Many of the advantages of Phoenix and Scottsdale without the price tag. And, they have lots and lots of antique shops. People are surprised when they visit and get a more historic vibe than much of the Phoenix area. 

Here's a local's point of view on living here: 
*Glendale is a good town to be in, it has everything good and bad you need to experience life. If some body who’s renting in Scottsdale and leasing a bare bones bmw thinks there hotshit so be it. If some Mormon in Gilbert thinks there safer and more cultured then me cause they have a “downtown” then so be it. But everywhere you go in metro Phoenix area is pretty much the same except for street signs and area codes.*


Better Price Tag

The Best Thing About Glendale?

Unemployment is high (but Phoenix is close-- 20 minutes). So let's go with the insufferable Arizona desert heat.

Here's a locals note on the heat:
*Been living here since 1999. When I was at ASU I used to walk/bike to classes. Sure it kind of sucked, but it was bearable. You don't feel like you're being roasted alive. It's different now.*


Desert Heat

The Worst Thing About Glendale?

Glendale is part of the Phoenix Metro Area so you’ll be just outside of Phoenix..

North Glendale is home to what are considered the good neighborhoods. These are affluent, suburban neighborhoods near parks, shopping and job hubs that draw many families, business executives and professional athletes. It’s a higher-education hub as well. This neighborhood is centrally located on metro Phoenix’s west side. Freeway access is easy.

West Deer Valley, Union Hills Drive, College Park, North Litchfield, and West Augusta are some of the safest neighborhoods in the Glendale, AZ area.

Arrowhead Ranch, West Pinnacle Peak, and Sunset Vista are some of the best neighborhoods in Glendale for education.

Westgate, Arrowhead Ranch, and Arrowhead Lakes are considered prime locations and upscale. Westgate has some nightlife and is better for younger people. Arrowhead Ranch and Arrowhead Lakes are planned communities that are known for being family friendly. Arrowhead Ranch is one of the West Valley’s most sought-after addresses. Built on acres of orange groves, the community has million-dollar homes and a country club and golf courses. A large shopping center and hospital can be found here, too. Loop 101 runs through this area.

Westgate Entertainment District, is a bustling complex with casual restaurants and sports bars, plus open-air shopping at specialty stores. Rock concerts and NHL hockey games take place at Gila River Arena, while the neighboring State Farm Stadium hosts the Arizona Cardinals NFL team.

Hillcrest Ranch is sandwiched between two large preserve areas. Homes are newer here and on bigger lots. There’s still room for new development here.

There are complaints about Downtown seeing rising crime and homelessness but the historic districts, Old Town and Catlin Court are charming and popular areas where antique shops and boutiques are plentiful. Downtown Glendale also boasts a Broadway theater, space center, and botanical garden.


How You Living?

It's one of the more affordable places to live in Arizona and Phoenix is 9 miles away. 

One of the reasons that so many people love living in Glendale is the school system. There are many high rated schools -- 10/10 on Greatschools.com.  Some of the popular ones are Legend Springs, Sierra Verde, and Copper Creek, which are all elementary schools. For middle school, Hillcrest Middle is rated well. And for high school, Mountain Ridge High School is a popular one.


The Schools

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**The Best Thing About Glendale?** 

Many of the advantages of Phoenix and Scottsdale without the price tag. And, they have lots and lots of antique shops.

**The Worst Thing About Glendale?** 

Unemployment is high (but Phoenix is close-- 20 minutes). 
Let's go with the insufferable Arizona desert heat. 

**How You Living?** 

Glendale is part of the Phoenix Metro Area so you’ll be just outside of Phoenix..

North Glendale is home to what are considered the good neighborhoods. These are affluent, suburban neighborhoods near parks, shopping and job hubs that draw many families, business executives and professional athletes. It’s a higher-education hub as well. This neighborhood is centrally located on metro Phoenix’s west side. Freeway access is easy.

West Deer Valley, Union Hills Drive, College Park, North Litchfield, and West Augusta are some of the safest neighborhoods in the Glendale, AZ area.

Arrowhead Ranch, West Pinnacle Peak, and Sunset Vista are some of the best neighborhoods in Glendale for education.

Westgate, Arrowhead Ranch, and Arrowhead Lakes are considered prime locations and upscale. Westgate has some nightlife and is better for younger people. Arrowhead Ranch and Arrowhead Lakes are planned communities that are known for being family friendly. Arrowhead Ranch is one of the West Valley’s most sought-after addresses. Built on acres of orange groves, the community has million-dollar homes and a country club and golf courses. A large shopping center and hospital can be found here, too. Loop 101 runs through this area.

Westgate Entertainment District, is a bustling complex with casual restaurants and sports bars, plus open-air shopping at specialty stores. Rock concerts and NHL hockey games take place at Gila River Arena, while the neighboring State Farm Stadium hosts the Arizona Cardinals NFL team
Hillcrest Ranch is sandwiched between two large preserve areas. Homes are newer here and on bigger lots. There’s still room for new development here.
There are complaints about Downtown seeing rising crime and homelessness but the historic districts, Old Town and Catlin Court are charming and popular areas where antique shops and boutiques are plentiful. Downtown Glendale also boasts a Broadway theater, space center, and botanical garden.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

 It's one of the more affordable places to live in Arizona and Phoenix is 9 miles away. 

One of the reasons that so many people love living in Glendale is the school system. There are many high rated schools -- 10/10 on Greatschools.com.  Some of the popular ones are Legend Springs, Sierra Verde, and Copper Creek, which are all elementary schools. For middle school, Hillcrest Middle is rated well. And for high school, Mountain Ridge High School is a popular one.


Old Town and Catlin Court are two of the historic districts in Downtown Glendale. Filled with antique shops, cool restaurants and home to the Broadway theater, space center and botanical garden, these are the spots to live if you’re looking for great walkscore neighborhoods. Westgate is another option, more upscale than the historic districts but also boasting nightlife for those who need a social scene within their neighborhood. 
- Downtown (Old Town / Catlin Court)
- Westgate


Young Professionals

Downtown

Central Glendale is an interesting option for those who are looking for both historic and modern housing options amidst colleges, sports venues and the bars and restaurants that surround them. Not as densely popular as Westgate or Downtown but a good alternative to those ready to keep one foot in the scene and one foot out. 
- Central Glendale


DINKs/SINKs

Central Glendale

North Glendale holds many of the affluent, family-oriented neighborhoods in Glendale. Also called Arrowhead, the area includes neighborhoods like Arrowhead Ranch and Hillcrest Ranch, filled with beautiful homes including many up the mountain. The area includes Thunderbird Park, a massive hiking, walking, biking paradise and for those feeling fancy, Arrowhead Country Club is available for your golf, swim and tennis pleasure. Finally, and most importantly, you also have Deer Valley School District, one of the best in the state at your disposal. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_-TXbNZh30
- North Glendale
- Arrowhead Ranch


Families

North Glendale

Glendale

**What is it like to live in Glendale, AZ?**

Having recently moved from Glendale, I might have a useful perspective. I moved there from Northern California because it was affordable, an easy albeit long-distance commute to the SF Bay area, and well-organized city. It shares most of the advantages of both Phoenix and Scottsdale without the price tag. It’s solidly middle class, at least in the north, and the people are friendly.

Now, why I left, that solid middle class is moving steadily northward — the south and central sections of Glendale and decaying and trending down to well under middle class. My house was just south of 101, and it was clear that in the four years I was there crime even in our fairly north section of town was on the rise. Houses were less well cared for, and we were seeing more homeless and drug houses.

It was clear to me that selling my very nice and recently remodeled rancher was the right decision and had I chose to stay I would have moved north of 101. Far north.

However, I chose to leave Glendale and Arizona because the government is not facing up to the impending water crisis, is doing everything they can to stifle solar energy (in a place that gets more sun than nearly every other place in the U.S.), and has made many other short-sighted choices.

Glendale is lovely if you know where to live. Arizona has serious issues they are choosing not to address.

**Glendale, tell me all about it, please.**

I'm in Glendale north of the 101. It's just suburbs. I'm 36, married with two young kids and my wife works 10 minutes from home so it's perfect for us. Old Town Glendale is sketchy for sure. Central Corridor and between the 7s is great if you're a millionaire. Lol

I have friends in Arcadia that paid the same money for their house and they love the neighborhood and all the local bars and restaurants. They also have people pushing shopping carts down their street and have sent me pictures of two random naked guys wandering the neighborhood. (44th st and Thomas)

**Glendale, tell me all about it, please.**

The east valley has the most educated population of the valley along with the highest income earning (not mesa tho, sorry mesa). The west valley is retired people and low income and industrial part of town. There are small areas of Glendale that are nice, such as the north area around arrowhead ranch but tons of retired old people.

The taxes are high in Glendale also so be aware of that, which only further hurts business since people just go to Phoenix to make any large purchase.

Overall I would rather live in Mesa since the surroundings area is nice.

**Glendale, tell me all about it, please.**

Great place for a family, terrible place if you're young and/or single. Historic Glendale is nifty, but other than that fuck anything south of Thunderbird.

One warning, however, is I have to point out how it is culturally. If you're in Tempe or Downtown, it feels pretty cosmopolitan. But the vast majority of Glendale is really conservative and traditional. It's filled with all the quintessential Trump voters--the religious right, the (wannabe) cowboys, the crass blue collar types, and the boring, middle-aged and older folks who wanna hit the golf course and otherwise be left alone.

Glendale, Arizona