Interested in moving to the Greater Phoenix area, any advice?

Question

Well firstly, I would like to know about the public school issue, I currently have an 8 year old and an infant.
Secondly, is the job situation is it as good as it looks statistically. Thirdly, not gonna lie I live in and for most of my life have lived in predominately middle-class african-american neighborhoods, what is the ratio of african-americans to caucasians like?
Also, this is a pretty big area, and clues on which neighborhoods might be best.
Oh, one more thing I am also interested in opening a daycare upon my arrival, anyone know of any daycare starved areas? All of your help is greatly appreciated

Answer 1

Try this link!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.phoenixchamber.com/

Tons of great info at the link above. Just do a little browsing. My wife and I were in Phoenix last June for two-weeks of training. I think it is a great area (although we did hear nightmares about housing costs (especially about owning/buying a home).

The Phoenix area is large and sprawling. If you are from a big “metropolitan” city it will be a change most everything in Phoenix is low to the ground 1, 2, and 3 story buildings.

It was HOT but after about a week it became surprisingly bearable.

Answer 2

Lived in Phoenix for 4 years and if I ever leave FL, that is the only place I will ever relocate back.
Areas that are nice are the Chandler and North Tempe (North of ASU toward Scottsdale) and Paradise Valley. They are nice middle class areas with a even race mixture. Truth of the matter is that Phoenix is predominately hispanic no matter where you live. There really aren't any 'african-american' neighborhoods persay.
If you want to open a daycare, you'll do very well in the Chandler Area. There is a need for more Daycare in that area close South Mountain (South Ray Road). And South of the ASU Campus in South Tempe.
You need to have an appreciation for desert life to really live there and enjoy it. It is HOOOTTTT, no exaggeration, your shoes do melt to the sidewalk, you know like when you walk in something stiucky? That's exactly what it feels like when you walk outside in the summer. It does get cold there though, and there are always flash floods and sand storms with zero visibility at times. The school systems are good, so long as you stay in the areas that I mentioned.
Hope you really enjoy it, I know I did and it was tough to leave.

Answer 3

I am African American and just moved from PHX in July. There is NOT a lot of us there per the population ratio and the ones that are are pretty rude to each other. Well, that's not true, because you have to acknowledge someone to be rude. So don't take it personally if you are snubbed by other blacks.
The only established black neighbor is around South Mountain. It is gentrfying in that neighborhood, so the rent may be expensive. I lived in Tempe not too far away. Most blacks are spread out.

Gilbert is supposed to have a very good school district, but beware of the commute if you work in PHX. You should try the Chamber of Commerce for business info. Warning, the PHX area is not one city but several cities spread out among the Valley. So you may have to check the Chamber of Commerce for each city. Mesa may be the best place for you to set up a daycare since there are a lot of apartments and low to working income people there. They get a lot of government aid in that city.

I rarely went into PHX proper and basically stayed, shopped, did my entertainment and traveled in the East Valley (Tempe, Mesa,
Chandler, Gilbert).

The job situation sucks!!! Employers underpay for the cost of living in PHX. PHX is NOT cheap. The jobs are basically service jobs, medical or very high tech. The University of PHX is always hiring. Try to be a Enrollment Counselor because those are the liars the University pays well. Although, I heard Grand Canyon University pays better.

Overall, I do miss AZ. It is not a bad place, just hot as Hell in the summer and very lonely. It is not an easy place to meet people and I am not a religious or club person.

Oh yeah, the LDS have a stronghold on some jobs, especially in Mesa.

Answer 4

I live in Glendale. It is a wonderful area on the West Side of Phoenix, the city of Glendale is growing dramaticlly. I'm sure you would have a good chance of opening a day care anywhere in the Phoenix Area. I wouldn't move anywhere on the south side of Phoenix. If you look at a map and see a road called Camelback, (It goes east/west) you don't want to move anywhere south of Camelback road. I don't know what the statisics are on white-black, I think the hispanic population has taken over out here.

As for the school, I have a 10 year old boy who goes to a Charter school. Alot of the public schools are over crowded, as they have a hard time keeping up with the population explotion out here. There are tons of new schools being built, but they just can't keep up. I hope I answered some of your questions. If you love hot weather in the summer and mild winters Arizona is the place for you. If you want more info you can e-mail me @ [e-mail] Good Luck!

Answer 5

The best advice, is to have a car with a good a/c and drink lots of water...it's hot!!

The schools are good or bad depending on where you live. The greater Phoenix area is so big now. I grew up in the East Valley, specifically Mesa, and the school distrcit there is very good for Arizona. The schools in Gilbert, Chandler and Queen Creek are also good (I taught school in Queen Creek).

I think the African-American/Caucasan ration is like any other city, I know there are more African-Americans now than there was 20 years ago.

I think it's a nice place to live and raise a family. I'm glad I grew up there, I hope you like it and that the heat doesn't melt you.

Answer 6

Hey - I was born and raised in Phoenix and my family still lives there so I visit often. There are lots of nice neighborhoods in the greater Phoenix area. I am partial to central Phoenix between 15th Ave and 16th St - Northern and Camelback. East Phoenix near Paradise Valley is good too, but more expensive. Schools are pretty good, I think because their are charter schools. Lots of growth happening in Chandler/Mesa area so think the day care prospects are probably better in that area. The only predominately african-american area that I'm aware of is in south Phoenix near South Mountain, but know that you'll find people of color in any neighborhood. Hope you will find what you are looking for in The Valley of the Sun!

Answer 7

CAREFULL VERY VERY CAREFULL
I move in phoenix last december
if you want my advice stay out from

bad areas
Tucson,Sierra Vista,Casa Grande,Chandler,Mesa
Tempe,..

medium areas can be
Glendale,Phoenix,Scottsdale and Peoria..

the best areas..
Flagstaff,Sedona and Prescott...

just remember the criminal rate in Arizona is going up day per day check here http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0812robb12.html


Arizona map
area 1 and half of 2 is not so bad area 3 is crazy
drug,gangs etc etc,,,

http://www.apartments.com/Arizona
just remember stay north do not go south...

about the african-american issue I don't see any problems
where I work I have 2 african-american friends
my wife the same...
where I live we have a good mix of Black,White,Chinese,Korean and Spanish no problems found...
http://www.apartmentcities.com/Phoenix-Apartments/d/woodstone_AZ.asp
if you looking for an apartments in Arizona you need to be carefull this is where I live now
http://www.apartmentreviews.net/ratings/az-phoenix-woodstone-apartmentsr24962.htm
I will move soon we found a good house..

is not so bad like this guy say but however there is some problem
like sometime I have some trouble with the hot water but the place is cheap and good for start..

However because I work like security officer and I patrol a lots
Property in the valley I can tell ya all property have the same problems...

maybe the only one I can suggest you is Rosewood at glendale
is a small quite property the residents claim some stole car
but in general is not bad
http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/AZ-Glendale-Rosewood-Apartments-Pricing.html

Rosewood official web page
http://www.rosewoodapartments.com/floorplans.htm

last consideration
if you looking in internet in order to find an apartament
do not believe what do you see in the web page
when my wife she found Woodstone apartaments
everything is look just great but when we move here
we see the reality...Woodstone is good for the first year
then you HAVE TO BUY YOUR HOUSE and move on...


good lucky

Answer 8

some of the public schools are really good (my 5 yr old goes to a FREE public montessori with FREE before & after care!!!)

BUT!!!

hardly ANY black folks!

winter is wonderful, but summer is hell and stays hellish no matter how long you live here.
you can't get cold water from your faucet!

lots of jobs, pay is lower than "cities" of this size though.

daycare would be a good bet, but there also seems to be lots of home daycares. i would focus on the downtown/central area since ASU is expanding hugely there. you can still find affordable housing too since it's an up & coming 'hood w/some cool little places poppin up.

culturally speaking, it's slim pickings and pretty spread out here. if you have your own thing going on, it's a good place for opportunity for sure.

Answer 9

I've lived in AZ almost my whole life. We bought a house about a year ago & I did a lot of research (about 6 mo worth) on schools because I have a 2 year old. Now I only looked on the west side. I believe the best school districts are Deer Valley & Peoria. We personally moved to Peoria School District and live in Glendale.

If you want more advise about schools or areas, please email me at [e-mail]

Answer 10

Do some more thinking, seriously. There are drawbacks to nonwhites in Phoenix and it is hotter than ten kinds of hell, not even any relief at night.

There are some areas of Phoenix you would be more welcome in but from the sound of your question, I don't think you would like them.

I have lived there twice. One cannot go out for walks except in wintertime because it is too hot. Visiting the zoo or other outdoor places. with your children is like being fried alive