Mesa (Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert: houses, neighborhoods, school district)

[outsicktoday]

Looking for a typical middle class area within Mesa. Seems like the houses are about mid 300's with a pool. Our jobs would be elementary school teaching and Clinical Social Work (seems like there is a County hospital there, Maricopa Integrated) maybe there are better options but there appear to be jobs in the local area without a California style commute of 2 hours each way.



Very tired of California cost without the California return. One of the many middle class families that have had enough. Is Mesa a nice area, or am I going to essentially more of the same. My trips to that area have seemed to indicate otherwise.

[observer53]

There are some very nice areas in Mesa, but that's not your only choice in metro Phoenix in your price range, unless you have other reasons (family/friends in the area, for instance) for focusing on Mesa. Your job fields could take you to a lot of different areas of the Valley. If your concern is length of commute, best to figure out where your jobs will be before you get into anything too permanent in terms of housing.

[cactusland]

If you're just moving to Phoenix metro for cost of living, you'll hate it in five years and leave like the rest. Have other reasons for coming here other than just 'its cheaper.' - most states inland are cheaper than CA.

[smoochaz]

I love what's happening with Mesa - the Metro line and the ASU annex, EVIT, and Main St. really it's a great time to be moving there IMO - I would look at Red Mountain School district area - you can get a really nice house in the 300s or even in the high 200s - I have two teachers there in the school system clients/friends- one who also commutes to Fountain Hills and he just takes the 87 (beeline) straight shot and no traffic- so you can take a look at Fountain Hills too if you're going to be working in Mesa -as well as other surrounding towns (gilbert, etc.)

Best of luck!

[Thomasaz]

West and Central Mesa are mostly old areas, there are pockets of newer housing that are nice, but you have to look for them. East Mesa is relatively new, with nicer neighborhoods. Chandler and Gilbert are nearby communities that are mostly nice and have a lot of good housing. I don't really think there is anything bad with Mesa for the most part, it just has a reputation of being drab and boring, while the rest of the East Valley is just new and boring.

[DetroitN8V]

What made you hone in on Mesa of all places? Perhaps sharing that will help people guide you.

[PhureeKeeper]

Originally Posted by Thomasaz

West and Central Mesa are mostly old areas, there are pockets of newer housing that are nice, but you have to look for them. East Mesa is relatively new, with nicer neighborhoods. Chandler and Gilbert are nearby communities that are mostly nice and have a lot of good housing. I don't really think there is anything bad with Mesa for the most part, it just has a reputation of being drab and boring, while the rest of the East Valley is just new and boring.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

[DougStark]

#

Originally Posted by cactusland

If you're just moving to Phoenix metro for cost of living, you'll hate it in five years and leave like the rest. Have other reasons for coming here other than just 'its cheaper.' - most states inland are cheaper than CA.

Wow, cactusland. That was kind of harsh. I think southern Californians who decide to leave CA may find metro Phx a good alternative--more so than other inland states. Reasons: similar architecture (lots of stucco homes, snow-free winters, many (but definitely not all) similar trees, freeway/sprawl growth pattern, and most importantly to many, close proximity to friends/family left in So. Cal.

[ghdana]

Northeast Mesa, neighborhoods like Red Mountain Ranch, Las Sendas, and Mountain Bridge are what you're looking for.

[cactusland]

Originally Posted by DougStark

#

Wow, cactusland. That was kind of harsh. I think southern Californians who decide to leave CA may find metro Phx a good alternative--more so than other inland states. Reasons: similar architecture (lots of stucco homes, snow-free winters, many (but definitely not all) similar trees, freeway/sprawl growth pattern, and most importantly to many, close proximity to friends/family left in So. Cal.

Just cost of living isn't enough of a reason to come to AZ vs other states. Sure, close proximity to CA is a bonus, but OP didn't state that, or really anything else to go over. And NV is also close in proximity to massive parts of CA - along with OR. And in terms of jobs, cost of living, TX is a very good alternative to AZ; without the heat. In terms of politics, many fleeing CA might find even NM a better alternative than AZ, unless they specifically have become more frugal or conservative over the years, as NM is (generally) more liberal, and has many beautiful (like AZ) and affordable areas.
The amount of money one would save would more than make up multiple plane tickets a year. It wasn't meant to be mean; it was an unfortunate truth that the Phoenix metro area can have a high turnover of people moving in and then discovering in five or so years that for one reason or another, they don't like it. I wanted a bit more information from OP, but OP hasn't posted back. If OP loves AZ for AZ, then welcome and I hope they like it here as much as the rest of us do.