various questions here.

[myhusbandrocks.]

Originally Posted by crewbank

Apartments tend to change and "remodel" a lot here, so it's hard to say. We used to live in Chesapeake on College/Southern, which was nice, but these are now condos only, I think. Try this link to Tempe PD's apartment stats: http://www.tempe.gov/cau/2007%20Apar...20Bulletin.pdf

Generally the further south and the more central the apartment complex, the safer. Avoid those right next to ASU, and adjacent to Phoenix and Mesa. Unfortunately, rent is usually higher in safer places, but there are lots of options. i would also look into a duplex in a nice neighborhood. The rent is usually about the same as a nice apartment, but you have some more breathing room.

great link, thanks!

when you say to avoid those adjacent to phoenix & mesa, is this because these cities themselves are not the safest or just that these areas of tempe happen to be not the safest? also, always willing to pay a little more to be safe! that is to be expected.

[Lee151]

The college kids tend to live and hang out right near the campus. The rest of Tempe is full of families and isn't loud or unsafe. Just don't rent right near campus.

Chandler and Gilbert are both very close. South Tempe closest to Chandler is very new. Was all desert when I lived in Tempe.

There is a Whole Foods on Rural

[crewbank]

i recommend avoiding the east and west borders of Tempe because southeast Phoenix and West Mesa are a little rough. This doesn't affect Tempe too much, even in those areas, although the City of Tempe has a somewhat passive aggressive history of putting refuse stations, sewage treatment, and homeless people right on the these borders of town! This is a generalization, but there are lots of safer bets than the "borderland."

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by crewbank

i recommend avoiding the east and west borders of Tempe because southeast Phoenix and West Mesa are a little rough. This doesn't affect Tempe too much, even in those areas, although the City of Tempe has a somewhat passive aggressive history of putting refuse stations, sewage treatment, and homeless people right on the these borders of town! This is a generalization, but there are lots of safer bets than the "borderland."

crewbank, this is a very good generalization! I never thought of it that way. North Tempe, in the parts that border Scottsdale, especially by Miller and Hayden Rds is also a somewhat rough area. The only "border zone" of Tempe that's really good is the south end and the southeast end.

As others have said, all kinds of people live in Tempe. Pretty much anywhere in Tempe with the possible exception of areas extremely far south by Warner and Ray Rds, you will run into some college students. Once you're south of Guadalupe Rd the numbers of ASU students do start tapering off significantly. However, if it's not one thing it's another-- the less desirable parts of Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, and east and south Phoenix can be just as noisy and problematic, if not worse, as the ASU-influenced parts of Tempe.

[myhusbandrocks.]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

However, if it's not one thing it's another-- the less desirable parts of Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, and east and south Phoenix can be just as noisy and problematic, if not worse, as the ASU-influenced parts of Tempe.

what are the less desirable parts of chandler, please?

[crewbank]

Chandler is huge, and is largely a bedroom community with an intended quiet family feel and very little to do other than a couple arts venues geared towards older adults and Tumbleweed Park.

It has recently seen an increase in crime, especially downtown as former "newer" areas become the big brothers and sisters of even "newer" developments south and east. The neighborhoods are generally ok, but pretty much anything not gated and brand new seems spotty to me these days. New home buyers beware...Chandler is your future 10 years from now!