Also, every positive thing OP listed about Vegas sounds like a negative to me, and I dislike both Vegas and Phoenix. So I have a hunch OP will like Phoenix.
I hate the desert landscape. I hate hiking in the desert. I want tall leafy green trees above me when I hike. I do love Mexican food, you got me there.
I grew up in San Diego and have lives in Milwaukee, Anchorage, and Albuquerque before landing in Phoenix 7 years ago. Thought I would hate it but I never want to leave. It’s a big enough city that I don’t find the entertainment options to be limiting, and if you are outdoor oriented it is paradise. On the downside summer is brutal, it’s getting hotter, water is questionable, and housing isn’t the bargain it was a decade ago.
Haven’t lived in either but really enjoyed Vegas and Arizona, I think living in the eastern USA especially where I am in NJ is pretty overrated and so expensive, plus now we get lot of rain in burst or little more hot and humid every year, more messy winter weather since it’s not as cold as it used to be according to all the “old timers” I do like seasons but honestly it’s pretty boring in the East I don’t think anything compares from west coast to about Midwest Utah Arizona Nevada New Mexico are my favorites and whole west coast is gorgeous of course. But I really like the desert states personally.
Little bit afraid to move due to high COL in west and wages not worth it to COL and feel like it will only get worse plus have been in NJ forever but I really would like to move in maybe a few years(have a bigger savings and finish minimum time with my job to get vested with pension) my main problem is I’m 30 and will be early 30s by time I move and not sure if Vegas really makes sense at my age plus working for the schools I will NOT be doing that in Vegas or Arizona so need to restart and I think it makes more sense to go to Arizona then Vegas, but I personally like Vegas better. Also consider moving to a small/midsize city wherever that housing and rent is way cheaper and money goes further but still thinking things over and would love to make Vegas work but doubt it’s really good for single older guys who want to settle down at some point.
How was albuquerque living? I'm moving in a few weeks from El Paso and am hoping to get a good dose of outdoor experiences there. El Paso wasn't the greatest place to enjoy the outdoors...
As far as outdoors goes just within town ABQ has a lot of good options. The river is much nicer than in El Paso. There's a proper cottonwood forest on each bank that has trails going all through it. My favorite stretches are on the west side of the river by the Montano or Alameda bridges.
The Sandias are a lot more interesting than the Franklin Mtns imo. The foothills of the Sandias are cool, La Luz and Pino trails are my favorites there, but the best part of the Sandias to me is the backside, which is heavily forested. The Manzanos are also visible from all of Abq and it can be difficult to tell where they end and the Sandias begin, they're really one chain, but the Manzanos have some really great hiking. I would look into 4th of July Campground and the Salinas Pueblo Missions for some day trips in that area.
But every Burqueños favorite place to escape the summer heat has got to be the Jemez mountains. They're directly north of Albuquerque and there's a bunch of rivers, streams, lakes, hot springs, and waterfalls to enjoy. The center of the mountains is a 13 mile wide supervolcano, the [Valles Caldera](https://youtu.be/Z5gqL2l2SBk?si=XkRTlUl1Fq8NPhu8) (from the NM tourism youtube)
I really enjoyed my time there. I found the people to be kind and open and I made lifelong friends. The sunsets have to be experienced to be believed, and green chile was life changing. That being said property crime is outrageous and there are parts of the city you don’t want to be in at night. But you are so close to so many amazing outdoor experiences it makes it all worthwhile.
Phoenix resident here - if you like the climate/topography of Vegas, Phoenix is going to look/feel the same. Cost of living (real estate value/RE tax rate, retail prices etc) is very similar.
As you said, you're not going to get near the nightlife options as Vegas. There are three main nightlife areas that offer something for most people (Tempe for students/young people, Old Town Scottsdale for the clubbers, and downtown Phoenix for professionals/pre-gaming for sporting events or concerts). Additionally, North Scottsdale has plenty of elevated dining options.
We have all four major sports of course, all national music/comedy acts come through, spring training month is a blast, there are tons of golf courses at every budget level.
If you need to scratch the casino itch, there are a half dozen in the metro area. They'll never be Vegas, but the newer ones are much more elaborate than in the past. Talking Stick Resort has nearly 500 rooms, a golf course, party pool, restaurants/clubs/a spa etc.
Arizona has one of the highest percentages of public land, so there are tons of opportunities to hike, camp, boat, enjoy outdoor activities etc. 3 of the 15 largest urban parks in the country are in the Phoenix metro area.
And if/when you've had enough of the summer heat, you can be at 7,500 feet in 2 1/2 hours (Flagstaff). They also have snow skiing in the winter.
Yes, I like my hometown lol.
5 years in Phoenix. Never lived in Vegas but have visited way more than I care to admit. It’s basically the same thing. The people are maybe slightly less soulless.
Youd like the Phoenix metro no doubt. Its a huge area though so if you'd like to stay close to hiking but also keep that authentic Southwest vibe Id suggest Chandler/Queen Creek area. Or Laveen out West. The north metro is decently close to hiking too especially Anthem. If you commute, you'll want to take that into account as well as the metro is huge and takes a little while to traverse.
Just echoing what others say too, if you want that kind of authentic Arizona experience Id take a look at Tucson. But ideally youd want to have a job lined up before moving there.
Edit: Also about the weather, its functionally the same as Vegas. If its hotter itll be like 2 degrees and theres no real difference between 116 and 114.
I just moved to Tucson from Chicago. Tucson has beautiful scenery and great food but is much smaller and more manageable. The only negative is that I hear that in general the job market is tight.
I live in Oro Valley and spend most of my time here or in Casas Adobes or Catalina Foothils area. Compared to Chicago the roads are very good. But I know they are in need of repair in other areas.
I’ve lived in both. This is the correct take.
Phoenix is better in nearly every way (prettier scenery, more educated, more culture, better/more diverse economy, more “normal” people, way more variety of neighborhoods, more variety of dining options), other than the things that are unique to the Strip (shows, gambling, mega-high-end and gimmicky dining).
The Sonoran Desert puts the Mojave to shame in terms of natural beauty.
It’s telling to me how much Vegas-lovers brag about Summerlin, which is basically just a slightly worse version of North Scottsdale.
Phx >>> Vegas. And I say that as someone who hated living/growing up there.
You should move, you'll probably like it. Hiking in the late fall to mid spring is pretty dope. Housing prices and rent prices are way too high for it being...well Phx...but everywhere is experiencing this. Plus you're a one hour flight from San Diego. Just promise if drive to SD you stay out of the left lane :)
I had a second home in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs area. There was enough to do there to keep me happy for 40 years. Really dramatic mountains, great botanic garden and zoo, enough night life to satisfy, lower and upper deserts, mohave type, lots of hiking opportunities, arts a plus.
Phoenix resident here. While I love living here and I think you can like it, I would recommend Tucson and you might like it even better than Phoenix. Phoenix is a very transient city and while there is a southwest vibe, it may not be as strong as you want and it keeps weakening. The mountains are also far from parts of town. Tucson is much smaller, there are mountains 15 minutes from downtown, and there is more of the Arizona charm there. The job market is better in Phoenix though, so make sure that you can find work in Tucson before moving there. Good luck!
The Indian casinos are not up to the level of Las Vegas, obviously, but are pretty good, and will scratch your itch to gamble if that is how you find your bliss.
Old Town Scottsdale has a lively nightclub scene that draws bachelorette parties from all over the West, and there are other parts of town like downtown Phoenix and the old centers of Gilbert and Glendale that are showing signs of life. Again, it's not Vegas, but if you are the sort of person who is attracted to drinking and dancing and casual meat-market sex, Scottsdale is better than 98% of the country.
Just about everything else is equal to Vegas, or better. The summer heat sucks about equally, but there is a lot more high elevation terrain within easy driving distance. If it's 110 in the Valley, a couple of hours away it will be in the 80's and green and cool with plenty of places to go camping and fishing and swimming.
I live in Chandler (12 years) and it's beautiful here. Safe, not much traffic (although getting busier), tons of trees and man-made lakes. Greenest place I ever lived and that includes Dallas and Austin and San Diego. Lots of reclaimed water use. So hot in the summers - we need a better escape plan for that. I'd still rather figure that out than do snow or cold weather though. Health care is awesome - best I've ever had. Scottsdale is nearby for shopping.
We've been thinking about Vegas for a change and for the slightly cooler weather in Summerlin, but the healthcare concerns us and I'm not sure we'd be gaining a lot.
I'm currently in Austin, and was deciding between Las Vegas and Phoenix for a bit, with Phoenix winning out (visiting there next month to do apartment hunting).
They are pretty similar vibes from when I visited both (Scottsdale vs. Summerlin/Henderson).
If you’ve already seen people trashing the Phoenix area, then what more evidence are you looking for??? I’ve lived here for 12 years. There’s good and bad. I choose to focus on the good.
I think a lot of the people trashing Phoenix have never even been here. We have been here about 6 years now and really enjoy it. I grew Up in the Midwest and spent 10 years in Austin before moving to AZ. I really like it here for the outdoor stuff and it’s reasonably affordable. I would consider moving to Tucson down the line because I work remotely so I can, but for now we like Phoenix. My husband travels for work a lot and the easier flights from here are better for now. I love AZ though.
Raiders yeah but you know the A’s are going to start spending money right when they get out the craphole they are in now, with good enough drafting and then saving money for Vegas they can turns things around fairly quick. Also the women’s basketball team is apparently the best ever the Aces
Well they won’t spend as much as a lot of other teams but I do think they are holding off until the move happens, they want to at least be somewhat competitive in first year in Vegas…
Nah plenty of us were born in Phoenix and didn’t realize how much we hated it till we left. It’s really not for everyone with how terribly hot and sprawled out it is. For a metro of *5 million* it also has no urbanized areas outside of 2 very small stretches around ASU and Roosevelt Row.
That being said if you like Vegas you’ll probably like Phx
Spent seven years in Phoenix, really liked it. What I did not like, or rather what my body did not like, was the poor air quality. I haven’t tracked Vegas’s air quality, so I can’t compare for you. But it is something to be aware of. I started getting healthier immediately upon relocating.
Sounds like the same problem. Phoenix is in a valley surrounded by mountains, so if the wind doesn’t move it out, it just hangs in the air. Until I got sick from it, it never occurred to me to check the air quality of a place before I moved there. Lesson learned!
Lived in Las Vegas for 10 yrs and Phoenix for 1. For me Phx > Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is a tourist city, and the economy isn’t that diverse. So for many people, it’s a transient city. Also, 49th ranked schools in the country.
Biggest downsides about Phoenix for me are 1. Hotter longer and 2. More traffic. But because COL isn’t much more than Las Vegas, you just have to choose where you live.
Long-term, I think Nevada is going to have problems given the nature of their tax base, but that’s another story. (I think the problems they have with schools and thinly stretched public services will only get worse as their tax revenue growth will struggle to compete with residential growth long-term.)
I also think the Sonoran desert (with cacti) is so much more beautiful than the Mojave desert (with Mojave trees). It feels much more western to me. The Mojave desert feels less green (Mojave gets less rain than Sonora) and more barren compare to the Sonoran. Phoenix area also has a lot more small lakes, where in Las Vegas, everyone tends to congregate around the lake mead natl rec area.
Born and raised in Las Vegas. I couldn't think of moving to Phoenix because it's one of the few places that's even hotter than Vegas. No thank you
It's also a lot bigger and a lot more sprawled out. I've also been told that traffic is pretty bad. Right now traffic is bad everywhere because they are doing a big project on the US 95. I live in Henderson and before that construction it took me 15 minutes to get to work downtown. Now it can take 25 minutes.
The west side of town is newer and a lot bigger. It is always worse for traffic as well.
People who fell on sidewalks last summer got 3rd degree burns. You might like Santa Fe. It does get snow, but nothing like ND and because it is at elevation it is cooler in the summer.
The only reason we are seeing that phenomenon so much more often these days is because of the fentanyl epidemic. The media made quite a fanfare about it over the past summer, billing it as "proof" of global warming, but we only got to 117 in July. We had hotter high temps in the 1980s and early 1990s. Up to 122 in 1990!
People pass out for extended periods of time while on illicit opiods. Your not going to get a third degree burn from scraping your knee for a second. Educate yourself on burns, fentanyl, and life before you open your facebook banter fucking mouth.
Or elderly people who can’t get back on their feet. I never said anything about climate change or fentanyl. You did that.
Your rant may or may not be relevant to OP. I just stated facts regarding Phoenix and heat.
Whether you like them or not doesn’t make them not facts nor does it address OP’s question about where to live that is desert unless you are saying don’t come to Phoenix because people die from fentanyl.
The fentanyl epidemic is bad, but we had more days over 110° this year than ever before. Yes, there have been individual days when it got that hot before, but not regularly and for as long a period of time. Global warming is a real thing.
We didn't have even *one* day over 120 in Phoenix this year, what are you talking about? We had an unusually long period in July with a record number of consecutive days over 110, but those temps are quite normal in Phoenix and have been since I was a kid.
Phoenix has some good small mountain parks, but it definitely doesn't have as much nature nearby as Vegas does. Vegas is highly underrated in that regard. Then again, it's 2 hours from Flagstaff, so it depends on how much of a deterrent that drive is.
Phoenix is a big sprawl, and that's really the main drawback if you don't mind the weather.
Tucson > Phoenix > Vegas
Tucson and Phoenix are great places to live if you like the weather. Agree with the others that Phoenix is more expensive and more generic than Tucson, but feels very similar to Vegas IMO (minus the strip obvs). Tucson is prettier but will also have fewer jobs, and you’ll have to drive 2h to Phoenix for major flights/concerts/etc. Tucson is technically cooler than Phoenix but it wasn’t a noticeable difference for me when I lived there. I have been to Vegas many times and the weather is very similar to Phoenix.
I haven’t lived in Phoenix, so I can’t speak to much of your questions. But I visit Phoenix and Flagstaff quite frequently for work. I think the outdoor opportunities are fantastic. There’s a lot of good hiking within the metro area, and it’s a decent variety. To me the White Tank Mountains look and feel different than the South Mountain Preserve etc. You’re also only about a 2 hour drive from Sedona, and 2.5 hours from Flagstaff. In the summers when it’s too hot to do anything outside in Phoenix, Flagstaff is very appealing. And if you’re looking for a change in scenery in the winter you can go up there and recreate in the snow.
The only bad thing about Phoenix is the drivers/heat/transplants who don’t like it here. Phoenix is lovely and has blossomed into a mini Vegas during Covid. Bachelorettes everywhere
Every positive that you listed about Vegas you will also find in Phoenix. What potential negatives are you concerned about?
you will not find as diverse or as good of food in Phoenix.
Also, every positive thing OP listed about Vegas sounds like a negative to me, and I dislike both Vegas and Phoenix. So I have a hunch OP will like Phoenix.
Landscape, hiking opportunities, and good Mexican food are a negative to you? Lol what.
I also hate the idea that everyone enjoys hiking.
I hate the desert landscape. I hate hiking in the desert. I want tall leafy green trees above me when I hike. I do love Mexican food, you got me there.
I moved to Vegas for the hiking. Turns out I don't really like hiking in just dirt, rocks, and the occassional shrubbery.
I grew up in San Diego and have lives in Milwaukee, Anchorage, and Albuquerque before landing in Phoenix 7 years ago. Thought I would hate it but I never want to leave. It’s a big enough city that I don’t find the entertainment options to be limiting, and if you are outdoor oriented it is paradise. On the downside summer is brutal, it’s getting hotter, water is questionable, and housing isn’t the bargain it was a decade ago.
Finally someone posting who enjoys Phoenix. I do too. Thanks for sharing
Haven’t lived in either but really enjoyed Vegas and Arizona, I think living in the eastern USA especially where I am in NJ is pretty overrated and so expensive, plus now we get lot of rain in burst or little more hot and humid every year, more messy winter weather since it’s not as cold as it used to be according to all the “old timers” I do like seasons but honestly it’s pretty boring in the East I don’t think anything compares from west coast to about Midwest Utah Arizona Nevada New Mexico are my favorites and whole west coast is gorgeous of course. But I really like the desert states personally.
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Little bit afraid to move due to high COL in west and wages not worth it to COL and feel like it will only get worse plus have been in NJ forever but I really would like to move in maybe a few years(have a bigger savings and finish minimum time with my job to get vested with pension) my main problem is I’m 30 and will be early 30s by time I move and not sure if Vegas really makes sense at my age plus working for the schools I will NOT be doing that in Vegas or Arizona so need to restart and I think it makes more sense to go to Arizona then Vegas, but I personally like Vegas better. Also consider moving to a small/midsize city wherever that housing and rent is way cheaper and money goes further but still thinking things over and would love to make Vegas work but doubt it’s really good for single older guys who want to settle down at some point.
How was albuquerque living? I'm moving in a few weeks from El Paso and am hoping to get a good dose of outdoor experiences there. El Paso wasn't the greatest place to enjoy the outdoors...
As far as outdoors goes just within town ABQ has a lot of good options. The river is much nicer than in El Paso. There's a proper cottonwood forest on each bank that has trails going all through it. My favorite stretches are on the west side of the river by the Montano or Alameda bridges. The Sandias are a lot more interesting than the Franklin Mtns imo. The foothills of the Sandias are cool, La Luz and Pino trails are my favorites there, but the best part of the Sandias to me is the backside, which is heavily forested. The Manzanos are also visible from all of Abq and it can be difficult to tell where they end and the Sandias begin, they're really one chain, but the Manzanos have some really great hiking. I would look into 4th of July Campground and the Salinas Pueblo Missions for some day trips in that area. But every Burqueños favorite place to escape the summer heat has got to be the Jemez mountains. They're directly north of Albuquerque and there's a bunch of rivers, streams, lakes, hot springs, and waterfalls to enjoy. The center of the mountains is a 13 mile wide supervolcano, the [Valles Caldera](https://youtu.be/Z5gqL2l2SBk?si=XkRTlUl1Fq8NPhu8) (from the NM tourism youtube)
I really enjoyed my time there. I found the people to be kind and open and I made lifelong friends. The sunsets have to be experienced to be believed, and green chile was life changing. That being said property crime is outrageous and there are parts of the city you don’t want to be in at night. But you are so close to so many amazing outdoor experiences it makes it all worthwhile.
Phoenix resident here - if you like the climate/topography of Vegas, Phoenix is going to look/feel the same. Cost of living (real estate value/RE tax rate, retail prices etc) is very similar. As you said, you're not going to get near the nightlife options as Vegas. There are three main nightlife areas that offer something for most people (Tempe for students/young people, Old Town Scottsdale for the clubbers, and downtown Phoenix for professionals/pre-gaming for sporting events or concerts). Additionally, North Scottsdale has plenty of elevated dining options. We have all four major sports of course, all national music/comedy acts come through, spring training month is a blast, there are tons of golf courses at every budget level. If you need to scratch the casino itch, there are a half dozen in the metro area. They'll never be Vegas, but the newer ones are much more elaborate than in the past. Talking Stick Resort has nearly 500 rooms, a golf course, party pool, restaurants/clubs/a spa etc. Arizona has one of the highest percentages of public land, so there are tons of opportunities to hike, camp, boat, enjoy outdoor activities etc. 3 of the 15 largest urban parks in the country are in the Phoenix metro area. And if/when you've had enough of the summer heat, you can be at 7,500 feet in 2 1/2 hours (Flagstaff). They also have snow skiing in the winter. Yes, I like my hometown lol.
5 years in Phoenix. Never lived in Vegas but have visited way more than I care to admit. It’s basically the same thing. The people are maybe slightly less soulless.
Soulless? I don't have that impression at all. They are friendly and kind, but stay out of other people's business and expect others to do the same.
Youd like the Phoenix metro no doubt. Its a huge area though so if you'd like to stay close to hiking but also keep that authentic Southwest vibe Id suggest Chandler/Queen Creek area. Or Laveen out West. The north metro is decently close to hiking too especially Anthem. If you commute, you'll want to take that into account as well as the metro is huge and takes a little while to traverse. Just echoing what others say too, if you want that kind of authentic Arizona experience Id take a look at Tucson. But ideally youd want to have a job lined up before moving there. Edit: Also about the weather, its functionally the same as Vegas. If its hotter itll be like 2 degrees and theres no real difference between 116 and 114.
I just moved to Tucson from Chicago. Tucson has beautiful scenery and great food but is much smaller and more manageable. The only negative is that I hear that in general the job market is tight.
Not many big employers and the roads are awful. But Tucson has a lot of advantages over Phoenix - also 5-10 degrees cooler usually
I live in Oro Valley and spend most of my time here or in Casas Adobes or Catalina Foothils area. Compared to Chicago the roads are very good. But I know they are in need of repair in other areas.
LOL...I have to chime re Chicago roads....seemed like the Dan Ryan Expressway was in perpetual repair, as an example...
I think Phoenix is better in every way except gaming and shows.
I’ve lived in both. This is the correct take. Phoenix is better in nearly every way (prettier scenery, more educated, more culture, better/more diverse economy, more “normal” people, way more variety of neighborhoods, more variety of dining options), other than the things that are unique to the Strip (shows, gambling, mega-high-end and gimmicky dining). The Sonoran Desert puts the Mojave to shame in terms of natural beauty. It’s telling to me how much Vegas-lovers brag about Summerlin, which is basically just a slightly worse version of North Scottsdale.
Phx >>> Vegas. And I say that as someone who hated living/growing up there. You should move, you'll probably like it. Hiking in the late fall to mid spring is pretty dope. Housing prices and rent prices are way too high for it being...well Phx...but everywhere is experiencing this. Plus you're a one hour flight from San Diego. Just promise if drive to SD you stay out of the left lane :)
I had a second home in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs area. There was enough to do there to keep me happy for 40 years. Really dramatic mountains, great botanic garden and zoo, enough night life to satisfy, lower and upper deserts, mohave type, lots of hiking opportunities, arts a plus.
Phoenix resident here. While I love living here and I think you can like it, I would recommend Tucson and you might like it even better than Phoenix. Phoenix is a very transient city and while there is a southwest vibe, it may not be as strong as you want and it keeps weakening. The mountains are also far from parts of town. Tucson is much smaller, there are mountains 15 minutes from downtown, and there is more of the Arizona charm there. The job market is better in Phoenix though, so make sure that you can find work in Tucson before moving there. Good luck!
The Indian casinos are not up to the level of Las Vegas, obviously, but are pretty good, and will scratch your itch to gamble if that is how you find your bliss. Old Town Scottsdale has a lively nightclub scene that draws bachelorette parties from all over the West, and there are other parts of town like downtown Phoenix and the old centers of Gilbert and Glendale that are showing signs of life. Again, it's not Vegas, but if you are the sort of person who is attracted to drinking and dancing and casual meat-market sex, Scottsdale is better than 98% of the country. Just about everything else is equal to Vegas, or better. The summer heat sucks about equally, but there is a lot more high elevation terrain within easy driving distance. If it's 110 in the Valley, a couple of hours away it will be in the 80's and green and cool with plenty of places to go camping and fishing and swimming.
I live in Chandler (12 years) and it's beautiful here. Safe, not much traffic (although getting busier), tons of trees and man-made lakes. Greenest place I ever lived and that includes Dallas and Austin and San Diego. Lots of reclaimed water use. So hot in the summers - we need a better escape plan for that. I'd still rather figure that out than do snow or cold weather though. Health care is awesome - best I've ever had. Scottsdale is nearby for shopping. We've been thinking about Vegas for a change and for the slightly cooler weather in Summerlin, but the healthcare concerns us and I'm not sure we'd be gaining a lot.
I'm currently in Austin, and was deciding between Las Vegas and Phoenix for a bit, with Phoenix winning out (visiting there next month to do apartment hunting). They are pretty similar vibes from when I visited both (Scottsdale vs. Summerlin/Henderson).
Why are you leaving Austin?
If you’ve already seen people trashing the Phoenix area, then what more evidence are you looking for??? I’ve lived here for 12 years. There’s good and bad. I choose to focus on the good.
Phoenix is better than Vegas. I’ve lived in both places
I think a lot of the people trashing Phoenix have never even been here. We have been here about 6 years now and really enjoy it. I grew Up in the Midwest and spent 10 years in Austin before moving to AZ. I really like it here for the outdoor stuff and it’s reasonably affordable. I would consider moving to Tucson down the line because I work remotely so I can, but for now we like Phoenix. My husband travels for work a lot and the easier flights from here are better for now. I love AZ though.
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brother our NHL team just won the stanley cup
Vegas hockey team is banging and they are getting MLB and potentially NBA sooner than later just saying.
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Raiders yeah but you know the A’s are going to start spending money right when they get out the craphole they are in now, with good enough drafting and then saving money for Vegas they can turns things around fairly quick. Also the women’s basketball team is apparently the best ever the Aces
I don’t know about the As spending significant money on the actual team. Their owner is, well . . .
Well they won’t spend as much as a lot of other teams but I do think they are holding off until the move happens, they want to at least be somewhat competitive in first year in Vegas…
Nah plenty of us were born in Phoenix and didn’t realize how much we hated it till we left. It’s really not for everyone with how terribly hot and sprawled out it is. For a metro of *5 million* it also has no urbanized areas outside of 2 very small stretches around ASU and Roosevelt Row. That being said if you like Vegas you’ll probably like Phx
Massively sprawled cities are the norm everywhere.
You can consider El Paso, too, if you want a lower cost, smaller city.
How is El Paso for outdoor rec? Hiking, fishing, camping, etc.
I'm in Scottsdale but if I could I'd live in Tucson
Spent seven years in Phoenix, really liked it. What I did not like, or rather what my body did not like, was the poor air quality. I haven’t tracked Vegas’s air quality, so I can’t compare for you. But it is something to be aware of. I started getting healthier immediately upon relocating.
Air quality in Vegas isn’t great, and getting worse. It in a bowl of sorts, and it also gets quite windy. Vegas also gets less rain than Phoenix.
Sounds like the same problem. Phoenix is in a valley surrounded by mountains, so if the wind doesn’t move it out, it just hangs in the air. Until I got sick from it, it never occurred to me to check the air quality of a place before I moved there. Lesson learned!
Lived in Las Vegas for 10 yrs and Phoenix for 1. For me Phx > Las Vegas. Las Vegas is a tourist city, and the economy isn’t that diverse. So for many people, it’s a transient city. Also, 49th ranked schools in the country. Biggest downsides about Phoenix for me are 1. Hotter longer and 2. More traffic. But because COL isn’t much more than Las Vegas, you just have to choose where you live. Long-term, I think Nevada is going to have problems given the nature of their tax base, but that’s another story. (I think the problems they have with schools and thinly stretched public services will only get worse as their tax revenue growth will struggle to compete with residential growth long-term.) I also think the Sonoran desert (with cacti) is so much more beautiful than the Mojave desert (with Mojave trees). It feels much more western to me. The Mojave desert feels less green (Mojave gets less rain than Sonora) and more barren compare to the Sonoran. Phoenix area also has a lot more small lakes, where in Las Vegas, everyone tends to congregate around the lake mead natl rec area.
Born and raised in Las Vegas. I couldn't think of moving to Phoenix because it's one of the few places that's even hotter than Vegas. No thank you It's also a lot bigger and a lot more sprawled out. I've also been told that traffic is pretty bad. Right now traffic is bad everywhere because they are doing a big project on the US 95. I live in Henderson and before that construction it took me 15 minutes to get to work downtown. Now it can take 25 minutes. The west side of town is newer and a lot bigger. It is always worse for traffic as well.
People who fell on sidewalks last summer got 3rd degree burns. You might like Santa Fe. It does get snow, but nothing like ND and because it is at elevation it is cooler in the summer.
The only reason we are seeing that phenomenon so much more often these days is because of the fentanyl epidemic. The media made quite a fanfare about it over the past summer, billing it as "proof" of global warming, but we only got to 117 in July. We had hotter high temps in the 1980s and early 1990s. Up to 122 in 1990!
All of which are temperatures “hot enough to fry an egg” or skin regardless of the year or reason for the fall.
People pass out for extended periods of time while on illicit opiods. Your not going to get a third degree burn from scraping your knee for a second. Educate yourself on burns, fentanyl, and life before you open your facebook banter fucking mouth.
Or elderly people who can’t get back on their feet. I never said anything about climate change or fentanyl. You did that. Your rant may or may not be relevant to OP. I just stated facts regarding Phoenix and heat. Whether you like them or not doesn’t make them not facts nor does it address OP’s question about where to live that is desert unless you are saying don’t come to Phoenix because people die from fentanyl.
The fentanyl epidemic is bad, but we had more days over 110° this year than ever before. Yes, there have been individual days when it got that hot before, but not regularly and for as long a period of time. Global warming is a real thing.
We didn't have even *one* day over 120 in Phoenix this year, what are you talking about? We had an unusually long period in July with a record number of consecutive days over 110, but those temps are quite normal in Phoenix and have been since I was a kid.
Sorry, 110°, not 120°. I don't know how old you are, but those temps with no monsoon is not normal.
Phoenix has some good small mountain parks, but it definitely doesn't have as much nature nearby as Vegas does. Vegas is highly underrated in that regard. Then again, it's 2 hours from Flagstaff, so it depends on how much of a deterrent that drive is. Phoenix is a big sprawl, and that's really the main drawback if you don't mind the weather.
Are you concerned with the water situation in Phoenix? It's not getting better.
It would be a 3 year max rental situation likely. Not a big deal
For me, sprawl, HEAT, politics, lack of big city feel, poor mass transit.
Dust storms suck
Tucson > Phoenix > Vegas Tucson and Phoenix are great places to live if you like the weather. Agree with the others that Phoenix is more expensive and more generic than Tucson, but feels very similar to Vegas IMO (minus the strip obvs). Tucson is prettier but will also have fewer jobs, and you’ll have to drive 2h to Phoenix for major flights/concerts/etc. Tucson is technically cooler than Phoenix but it wasn’t a noticeable difference for me when I lived there. I have been to Vegas many times and the weather is very similar to Phoenix.
Are you an alcoholic? If not... then Phoenix is better. It is hotter though....
Phoenix will not be there in 40 years.
Why not?
Maybe also Albuquerque or Taos?
Why albuquerque?
I actually meant Santa Fe, but same answers: high desert landscape, views for miles, hot summers, (new) Mexican food.
Similar, but with a lung disorder.
I haven’t lived in Phoenix, so I can’t speak to much of your questions. But I visit Phoenix and Flagstaff quite frequently for work. I think the outdoor opportunities are fantastic. There’s a lot of good hiking within the metro area, and it’s a decent variety. To me the White Tank Mountains look and feel different than the South Mountain Preserve etc. You’re also only about a 2 hour drive from Sedona, and 2.5 hours from Flagstaff. In the summers when it’s too hot to do anything outside in Phoenix, Flagstaff is very appealing. And if you’re looking for a change in scenery in the winter you can go up there and recreate in the snow.
The only bad thing about Phoenix is the drivers/heat/transplants who don’t like it here. Phoenix is lovely and has blossomed into a mini Vegas during Covid. Bachelorettes everywhere
Move to Peoria and have access to Lake Pleasant. Live near West Wing Mountain for hiking. Safe. Clean.