Family and I are considering taking a new opportunity that would put us in Phoenix area. We have 3 young boys, all 4 and under.

The role would be for 3-4 years, and we have properties in Texas, so not looking to buy, just rent and have what I envision to be a healthy budget of around 6500 for rent.

Were looking for nice area, conservative (assuming that's possible there), and bigger lots.

Bonus points if anyone could help steer us in a general direction and a recommendation on Baptist church.

Thanks

What area will you be working? I retired and moved here 2 years ago from Houston. Can't imagine ever leaving.

I'm in the east valley and find Gilbert to be pretty conservative, family friendly, convenient to the airport and has most of what people need. Winter is undefeated and summer is hot but you just get used to it. Tubing the Salt River is a big thing in the summer and it and the lakes are easy to get to. Not a long drive to the mountains where it's considerably cooler in summer. It has snowed twice in the last week close enough to see from town.

Thanks for that intel. Hearing a lot about the winters and how great that is.

The job will be in Tempe, close to the ASU research park.

Know you said your retired, but curious on the rush hour traffic.

Thank you. We have 2 red head kiddos so that's very much a part of our routine, we'll just have to up the application

I know where that is. Tempe, Chandler or Gilbert all blend together and are easy to get to. I'm not fighting the fight anymore more but when I do go somewhere I find it a piece of cake compared to Houston. Freeway system is great and no toll roads. If you're into baseball there are 11 teams that have spring training here so that's fun.

If you haven't been here before it can be a change. I grew up in far west Texas so I prefer the desert but I've had first time visitors do a double take when you first come up from underground leaving the airport. When I drop them off they are already talking about returning.

Lots of younger families in the east valley which includes your work location.

I can give another recommendation for Gilbert. I've lived here since '07 minus a couple of years spent in Asia. It's family oriented, and it has a nice little downtown area.

There are other nice places as well. Parts of Chandler and Tempe are nice. Ahwatukee has a pretty good reputation, but I haven't spent much time there. We have good friends in both Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, so we do spend a bit of time in each of those. Scottsdale has the best restaurants and shopping and some really good neighborhoods, but it's going to be the priciest spot other than maybe Paradise Valley. Fountain Hills will be bit of a longer drive, but it has more of a small town feel if your interested in that. Also, it is a dark sky community, so there are no street lights there.

ASU Research Park is at Warner and the 101 so Gilbert would seem to be a good choice for a family with 3 kids under 4.

gggmann said:

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I can give another recommendation for Gilbert. I've lived here since '07 minus a couple of years spent in Asia. It's family oriented, and it has a nice little downtown area.

There are other nice places as well. Parts of Chandler and Tempe are nice. Ahwatukee has a pretty good reputation, but I haven't spent much time there. We have good friends in both Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, so we do spend a bit of time in each of those. Scottsdale has the best restaurants and shopping and some really good neighborhoods, but it's going to be the priciest spot other than maybe Paradise Valley. Fountain Hills will be bit of a longer drive, but it has more of a small town feel if your interested in that. Also, it is a dark sky community, so there are no street lights there.

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I'd have to piggy back off Scottsdale and Fountain Hills. Good areas. Used to travel for business there to visit the local company office. Always a good spot IMO plus close to Tempe so you won't be in the rush hour traffic too much, which id find important as a family man with two under five myself.

Thanks appreciate it, we're finding many of the homes and places with daycare with openings focused around the north Scottsdale area.

Red Pear Luke (BCS) said:

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I'd have to piggy back off Scottsdale and Fountain Hills. Good areas. Used to travel for business there to visit the local company office. Always a good spot IMO plus close to Tempe so you won't be in the rush hour traffic too much, which id find important as a family man with two under five myself.

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It's a little further north from Fountain Hills, but my SIL lives in Cave Creek and works in Scottsdale. We've visited a handful of times for Spring Training games and really like the area. Seems pretty convenient to the Tempe/Phoenix area, but not sure how long the commute is.

The ASU Research Park is pretty far south. North Scottsdale north of the 101 and Cave Creek are probably 45 minutes to close to an hour each way in traffick but maybe he isn't going in every day.

I know a young couple (early 40s) with 3 kids who moved to Chandler about 3 years ago.

They are never moving back to Texas. They love living out there.

Curious…how's the cost of living in those areas compared to say, bryan college station?

Gilbert was awesome. Lived there about three years and Chandler for another. If any place is gonna peel my body out of Texas again that area of PHX is probably the only place that can.

Just another +1 personal rec

I thought for years I'd retire in BCS but having grown up in the Big Bend NP area the desert was always on my mind. When I found out living here was less expensive other than gasoline I jumped. I don't have experience with the Scottsdale, Paradise Valley premium so there's that.

It's a big city and spread out like Houston. If I'm right the map below shows the ASU Research Campus. I guess it depends how much windshield time he wants if he lives north. The SE valley is blowing up and a lot of it is young families in Chandler, Gilbert and SE Mesa near Gateway Airport.

I cannot imagine ever leaving here.

It's a dry heat. Watch out for the Haboobs!