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Yavin4

(35,310 posts)
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 11:03 AM Sep 2019

What's it like living in Phoenix, AZ?

1. I work in Information Technology. What's the job market like there?

2. Do you have to have a car to get around?

3. What's cost of living like?

4. If I want a more urban environment (walkable to shops, restaurants, bars, etc.) , what are the best sections of the city for that?

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What's it like living in Phoenix, AZ? (Original Post) Yavin4 Sep 2019 OP
job market is OK lapfog_1 Sep 2019 #1
Is there a lot of traffic? Yavin4 Sep 2019 #2
not as bad as LA lapfog_1 Sep 2019 #3
You should visit in the summer before moving there. CrispyQ Sep 2019 #4
Living in Phoenix jzola Sep 2019 #5
light rail runs right through ASU yellowdogintexas Sep 2019 #8
I can't speak to the IT job market. My brother has worked in IT here for his whole adult life. Coventina Sep 2019 #6
May have to deal with the occasional dust storm (Haboob) Fla Dem Sep 2019 #7
Hot Ptah Sep 2019 #9

lapfog_1

(29,147 posts)
1. job market is OK
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 11:07 AM
Sep 2019

yes, you will need a car.

There are a lot of places to eat.

It gets unbearably hot for a couple of months out of the year (like no point in going outdoors hot).

If you are well off, go to Scottsdale... if you are on the younger side, Tempe (ASU), middle aged with kids, west side.

cost of living is moderate compared to coastal California, expensive compared to midwest.

Water is going to be a thing there long term.

CrispyQ

(36,112 posts)
4. You should visit in the summer before moving there.
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 11:25 AM
Sep 2019

They hit 115 degrees this summer. Careful what you touch! Car door handles, car seats, anything outside. I would also investigate the water situation. The entire southwest has water challenges now, & it's not going to get any better. Maybe consider Boise? We're going to have climate change immigration in this country. Head north now.

http://www.arizonawaterfacts.com/do-we-have-enough

jzola

(158 posts)
5. Living in Phoenix
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 11:28 AM
Sep 2019

Downtown Phoenix is quite livable and walkable. We walk and take light rail to restaurants, grocery stores and the theater. You probably need a car—-but we rarely use ours. Like most places, Phoenix has months that are uncomfortable outside. The difference is ours is summer not winter.

I think the same can also be said about Tempe.

yellowdogintexas

(22,064 posts)
8. light rail runs right through ASU
Wed Sep 25, 2019, 11:11 AM
Sep 2019

I've used it a couple of times and it's very convenient Good bus connections into other parts of the county

Yes the summer is Surface of the Sun, but late September through April are wonderful My daughter lives there and I've been out there every season except the desert bloom

Phoenix also has the Mountain Reserve parks. My daughter lived across the street from a group of mountains in the North Reserve in Sunnyslope

If you decide to purchase a home or condo, property taxes are exceptionally low.

Coventina

(26,808 posts)
6. I can't speak to the IT job market. My brother has worked in IT here for his whole adult life.
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 01:24 PM
Sep 2019

He currently works from home for Trip Advisor, which is based in Boston.

Yes, you will want a car.

Cost of living is pretty good, I think lower than national average.
(My dad moved us here in 1979 from Seattle, where it was already too expensive to raise a family).

Downtown Phoenix is having a real Renaissance. I don't recognize the place from my childhood, which was an urban ghost town after 5pm and the business folks went home.

Now, there is a very lively arts and culture scene. It is very walkable, with lots of housing, restaurants, and entertainment options.
The only thing it is still lacking are sufficient grocery stores.

Downtown Tempe is much the same, but much more expensive (for now, anyway).

Downtown Scottsdale is also much the same, but FAR more expensive. (But has plenty of grocery stores).

If you want to pioneer the new urban living, I'd recommend downtown Mesa, which is just starting its own revitalization, but it is definitely happening. Lots of affordable housing, and the arts, culture, and restaurant scene is just taking off.

IMHO, the weather is UNBEARABLE from May-October, but my heat tolerance might be less than the above posters.

Overall, Maricopa County is turning more and more purple by the year. Phoenix regularly elects Democratic mayors. Tempe is deep blue and very progressive.

Scottsdale and Mesa are still pretty red, but Scottsdale is going purple with younger, more progressive people with money moving in.

Same is happening in Mesa, but at a slower rate.

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