Returning to Phoenix! Really excited. (Mesa, Scottsdale: 2013, cheap house, neighborhoods) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

msmega · 10-05-2017, 08:23 AM

Hi everyone!

I lived in Gilbert at Power/Ray and worked in Mesa from 2013-2016, up until I relocated to Georgia for work late last year. I now have the opportunity to return to AZ, but will be working in Phoenix at Sky Harbor this time. I never had to endure the westward commute before. Would a morning/evening commute from Gilbert (around Power/Ray) to Sky Harbor be completely unbearable? I'll likely be getting on the road headed that way around 6:30/7am and returning anywhere from 3:30/5pm.

If possible, I'd like to put my daughter back in the same Gilbert school she left last year which is why i'm considering Gilbert again. Any tips or shortcuts to help with my commute would be great!

I know Tempe (Kyrene) or Chandler would be better, but because of the school situation, I'd like to keep those as last resorts.

observer53 · 10-05-2017, 10:42 AM

Inbound, the earlier in the morning the better. Same going home.

belgirl · 10-05-2017, 11:08 AM

Not unbearable if you go early and leave early. It would be better if you could leave before 6:30 am, though.

Dewey59 · 10-05-2017, 11:27 AM

Everyone has a different definition of unbearable, but I wouldn't want to do that - not at those hours. Start watching the google traffic and you will get some idea of when and where the worst occurs. Of course, one accident throws a monkey wrench in everything.... For some reason, people in AZ have a propensity to gawk. So even if the accident is cleared off on the shoulder, everyone still has to slow way down to see what happened - backing up everything behind them to a crawl.

Valley Native · 10-05-2017, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msmega

I lived in Gilbert at Power/Ray and worked in Mesa from 2013-2016, up until I relocated to Georgia for work late last year. I now have the opportunity to return to AZ, but will be working in Phoenix at Sky Harbor this time. I never had to endure the westward commute before. Would a morning/evening commute from Gilbert (around Power/Ray) to Sky Harbor be completely unbearable? I'll likely be getting on the road headed that way around 6:30/7am and returning anywhere from 3:30/5pm.

Is Gilbert really all that great that you want to move back there, and endure a long rush hour commute both ways? I know you mentioned schools, but you could live a lot closer to work and still be in a good safe suburban area. I'd even be checking out some areas in Scottsdale north of downtown, or in the east part of Phoenix (Camelback East or Arcadia). There would still be a rush hour commute, but it would be a lot closer & less strenuous.

Thomasaz · 10-05-2017, 01:53 PM

I would avoid Gilbert if you are going to be commuting to Sky Harbor, especially near Power Road and Ray. That's a long commute and not worth it in my opinion. I would suggest looking at the Chandler area that borders Tempe or some of the nicer neighborhoods in Tempe itself. Scottsdale might also offer some affordable housing. Chandler school district is good and Scottsdale has Arcadia High School, which is a good school. I can't comment on Tempe, but the Kyrene school district in the Chandler/Tempe area is also nice. I don't see the point in forcing yourself to commute for so long when there are comparable school options in areas closer to your workplace. Gilbert is the place people go to live when you work in the East Valley or you just want a really cheap house that's new or to get far away from poor minorities or all of those things.

msmega · 10-05-2017, 02:12 PM

Interesting perspectives everyone. Thank you for your input. Not going to touch the "poor minorities" comment as, from memory, there were panhandlers on the side of the road in Gilbert in every shade.

I definitely don't want to have a long commute if it's unnecessary. I'm still very much in the planning stages and was hoping there was some shortcut or back road I could take that would make things easier (Sky Harbor Blvd??). Doesn't sound like it.

msmega · 10-05-2017, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by observer53

Inbound, the earlier in the morning the better. Same going home.

Not sure what you mean by Inbound? Can you explain?

observer53 · 10-05-2017, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msmega

Not sure what you mean by Inbound? Can you explain?

"Inbound"= going to work, "outbound" going home in the afternoon.

belgirl · 10-05-2017, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomasaz

I would avoid Gilbert if you are going to be commuting to Sky Harbor, especially near Power Road and Ray. That's a long commute and not worth it in my opinion. I would suggest looking at the Chandler area that borders Tempe or some of the nicer neighborhoods in Tempe itself. Scottsdale might also offer some affordable housing. Chandler school district is good and Scottsdale has Arcadia High School, which is a good school. I can't comment on Tempe, but the Kyrene school district in the Chandler/Tempe area is also nice. I don't see the point in forcing yourself to commute for so long when there are comparable school options in areas closer to your workplace. Gilbert is the place people go to live when you work in the East Valley or you just want a really cheap house that's new or to get far away from poor minorities or all of those things.

Still have that issue towards middle and upper class people, I see.