maryvale is about the same as saying Gilbert is part of South Phoenix. The real "west valley" begins about the 101 freeway and the new and future growth areas of the west are around the 303.

That's just too far away from everything.

[Bates419]

As a Westsider can you tell me what I'm too far away from? Wondering what I'm missing out on?

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

The West side is bland and the traffic is worse going into Central Phoenix. Additionally, you get to stare into the sun for both long commutes. I say this as a West sider who moved East before moving Central. As a rule I generally recommend West Chandler/South Tempe for most people like you.



That's just too far away from everything.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

The West side is bland and the traffic is worse going into Central Phoenix. Additionally, you get to stare into the sun for both long commutes. I say this as a West sider who moved East before moving Central. As a rule I generally recommend West Chandler/South Tempe for most people like you.



That's just too far away from everything.

What's everything? There is nothing I need more than 1/2 hour away, mostly within 10 minutes. We got restaurants, supermarkets, bars, gas, and even Westgate which is growing with new entertainment and hotels. We have a 9,000 acre lake with two first class marinas, restaurants, stores and campgrounds, less than an hour away. We have the state's newest and fanciest freeway that can wisk us up north without ever braving Phoenix traffic. Everything is spanking new and clean. We have the coolest Harkins in the valley. Our Frys stores have wine bars and covered parking. When the new casino is finished, we will have it all . When I first moved here there was nothing. Twenty years later it looks like any other over-commercialized burb in the region. You should have given it a little longer.

[KurtAZ]

Well...as far as the "gang wars" are concerned...any long term residents know that historically the West Side was less expensive and most of the news reports about crime always had an Avenue attached to it. Pre-2000s, most of the West Side were still farms and dirt malls.

Now you are just as likely to hear of a shooting in Chandler as you are in Avondale so...take your pick.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Well...as far as the "gang wars" are concerned...any long term residents know that historically the West Side was less expensive and most of the news reports about crime always had an Avenue attached to it. Pre-2000s, most of the West Side were still farms and dirt malls.

Now you are just as likely to hear of a shooting in Chandler as you are in Avondale so...take your pick.

Two were gunned down in Chandler last night. It sounds like a random shooting, but we will see. Avondale is actually one of the safer places in the metro with respect to violent crime. The really bad spot is the west side of Phoenix proper north of I-10 and east of about 83rd, give or take.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Two were gunned down in Chandler last night. It sounds like a random shooting, but we will see. Avondale is actually one of the safer places in the metro with respect to violent crime. The really bad spot is the west side of Phoenix proper north of I-10 and east of about 83rd, give or take.

Avondale Man kills Mom

Avondale Murder-Suicide

Point being...it is everywhere...

[outsideliving]

So obviously this is a hot button issue on this site, everybody is rep'n their side.
I live in the East Valley have rental properties all over the valley, even some in the west valley. I think that it is too broad of a statement to say which one is better. West Valley is much more reasonably priced than the east valley (Q1 '17 Million dollar volume for the entire West valley was 10 million, Fountain hills (small Suburb) had 13 Million same quarter).

I think that is mainly due to the fact that most of the high paying jobs are in the East Valley, the 101 price, Tempe, South scottsdale and Scottsdale Airpark contain some of the highest paying jobs in the entire valley. Companies like to Cluster (I don't know why) so I don't see this changing in the near future. The commute on the I-10 and 101 going east in the Morning is brutal, same with the travel back, but since the OP isn't commuting and already has a job maybe this isn't a concern (maybe for resale though).

As far as School districts are concerned there are generally better schools in the East Valley, however again this is too broad, there are very good school districts in certain West Valley areas.

My Favorite area in the west valley is Arrowhead, beautiful area, well maintained houses, not any blighted areas, Decent schools, good restaurants and shopping. I like the set up for Verrado as well, but what is with the high school rating (it's like a 2 on good schools)?

In terms of looking at your house as an investment it is hard to say, right now demand is for cheap housing so all cheap Markets and sub-markets are performing well which gives the west valley a boost up in terms of market appreciation. Again this is too large to analyze in aggregate as the East valley has cheap housing as well (way southeast like QC and San Tan). Though the demand also is for more City living and as everybody stated above the East Valley has more urban areas/central living so maybe that will help higher price appreciation in the east Valley. Or maybe close location to good jobs will help the East Valley.

Again you (OP) will most likely not get any unbiased opinions because housing and location is a very personal decision and everybody likes to think they made the best choice. So please visit first so you can form your own opinions, and obviously rent in the beginning. Personally- I think you need to narrow it down to specific towns as that will be easier to analyze and provide good feedback.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

What's everything? There is nothing I need more than 1/2 hour away, mostly within 10 minutes. We got restaurants, supermarkets, bars, gas, and even Westgate which is growing with new entertainment and hotels.

I'm learning my way around PHX, so pardon the questions.

I've been to Westgate. It's nice. Has a good Dave and Buster's. We went on a game day in December. Traffic wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

We have a 9,000 acre lake with two first class marinas, restaurants, stores and campgrounds, less than an hour away.

Assume you mean Lake Pleasant. Been there, too.

We have the state's newest and fanciest freeway that can wisk us up north without ever braving Phoenix traffic.

Are you talking about 101? Is Deer Valley considered "north" of Phoenix proper?

Everything is spanking new and clean. We have the coolest Harkins in the valley.

Now you've got me -- I have to look up Harkins. Ah. Cineplexes.

I really like Glendale except for all the brown houses.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

I really like Glendale except for all the brown houses.

Brown?

You must mean beige. Arizonans know that a lighter color on housing (and cars/trucks) reflects intense heat better. Therefore, the many beige homes out there.