**The Good, The Bad, The Ugly**

**The Best Thing About Phoenix?**  Making Hay While The Sun Shines
300 days of sunshine a year make it the sunniest major city in the country. While some of those days are obscenely toasty the great majority are just plain nice. Which makes it hard to not enjoy being outside hiking, or biking, or outdoor yoga, or poolside cocktails, or whatever it is people do when it is nice out all the time. If you like a casual lifestyle of shorts and t-shirt this is going to be your nirvana. 

**The Worst Thing About Phoenix?**   Sprawl

All the boom Phoenix experienced had to end up somewhere. People come here in part for the same reason people have been coming west for hundreds of years: lots of space. Which means that as far as the eye can see the homes and commercial strips stretch out into the dessert. Phoenix lacks green, and trees, and many tall buildings so this sprawl is visually striking and detracts from the sense of Phoenix having character. 

**How You Living?**   In A Pool

Not surprisingly the way most people live in Phoenix is in an air-conditioned condo downtown or one of the home styles most friendly to beating the heat in the rest of the city. The Art District of Roosevelt is filled with historic bungalows, and the Coronado Historic District and Arcadia neighborhood are notable for flat-roofed Pueblo Revival homes. Regardless of the neighborhood or style you can count on your home having a pool. Nearly 50% of homes in Phoenix have them and so nearly everything is designed to accommodate the 300+ days of sunshine. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?**  Take Down Your Temp

Even though Phoenix has boomed it remains an extremely inexpensive option for a big city. Much of the stress that goes with trying to slug it out in one of the other big cities comes down here. The economy is good, the cost of living is low, there are no city taxes, and the lifestyle is healthy. That makes it perfect for youngsters looking for an inexpensive place to get a start or raise a family, and ideal for empty nesters or retirees looking to stretch a relatively fixed buck. 


Phoenix

The Spicy Chicken

**The Good, The Bad, The Ugly**

Tuscon is great for outdoorsy people. It’s a biking city but there’s also hiking, climbing, running -- lots of fresh air and wide open space and, of course, mountains in every direction, the Sonoran Desert and the classic Saguaro Cactus. You can be in the city but feel far away at the same time. And, the downtown has undergone a pretty great revival recently (Rio Nuevo District -- which includes a streetcar). Hope you like ghost peppers! You get four seasons plus a bonus monsoon season -- think thunderstorms. If all that is not enough, if you’re a college sports fan, you’re in heaven and you will be a wildcat.

**The Best Thing About Tucson?**

Tucson comes alive in the evenings. It’s got some legit gastronomical cred and the blazing sun keeps most people indoors during the day so the city blooms at night.

**The Worst Thing About Tucson?**  June

The summer temps are off the charts. Don’t buy the swamp cooler thing. And if you don’t like critters -- gila monsters, tarantulas, black widows, scorpions you might have a hard time.


**How You Living?**

Unless you opt for the modern, loft-inspired condominiums in the downtown area, (or, older neighborhoods like Sam Hughes, and scattered throughout neighborhoods in North Tucson) you’ll probably live in some kind of house. MidCentury Modern mixes with Pueblo (Sonoran) style (Barrio Anita, Barrio Santa Rosa, and El Presidio) and Spanish Colonial (Historic neighborhoods Aldea Lindman and Blenman) including Modern Ranch. Miramonte (just outside downtown) features newer homes in the Spanish/ Mediterranean Revival style. Tucson is a retiree’s dream and you’ll see plenty of sprawling, new construction.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?**

It’s on the upswing. Tucson is a growth city. But you should get while the getting is good. 


Tucson

Keep Tucson Podunk!

**The Good, the Bad and The Ugly**

Tempe is in the Phoenix Metro Area and home to ASU. It’s a short drive up the highway to Scottsdale but a world away in terms of demographics. It’s college kids and university staff and the residents like the nightlife, they like to party. Tempe, Arizona is basically a college town smack in the middle of one of the United State’s most sprawling metropolitan areas, Phoenix, Arizona. It has its fair share of hip urban things like nice coffee shops,, delicious craft beer, and excellent local, affordable dining. Politically, Tempe is considered to be a liberal enclave within the valley, otherwise the Phoenix area is visibly conservative. 

Frank Loyd Wright designed some of the University’s buildings and nearby Papago Park is very near campus for recreation and beautiful visages. The “main drag” in Tempe leads directly into the heart of Scottsdale just a fifteen minute drive away and Scottsdale is a hub of upscale shopping, golf resorts and horse riding locations. 

**The Best Thing About Tempe?** 

It’s pretty easy to get around the city without a car. The light rail ferries students around with ease. North of Route 60 is good public transport, South of Route 60, not so much. 

**The Worst Thing About Tempe?** 

Unless you’re 18 to 22 years old, you are bound to feel somewhat out of place. It’s a young town filled with young people doing young people things. In ASU’s case, this means throwing up on Mill Ave. Also, you’d better have a pool. 

**How You Living?** 

Tempe is built all around Arizona State University and its 90,000 students and employees so if you want to attend classes there, people there are attracted to the college style of living; sports, etc. It’s easy to be from out of town here as many of the city’s residents are.
South Tempe appeals to those who like to be just out of reach of the college scene but close enough to partake should the spirit move them. 
If you’re a student look at renting a house with some roomies west of campus. Alternatively, there are a number of apartment complexes close to the light rail along Apache. Stay west of McClintock to avoid overpriced student-oriented complexes. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

The Phoenix Metro Area (known as The Valley) is hard to beat for value and comfort and Tempe is probably the most walkable part of Arizona and the cost of living here is quite low for a young person just starting out -- it is not difficult to get by in Tempe,


Tempe

You're Already Saying It Wrong

**The Good, the Bad and The Ugly**

Scottsdale is still a snowbird haven for wealthy retirees who like to play golf but tons of young people are moving there (some even following their retiree parents there). While the classic, country club conservatism persists, it’s a practical conservatism. People don't care what their neighbors do in their bedroom, they care about how they keep up their property and how it affects their own property values. Still, the young people think they’ve found a hidden gem. Many more people are moving into Scottsdale than moving out. The fact that It’s extremely family-friendly with good schools and becoming a hotbed for IT jobs isn’t hurting.

**The Best Thing About Scottsdale?** 

Old Town (or South Scottsdale) is where the fun is with plenty of local spots. Best of all, it has  kept the old-fashioned ambiance with narrow streets, small storefronts and quaint boutiques. It has plenty of entertainment and nightlife but the authenticity has been retained. They don’t cater to chain restaurants for example.

**The Worst Thing About Scottsdale** 

The summer is scorching. Like unlivable hot. Like don’t go outside or you might die, hot. 120 degrees is not uncommon. AZ is the skin cancer capital of the world. The wealthy people (of which there are many) leave and the born-and-bred people are used to the survival workarounds (save up for summer A/C, pools, early morning/late night grocery shopping, windshield shades, carry sunscreen at all times and getaways to Flagstaff and Prescott.)

**How You Living?** 

North Scottsdale (newer construction) is more conservative than South Scottsdale (Old Town). South Scottsdale is more liberal, more LGBTQ friendly and more vibrant (and it’s closer to the airport) but even so, the demographics are 30+. The twenty-somethings are in Tempe (Mill Avenue.)

Many people believe Scottsdale is overpriced and Phoenix is a better way to go. Scottsdale has cultivated a certain pristine vibe that plays well with a snobbier mentality. Probably why the younger folks stick around Tempe, West Mesa or Gilbert (which are in Phoenix btw.) They think Scottsdale is a luxury shopping/golfing destination and that it is a predominately white, upper-middle-class exurb with lots of massive shopping centers that are only accessible by car. Not exactly the Gen Z way of life. 

Aside from all of Arizona being a haven of mid century modern architecture, many of the upmarket homes in Scottsdale are contemporary (Spanish/Mediterranean/Pueblo/Ranch.) Some, smaller, older homes can be found closer to Old Town and the rental market is relatively reasonable.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

Home prices aren’t low (and they’re on the way up) but if you’re coming from a big city and you have a gameplan for the summer heat, you might be able to snuggle in somewhere in a much bigger home, get your kids tucked into a good school, enjoy the winters and maybe even move in near your babysitting parents.


Scottsdale

Smaller, Cheaper, Warmer

**The Best Thing About Mesa?** - The Great Outdoors (For 9 Months)

Mesa is one of those places that feels more like an outdoor haven that has access to a city rather than a city that happens to have access to the outdoors. Out here in Arizona, warm weather means you can enjoy trips to the river in t-shirts while relatives out east huddle around fireplaces. Legendary Usery Mountain Park gets the most attention due to beautiful landscapes, and 3,500+ acres of outdoor adventures including long backpacking trips, horseback rides and family bbq spaces. Nearby Saguaro Lake and a host of local parks fill out the options for spending your time away from the fireplace. 

**The Worst Thing About Mesa?** The Damn Desert (For The Other 3 Months)

If you can’t handle summer temps that consistently clip 110 Fahrenheit/ 40 Celsius, Mesa is not for you. If you think you can handle those days on account of the shady neighborhood walks you’re used to back home, be warned you are in the desert. We’re not well acquainted with things such as shade & nothing is growing here. The air quality also isn’t great, in part due to fact everyone needs a car to navigate the city sprawl. Mesa is one of the poster children for unsustainable desert cities (Come on SOLAR POWER!). Those inclined to think about environmental sustainability probably aren’t considering moving here though as Mesa is one of the most right-leaning cities in the country.

**How You Living?** - A House with AC

The warm weather in states like Arizona leads to an economy driven by real estate, and Mesa is no different. There are plenty of solid housing options within a variety of price ranges. The northeast side of the city is known as one of the best places to raise a family in the whole state. The southeastern corner of Mesa is home to Eastmark, rated one of the most well-planned neighborhoods in the country, with amenities such as swimming pools, sizable homes, and year-round community events. This gives Eastmark, like most of Mesa, the feeling of a suburban paradise.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** - Working Remotely?

If you just switched to working remotely, Mesa should be on your list of places to check out. It’s warm year round, and comes with plenty to do: a beautiful Arts Center, museums, Spring Training Baseball games at Hohokam Stadium, 25 golf courses, and as noted a ridiculous amount of outdoor options. The warm weather, solid housing market, and proximity to Phoenix are extremely appealing to recent retirees and those with growing families. Mesa has a little something for everybody… if you’re comfortable with the heat and the politics.


Mesa

Seriously Red

**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.


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