wojo8625 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:01 pm
Sandtrap wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:30 pm
The Phoenix region is immense (5 million) , and greatly varies in housing costs, and all you mention.
Large tech and other corporations based here: Amazon, Boeing, General Dynamics, etc.
Outdoor oriented year round.
Crime is relative, contextual, and region dependent. (If I were a criminal, I would not want to ply my trade in Arizona)(kidding).
Dating has not been a functional radar for me for 4 decades so I can't comment on that.
Weather is great for 3-1/2 seasons. Mid summer heat can be grueling but some folks are out playing golf and tennis in the 100's so that's an individual thing.
With the highway system, major interstates, I-10, I-17, I-40 up North, you can be anywhere in a short time.
Medical care and so forth, IE: the venerable Mayo Teaching Hospita/center, is extensive.
PHX international Airport is one of the most busiest and extensively network airports in the world.
Cost of living is low compared to many areas of the USA.
This missive is only about Phoenix.
j
Thanks for the info! I have heard about the heat, but if the trade off is getting rid of snow, icy roads, and excessive cold, I think that would be an acceptable trade off.
I really enjoyed visiting there a couple of times although I did notice there was a lot of traffic. That is to be expected in a big city though.
OP, thought I'd respond with some feedback:
On this site, Phoenix tends to typically get less than desirable "reviews" because of the weather. Unless you looking at places in California/Hawaii (and a few others) any place will have a weather compromise at some time of the year and essentially it is simply a trade off (cold winters or hot summers). I go on further to say that many on the site will list places that by more objective data (see weatherspark for example) will show you that when people start talking about "mild" winters in places, they are kidding themselves that it pleasant in the winter. Basically when places get snow and go below freezing at night, they are cold even if they are not Fargo, ND cold. They become the same as Phoenix summers in that it becomes essentially not comfortable to be outside. Even the poster above lives in an area of AZ that has compromise at 5,000 ft and it gets snow/cold and limiting in the winters. People can act otherwise, but that is the reality of "mild winters." I put my money where my mouth is because I have a 2nd home in Phoenix to escape from limiting "mild" cold weather in the winters. In fact, saw a recent post of someone having somewhat similar setup, in this case a home in Bend,OR ("mild winter) and a 2nd home in Phoenix. Yeah one can theoretically go out and bike in a "mild" winter, but for most normal people, biking drops off pretty quickly when the highs only hit the 50's in the day and that's an objective statement.
Phoenix has many areas, and it has a very unique situation, it allows one to change elevations in a reasonable drive (say under 2 hrs) where one can go from great winter 70 degree bike/hike location and be up at "mild winter" areas with snow on the ground and skiing nearby. All that occurs with unique geographic areas in between. Quite a relatively unique situation in the country. One can tolerate the hot season by doing things that make hot weather tolerable outdoors (such as jet skiing/boating/SUP/kayaking/swimming) or by escaping at times with a quick easy drive up to higher elevations to places like Sedona, Prescott, Flagstaff, Showlow and the great activities offered by those areas. Arizona in my opinion is one of the best states for various recreational activities, sort of like CA, but less driving to get to the various areas.
Crime concerns? I guess there are stats one can find of "concern" but from a realistic perspective, I suspect those statistics are localized to certain areas and I wouldn't personally rank crime a concern for most living in most areas.
I can't speak of tech specifics in Phoenix or other cities outside what is commonly known for places like Austin/Silicon Valley, but I do know that there is a huge chip maker developing a facility in North Phoenix.
Dating? Not sure about that nowadays, but isn't that mostly on-line?
Housing: Pretty reasonable by most standards.
Visiting family from the location. Here's where I'd try to make a life where they had a reason to come visit me. In your situation, seems like having family come out in the winters. That's a big one from a career of living away geographically from family and all the vacation time/money spent simply to remain in closer contact/relations with family. If you going to move away, make it somewhere they will want to come to YOU.
Ultimately, there are many many factors when considering moving and it is very personal. My post isn't to convince you to move to Phoenix, but instead to hopefully put it in a more reasonable light if you are seriously considering it. Arizona relatively speaking has much to offer, but the grass is always greener.
One area that's not on your radar that I've spent some time visiting is actually just outside of Sacramento, CA in a place called El Dorado Hills. I liked it, nice areas near by to boat and do other water sports, apparently very near the tech communities/drivable for part time WFH/in office, weather that is reasonable in winter (yet drivable to Lake Tahoe areas), west of most forest fire smoke common in the summer, good airport access, good school districts, etc. Pretty good compromise overall IMO. Whenever I visit there, I'm always left with the feeling that this a a place my son should consider when done with college if he has the option.