What are the best places to live in Arizona?

Question

I am considering a move to Arizona. Leaning towards the Flagstaff area and want opinions or the city or other cities in Arizona. I am going to school for accounting, so I would need a fairly open job market for accounting and I have a young child, so the quality and safety of the school system is also important. Also, I am african-american, so wondering if AZ is pretty diverse or has a high racial problem.

How is the technology job market there?

Answer 1

Flagstaff is one of the better places to live and raise a family in Arizona (I grew up there). It is small enough that you don't get the pollution, traffic, and crime of a big city, but large enough that you still have a good hospital, nice selection of stores and shops, etc. At 7000 elevation, they have four real seasons with nice cool summers and snow in winter. It is surrounded by National Forest and within a short drive of many National Parks and Monuments.

The university also results in a higher number and quality of educational and cultural events than you would normally find in a town of that size (~50,000). Because of the university and several scientific institutions (like Lowell Observatory and USGS), education is valued more than in most of Arizona (where education is generally considered a threat to tax dollars) and thus the public schools are generally better than the state average (which over all ranks among the lowest in the country).

The worst part of living in Flagstaff is a higher than average cost of living for a town of that size (it is becoming a popular resort/summer home/retirement town) and limited higher income jobs. The best jobs are with the university or WL Gore (makers of GoreTex). However, every business needs accounting, so there must be a fair number of account jobs there.

The racial make-up of the town is mostly anglo with large hispanic and native american groups. There are not large numbers of Asians or American-Americans, but the town (and most of its citizens) has a very laid back easy-going quality and is generally very open to different people, life-styles, cultures, etc. Politically the town leans democratic and there are strong artist, outdoor enthusist and counter-culture communities.

Outside of Flagstaff, the towns with the largest African-American populations are Phoenix and Tucson, but even here, they are a pretty small minority percentage-wise and the majority is Anglo and Hispanic. Flagstaff and Tucson are the towns that tolerate and even celebrate diversity the most. Racism is more prevalent in the smaller rural towns and to a lesser degree in Phoenix, but even here it is probably not as much as some places back east (other than the current flaring tempers caused by the illegal immigration debate).

Phoenix is where the most jobs are (high-tech, construction, medicine, retirement/elderly related). Home prices and cost of living used to be pretty good for a city of this size, but house prices have shot through the roof in the last two years (hard to find a modest family home for less than $200K), but is starting to slow down. Unfortunately the anything-for-a-buck boom town attitude in Phoenix has also resulted in lots of sprawl, congestion, pollution, higher crime, and a strip mall culture with little interest in community, arts, or good public education (in my opinion). Summer are hot (113 today) but the low humidity takes the edge off it.

Answer 2

Do you want cooler weather, is that why you're thinking of Flagstaff? Flagstaff is a college town and has lots of hippies (really). The school system there is terrible. My in-laws both work for the school district and it's very poor. There are many Native American students drawn to gang activity there, and the city is rated in the bottom ten for medium sized cities in the entire nation! So, I don't recommend it. If you're looking for cooler weather in AZ, think Payson. Queen Creek schools are good (responding to the post above), but half of Queen Creek is in Florence USD... not so good. Arizona is very diverse and you shouldn't have problem. I would recommend the Gilbert School District, especially Highland High School area. They do very well and have low crime and high test scores. There are lots of new business in Gilbert, so I don't think you would have problem finding a job. Plus, it's located near the 60, so you could take the freeway to work if you found something close by (Mesa, Apache Junction, Tempe).

Answer 3

We don't have a lot of high tech jobs. Phoenix would be best for that. We live in Marana near Tucson. Very nice. Smaller than Phoenix which is why we like it. Plenty of jobs. I don't know how Flag is as far as jobs. It is small and land locked. So if you want a small town that will stay small, that's a good place. But it's a lot colder up there. I don't know if weather matters to you. If you are single, you should stick to Tucson or Phoenix area.
We are planning on moving out of state because of the schools. Don't like them. Az is VERY diverse. However, I don't see a lot of african americans about. At least not in my area. It's kind of odd to see african americans around. There is one family that goes to my gym, but that's all I really see. Shouldn't discourage you though because AZ is diverse and open to diversity in many areas.

Answer 4

Phoenix has a lot of high tech jobs.

Ditto the nice things other have said about Flagstaff. I think it would be a nice small town to live in. It's somewhat of a college town, with Northern Arizona University there.

Prescott is a small town, but growing fast, and is also very nice.

I don't see any racial problems in Arizona. We are a very mixed society with many Latin Americans, Native Americans and every other race.

Answer 5

I'm not an expert on Flagstaff but am an AZ native who has also spent some years living in Boston. Jennifer's comments about Flagstaff having a lot of "hippies" and Native Americans who choose gangs seemed pretty out of line which I wanted to comment on; those are blanket stereotypes in my opinion. Anyway, having spent substantial time living on the East Coast, I really enjoyed my exposure to different cultures and lifestyles. I am truly hoping that the expansion of ASU into the downtown Phoenix area this fall will infuse intellectual property, research, ideas and subsequently, help to revitalize the city and present more cultural experiences for the rest of the valley.

Answer 6

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Answer 8

My suggestion is Tempe/Chandler.

If you want the BEST school district for your child, it is the Kyrene School District, which is K-8. It also partners with Tempe Union High School District (9-12), so your child will filter to schools with thier friends. These districts are located in Tempe/Chandler/Awatukee borders which is roughly on I-10 and Kyrene Blvd.

Ultimatly, my suggestion would be to get with your a Real Estate agent in the area and ask them where the good schools are. But Kyrene/Tempe Union is what most of them are going to say.

Answer 9

Well Queen Creek is a very safe place for you and your child.There are schools such as Queen Creek elementary and Queen Creek Middle School and also there is Queen Creek high school.There are lots of jobs in Queen Creek also.Its a really cool place to live! :)

Answer 10

Green Valley AZ