This is Part 5 of an 8 part online course. Start here to learn more about and why this course was created and how it is structured.
Moving to Phoenix Online Course
This is probably the most common question I get asked--and I dread it every time. It isn't that it isn't an important question. It's just that the answer is: I don't know! If we all had the same budgets and needs and families and feelings as I do, I guess we'd all be living on my block! Apparently, the Greater Phoenix area is quite different from other metropolitan areas where it is easier to distinguish "good" areas from "bad" areas. Also, because this city, in general, is newer than many other major cities, it might lack what some people refer to as charm or flavor. A lot of it looks the same. Some people love it, some people hate it. But it tends to lend a uniformity to the entire area that makes it difficult to discern the benefit of one neighborhood over another.When visitors to About Phoenix ask this question, they are usually wanting a low crime neighborhood, with a great school nearby, where they only have to drive 10 minutes to get to work. My best way to tell people where they should live is really to ask them more questions so they can decide for themselves. Often, we can't find the perfect situation for our current circumstance, but we can prioritize our needs and desires, and narrow down the options!
When you are at the point where you've narrowed it down it bit, and you have a choice of two or three neighborhoods, or questions about specific areas, I recommend that you post a question in the Phoenix Forum and see if the people there will share their views.
Trivia to Impress Your Friends- Gilbert, Arizona was listed as the fastest-growing of 242 cities with populations of 100,000 or more (2004).
- The population of Arizona grows by about 450 people every day (2005).And One More Thing
The largest interstate migration flow from 1995 to 2000 was from New York to Florida. Arizona, during that period, received most of its migration flow from California.
Finding the Right Neighborhood
Where in Metro Phoenix Should I Live?
These are some considerations you should take into account when trying to decide what part of town you want to settle in. It is rather long, but this is an important decision.
Where Are We?
Phoenix Area Maps
Some of these maps might help you make some of your decisions about what part of town to live in.
What Makes Up Greater Phoenix?
Cities and Town of Greater Phoenix
The area actually has many cities and towns. You have probably heard of many of them--Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale and others. Here are links to articles about them, and/or the cities' and towns' official web sites.
Urban Villages
What or Where is Ahwatukee?
That's just one example. Ahwatukee is not a city or a town--it is an Urban Village of the City of Phoenix. More simply put, it's a neighborhood. We just had to make it more complicated!
Everything Seems So...Organized
What is a Master-Planned Community?
We have cities, towns, urban villages, and there are also master planned communities. Some are for empty-nesters, some are for golf and tennis enthusiasts, some are for families.
Getting From Here to There
Rush Hour Commuting
I compile results to my own Rush Hour Commuting survey, and organize the results so that you can see what your rush hour commute might look like. I hope you like sitting in your car....
Relocation to Phoenix Free Online Course
Introduction
Part 1: How Hot Is It?
Part 2: Where Are the Jobs?
Part 3: Those Dreaded Taxes
Part 4: Health Issues
Part 5: Where Should I Live?
Part 6: House and Apartment Hunting
Part 7: Find a School
Part 8: EEEEWWW! What's That?
