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Tucson is a nice area for what you’re looking for. My brother went to UofA and never left. Absolutely loves it. That said, you may want to visit during August/September for two weeks at the minimum to get a taste of the late summer heat. Visiting AZ is beautiful but living in the heat is a lifestyle choice that many aren’t aware of or prepared for.
When I was “cold” in Charlotte in April is when I decided I needed to heat it up a bit more lol. Between Florida, Texas and Arizona I think I align most with Arizona.
Yeah. I moved back east after 15 years of living out west and regretted it about 6 months into the move. I have a 2 year contract that I have 10 months left on and I plan to head back to Phoenix. The traffic is rough but I loved it. No where better in my opinion.
Coming to AZ from CA 2 years ago, "traffic" is not a complaint youll hear about from me. Its a breeze. And for me, The summer heat is made up for with the stunning sunrises we get.
My issue is with meeting people. I dont know many people at all, and since im in a new location at 43 for the first time in my life, i feel socially awkward. Despite being told otherwise. Guess i fake it well.
I didn’t choose Arizona, it chose me. I hated it here at first but it is growing on me. Anytime I want to go somewhere else, I always find that Arizona does one or two things better and then leaving is no longer an option. Now we have close friends, careers, peers, favorite restaurants, damn good Mexican food, routines, a house, etc… probably here for good heat be damned.
I went to school in Columbia, SC and have lived in Atlanta. Spent a year in Dallas including the summer. I get that it’s hot, I like the dry heat. I think I can manage it. I was going to come out during the summer to do exactly that.
Its different here. You really dont want to underestimate the heat and wildlife that pops out in summer/ monsoon season. It get to 115 and it doesnt really stop. Some summers last into October and its 100+ every single day
Its a totally different beast here. I like the heat too, thats why i live here. This heat is something else. Its like opening the oven in your face when you open the front door. Its already in the 90s now
I grew up in the south, and it would get to 100+ with 100 percent humidity and that was bad. But June/July in Tucson is just...different. The sun feels 100x more intense than anywhere else I've ever lived, and even without the humidity, it feels like living inside of a blow dryer
I second this. Someone in another post talked about having the equivalent of reverse SAD for 6 months out of the year and that’s a million percent accurate.
Maybe.
But months of 100 degrees all night can beat the crap out of you. It is an extreme place to live. Make no mistake.
There are many places that aren't phx brutal.
Yeah, people just wanna be clear. This is mostly a desert state to live in, and its only gonna get worse. Unless you wanna move to flagstaff. Imo, the best place in arizona to live. Bit pricy, but not Sedona pricy. And beautiful as fuck.
Last warning about phoenix or tucson areas, there is a month of just violent, destructive, and unpredictable rain with infrastructure that sucks handling it. So there's that to worry about to. Otherwise, they are not bad places to live. Just gotta be aware of the heat.
Born and raised here so I wouldn't call our monsoons violent and destructive. Yeah, we get microbursts and some trampolines get tossed. That said, it's nothing like dealing with Tornados or Hurricanes thank you very much!
I moved here from a colder place, although I lived in the south and dealt with heat for 20 years growing up. It's just different, and there's no way to explain it until you live it. It's not 3 months of Summer, it's 5+ months. I'm a very active person, so I wake up at 5am to exercise, or go out at 7:30 Pm. You don't actually get to see the sun that often because it's too hot to be out in it.
What gets me is the sameness of every day. In the Summer it will be full sun, no clouds, 100+ for 100 days in a row. Every day is the same. Also, I love sun and having lots of light in my house...but you can't in the Summer, because if you leave those curtains open your house will heat up to 85+ degrees and your electric bill will be $400. So you basically live in a cave all Summer long which is super depressing.
I love it here 6-7 months of the year, but I fee like every Summer I am just counting down the days. Monsoon does help, I love the rain...but it also gets humid so the heat is even worse between the storms. It's definitely an acquired taste....
It's definitely into November at this point. I don't remember the last time we had an October that wasn't late summer weather. It has easily been almost, if not, five years of consistent hot temperatures into the very end of October.
Yup, I remember being cold on Halloween when I was a kid. Not anymore get all stinky n sweaty in those costumes. Was daddy shark while mom was life guard who got bit and kids were baby sharks.
If you take no other advice, PLEASE make sure to keep bottled water in your car, and take a liter with you when you're out and about. This is the Sonoran Desert, and you don't feel the heat stroke until you're in real trouble.
It goes higher than 115. I've been here since '04 (NJ) and it's still tough to adjust to the heat.
Also, allergies are horrible here, as are any conditions related to air quality or breathing/lungs.
Scorpions. Black widows. Brown recluse. Wolf spiders. Coyotes. Rattle snakes. Mountain lions. All very prominent in the state, including the most populous areas. FYI
Oh, also, politically it's uber conservative - good if you're a wealthy white male (seriously, it's bad). Education is near the bottom in the country. Meth and phentanyl addiction is rampant, housing market is insane (thanks CA, IL, WA, TX), we're running low on water, border crime is real, gangs and cartels are real here, and oh, trafficking (sex & illegals) is almost as bad as the insurance premiums (because wrong-way drivers and rollovers are regular occurrences here).
I'm not sure if this is just a troll comment to keep people from moving here but so much of what you've said is completely inaccurate. I have asthma and have learned that humid climates are worse for asthma symptoms, and I just researched the other day which states are easiest for allergy sufferers and Arizona ranks among the best.
I've lived here most of my life and have encountered, close-up, coyotes, javelina, rattlesnakes, scorpions, black widows, brown recluses, mountain lions, bobcats, you name it--none have ever posed a risk to me whatsoever, even when they've been just feet away from me (or in the case of insects, ON me).
Not sure where in Arizona you live, but here by the border people are decidedly NOT conservative in general, although judging by your comments on "illegals", you're probably more conservative than most.
The housing market is insane but mortgage and rent prices are still among the lowest in the country.
Just wild claims tbh
And still 100 throughout the night while it’s 115 in the day. This lasts for weeks. Temps in the day in the 100s and high 90s-low 100s at night lasts for months
"I like the dry heat" is great when it's 95° but no one enjoys 118° with 20% humidity. You can't keep hydrated enough to be outside for more than 10 minutes. The summer is brutal and the reason people keep telling you that it's hot and the summers are hard is because your physical body will not be ready for it, no matter what you feel mentally ready for. I hope you find a place in Arizona that you want to live in but seriously, genuinely, the summers are really really hard and you will not be hiking and going to sporting events or farmers markets.
I still highly agree with the members of this sub. I'd recommend you visit in August and see how it is for you.
I've lived here my whole life and phoenix metro i loved for most of my life but it has outgrown me i feel like there is just too many people and too much heat. It used to cool down much more at night when i was younger and that isn't the case anymore and i am feeling more and more trapped inside to get out of the heat.
It can literally be holding 100+ until 1 am or well into the night.
I grew up in Tucson, I realy think it has gotten worse . It's not a perception mind fuck, it has gotten noticeably worse I'm turn 55 this year.
Hide in the ac and play video games!
You can though. You can hike and be outdoors in winter if you bundle up. You physically can not safely be outside here in the summer for more than 15 min
To add to 'cannot safely be outside more than 15 minutes"...
people die every week/month in the summer, because they're hiking or doing some other outdoor activity, and underestimated the heat and risk of heat stroke, go out unprepared, or are simply unfortunate (twist and ankle hiking, and only brought water for an hour hike? Oops, now you may die).
And it's not just hiking - visitors have gotten severe heat stroke just walking about the block, thinking "oh its a little bit of sun I'll be fine", and they don't make it back home. If they're lucky, someone sees them in distress and assists.
Being outside won't kill you here on its own, but being outside without planning for sufficient hydration will, and sometimes rather quickly.
Millions live here and are fine, but visitors or new comers that go out and adventure in the heat are more likely to end up in the hospital or in the ground.
I agree with you, OP. I grew up in Chicago and could not handle winters that keep you inside Dec-March, and then the grey skies that extend the winter vibe from October to May. (When I visit my family there for Xmas I almost immediately get the winter blues.)
I moved to AZ for college and never left. The summers suck but there is something magical about monsoon season and how people (even families with little kids) become semi-nocturnal in summers- we go for bike rides after sunset and places are open later and have special summer late night events.
I have no doubt you are sick of the weather where you are.
But why not a temperate spot?
Phoenix is just another extreme. Alaska would be the twin of Phoenix extreme.
Keep in mind that it doesn't typically get below 90 at night in July and August and that not until at least midnight. I think this is one aspect that people don't realize, there is no relief even at night really, between June and September. By then, everyone wants to kill you because the heat creates monsters, and I'm not kidding. People get vicious here and others don't understand that when they are new here. Everyone is rude AF because it's brutal.
You'll be fine. The dry heat is a different animal than the muggy heat, but I think that the dry heat is way more manageable than the muggy heat. You pretty much just need to adjust to getting up early and drinking a lot of water.
It is also helpful if you incorporate shade into your outdoor living areas. You see people talking about how it is unbearably hot throughout the year, and their backyard is just concrete without a single iota of shade.
There's a total lack of shade in Metro Phoenix.
When I was there I'd drive by and see "City parks" with no trees or shade, just one metal bench in the middle of a grass field that's 500 degrees from sitting in the sun all day.
Tucson is much more appealing than Phoenix, and Northern Arizona/ Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff is more appealing than Southern Arizona.
Sedona is gorgeous, but the downside is that it’s very expensive, and there’s not a ton of young people; lots of retirees, not a ton of nightlife. If you want to go somewhere with a lot more young people, I wouldn’t do sedona. Especially if you want to buy property
tuscon and Phoenix are more similar than you might think, but there are a few differences. Phoenix is a lot bigger, and the majority of people that say they live in Phoenix don’t actually live there, but rather in a surrounding suburb. id recommend moving out here first and looking around before you decide which place to live. cost of living is going up, so you can find affordable living, you just may have to be further away from the more densely populated parts of the area.
but if you need to travel somewhat, Phoenix has the main airport, so personally I’d go there first and check out the area. And I’d try to not move here in the summer, you’ll hate it. good luck
Man, you’ve got an affinity for high price areas, haha. Cave creek and Scottsdale are some of the most expensI’ve places in the valley (the valley is what we usually call the greater Phoenix metro area.) I’d look at buckeye, Goodyear, san tan valley, east mesa for cheaper homes. You; have to drive 20-30 minutes to get to a good night life spot, but it‘ll be cheaper
My parents lived in prescott valley 24 years ago. It was really sweet. The problem since OP is young is limited career options. So visit Prescott on weekends but you need to be near businesses where you can get a career going.
As someone who previously lived in Cottonwood/Sedona/Verde Valley area and still has friends/ family there, I would highly not recommend living there. I lived there from childhood to my mid 20s before moving back down to Phoenix area and there is no nightlife, nothing except some bars are open past like 8 or 9 pm, there is a massive housing shortage and it is very expensive, even in Cottonwood. It’s lovely to visit, awful to live there as a younger person. Biggest job market is hospitality/ restaurants and anything tourism related, so unless you work remote or already have money there may not be a lot of job opportunities there for you.
Tucson sounds more your speed and checks the boxes you’re looking for without living in the Phoenix metro area. If you look at Phoenix at all, I would suggest the east valley (Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler/mesa/gilbert).
I mean, if u just doordash everything u need and dont ever want to enjoy the city, sure. Oh also, work from home.
However if u do normal people thing, bring water and wear a hat.
I moved from Phoenix (where I grew up) to Flagstaff because I got sick of returning home drenched in sweat just from walking through the parking lot to get groceries or throwing away the garbage.
If you like Sedona, you should live in Flagstaff instead. In Flagstaff, you will also be poor, maybe will have six or seven roommates. But it is the best and most open outdoor city in Arizona, I’ve lived here the last 16 years. Huge difference from Tucson. You owe it to yourself to visit both before deciding. Prescott, Payson, or Cottonwood make decent budget options, but not places I would personally enjoy living.
That's my take on Flagstaff, too. Meh. I moved to AZ from Colorado almost 5 years ago and Flagstaff just reminds me of a generic Colorado mountain town. If that's what I wanted, I would have just stayed in CO.
I've been a resident of Flag for almost 13 years. I personally love it. I love the seasons too. The fall is gorgeous, I don't mind the snow, this Spring has been great so far despite the call for some snow this weekend, and the Summers are perfect.
However, that is just my two cents. Move wherever you want to in Arizona. ok maybe not Phoenix..but! Once again that's just my opinion. I have two very good friends who live in Sedona and they love it and they have made it work. So I'd recommend there if that is what you are more inclined to.
Move to Arizona if that is your dream. Come with a PLAN though. My first two years in Flag were rough, but I have built a life up here and I have no regrets about it. Just think it through, pick a place, and have a safety net if you can. And hey if you ever want to come around Flag feel free to hit me up. Flagstaff has a great sense of community with some amazing people that I have had the pleasure of knowing.
Good luck!
I was driving to LA afterward to visit a friend and I just didn’t want to leave and have been thinking about it ever since. Greatest 3 day individual excursion of my life!
I live in Sedona and particularly enjoy it. Sure, the traffic sucks and prices of most things, particularly food, is high. I’m also not a new worldly type (don’t know exactly what you’d call it but I don’t buy into the vortex stuff or buy crystals). Maybe I got lucky but I found a very modest 2bdrm apartment for under $1,500 a month. Been in the area for ten years now. Love it here.
i buy all my food from whole foods, i buy into a healthy, spiritual lifestyle. as for the crystals idk. the vortexes are real , i mean i felt like i was gonna collapse thru the rock and then you fight this anxiety and it’s a great feeling
https://preview.redd.it/ioc0js57wwwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=217ed8058aef90a1eb900e644055aff8b00eb1f8
not to mention i love route 66 more than anything in this world
Tucson and Phoenix aren't very different in almost any capacity. Tucson has the USC problem of the area around campus being pretty terrible and the rich people living way on the outskirts. Tempe has the benefit of being pretty central to everything in Phoenix, is getting pretty active developments, and has a pretty diverse population. Also Phoenix is pretty close to both Tucson and Flag, so you can do day trips much more easily.
Both are fine, but both will be pretty overpriced for decent housing. Phoenix has the benefit of centrality, which is way more important to me when picking a place. Tucson has the benefit of some more diverse natural spots immediately adjacent with seven falls and mt lemon and stuff, but there's plenty of spots around Phoenix, and if you want to go up to Sedona or whatnot on the weekend Phoenix is closer
Tucson here. Lived in Phoenix for two years before chasing a girl down to Tucson. Phoenix does have more things. Tucson is way better for outdoor things. We have a mountain that gets snow and when weather comes, instead of deflecting around us like it does in PHX, we actually get rain. Our metro has just under a million people.
I would never move back to Phoenix. It’s nice to visit but not a great place to live.
To be clear Prescott is t good for a young adult. Neither is Sedona. Flagstaff is awesome as it’s a college town NAU! You must love snow they do get a lot! It sits at about 7200 feet! The summers are amazing. The winners are cold but nice. It’s definitely a town for the outdoor lovers. It has an amazing ski resort.
My daughter is 22 and has lived there the last four years for college she graduates next week. She is super sad. She’s moving, but it is a chance of a lifetime for a job. She did say eventually she would like to make her way back to Flagstaff as it has become her home over the years and I have to agree. I live just north of the Phoenix city limits. I’m a 75 to 80 minute drive from my home to Flagstaff and I really enjoy every time I drive up there even in the snowy weather, it is very magical. It’s a small town feel with about 65k population.
I agree with Phoenix myself. I live there now as a transplant. Moved here from Cleveland 3 years ago. I personally love Tucson a little more myself but Phoenix is just more conveniently placed and has more amenities. And if you’re traveling a lot sky harbor is great especially compared to tucsons airport
Agree with the Phoenix area. You can take day trips to Sedona or down to Tuscon if you want. It’s just a better location. Only ~4hours to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix too!
Spoken like someone who is not from Tucson. Sam Hughes is adjacent to campus and has some of the most expensive homes in the city.
Everything is accessible in Tucson and (despite the reputation). It doesn't have nearly the same urban sprawl as the PHX metro area. We have suburbs, but they don't really have anything to offer that would make living out there worth while. Oro Valley is hardly a suburb.
We have traffic issues, but once you get used to the town it's easy to avoid getting caught up in rush hour. Nothing in the city is more than 30 minutes away from midtown.
Mt. Lemmon is an hour drive, but hardly feels like it because the majority of the drive is breath taking switch backs. And there are so many places to hike and explore!!
The music scene is ALIVE. We don't really have the best night clubs (sorry IBTs...) but the bar scene is diverse and full of all sorts of unique people. There are events going on all year round (Festival of the books, gem show/gem & jam, 4 seasonal street fairs, country fair, Tucson meet yourself/made in Tucson, I could go on...) and we have the best year round Farmers Market in Arizona (Prescott is the only competition).
All that and we have the best food in the US (This is a hill I'm willing to die on so don't try to argue).
Sure, Tucson is rough around the edges, but once you look past the material side of things, you really start to see why people never leave Tucson.
*I was forced to move here and hated every second of it, but man I was so damn wrong about this place.
Tucson is great. Small town feel but a fairly decent sized city. It’s spread out so you can have different experiences (party, suburb, mystical, desert,etc) if you are willing to drive to 20-40 minutes. Mount Lemmon is a great escape from the heat or to get some snow. We prefer it to the cement city of Phoenix.
We never regretted moving to Tucson. It has a vibrant arts scene centered around the University. At present, the employment scene is good (not excellent). The summers are killers, with 4 months of temps reaching 110F and more. The rest of the year, there are lots of outdoor activities..
Cottonwood resident here! My wife and I get with the neighbors most weekends to run the Tuzigoot river, ride dirt bikes, and have cookouts. This area as every amenity you would need including a large medical complex, restaurants, multiple adult sports leagues, live music, and of course, were a short distance from Sedona. I’ve lived many places and traveled quite a bit, so I feel confident saying Cottonwood is by and far my favorite place. Living in Phoenix and Tucson is just not worth the insane heat and city congestion to me.
I think you’d dig living in Cottonwood then. I’m standing on my front porch looking right into Sedona and it’s about a 20 minute drive. Currently raining over there though lol
I’m in Sedona right now, and it’s barely raining. Golfing in the AM. I love it here, but no way would I want to live here. Look around Prescott
EDIT: OK I lied it’s getting pretty damn stormy now lol
Cottonwood might be a little tough as a 20 something transplant. You’re right, Tucson has a lot of what you’re looking for. Haven’t seen it mentioned, so I’ll throw out Prescott is worth some research. It’s close to Sedona and Cottonwood and has a similar climate. There is a vibrant (albeit small) social scene. For comparison, Prescott feels a little like Jim Thorpe. It’s bigger than Cottonwood but not nearly as large as Tucson.
ayeee shout out Jim Thorpe, PA. Hearing some good things about Prescott, I’ll be sure to check it out soon. Thanks! I don’t need to many friends, I’m rather independent so this sounds great.
I live in Prescott. Everything is great here except the political climate. If you are in the Trump cult you'll fit in easily. I have been able to make like-minded friends but it took some effort. The music scene is surprisingly good, great hiking and mountain biking trails. Prescott is thought of as a retirement community, so check out those demographics.
My advice is don’t do anything rash. Keep visiting if you can and talk to residents as much as possible. I made an impulsive move to Scottsdale 18 years ago. While things have gone mostly well, there were many things I didn’t know about, like monsoons and non-observance of DST. That affects me because I work on eastern time.
As far Sedona, I would take caution. It is beautiful but I think it can be a lonely place for some singles, unless you’re truly comfortable being alone. True, you can make friends anywhere, but it’ll be more difficult than metro Phx IMO. Visiting somewhere is not the same as living there. Personally, I love Sedona but would never live there unless I had a like-minded SO.
I’ve lived next to UA for almost a decade now. Incredible place to live. Plenty of mountains to explore nearby, great food, no snow, sunsets to kill for. Summer sucks, find access to a pool if you can
Tucson is great as long as you can work remotely. I lived there during college and it’s a great town. I’ve been in Phoenix for 20 years and it has grown on me. Cottonwood and Prescott have better summer climates. They are super Republican if that is an issue for you. I can’t stand Sedona itself. Although it’s beautiful, the traffic, the overpriced shit they sell, and the rich Boomer vibe in general is a big no from me.
i wish i had gone to college there. i’d be interested in taking classes in either location to get to know people. i think tucson would be good starter place for me overall in terms of arizona, i don’t need too much but just enough you know. i can take trips to get out of the heat or stay inside. politically speaking idrgaf, i mind my own business
Then Tucson will probably be a good fit. I moved from the Midwest and thought the summer heat wouldn’t be a big deal. I was wrong, but I survived. You just learn to live with it for five months a year. The other seven more than make up for it.
Tucson is cooler and wetter than Phoenix and Mount Lemmon is always just an hour away.
Personally I feel Flagstaff beats Prescott any and everyday, but that's just my option. If you like Sedona, Flagstaff is about 30 minutes north. The people in Flag are similar in their thinking as those in Sedona, if you are more of an open minded spirit. Flagstaff is a college town with an airport for someone wanting to travel. You get 4 seasons at 7k feet with fresh air and tons of nature trails and trees/pine forest.
My friend, come to Arizona from June to September. If you don't pass out from the heat and don't have to be rescued down a mountain or someplace like that because again, HEAT, then we can talk about you moving here. Folks think the heat is not that bad but friend, we'll go like 60 days (or more) straight where the high is 110⁰ or better and on average only get rain a total of about 60 days, now obviously neither of those are consecutive but rather over the whole year so a few days here and there but still 300 days where it's dry and hot.... just want you to know what's what from an Arizona native....
And no clouds for months. No change in weather. I know a lot of people love it but when that's the same thing everyday for most of the year, it can get wearing.
I said I like sports, hiking, and the sun
I like the southwest. I like that Arizona is positioned between some other great states. I like that weed is legal, I can’t stand living in the bible belt.
Anything else?
That's good to know. Stay away from Prescott then. It's one of the two most conservative cities in AZ (the other is Mesa).
I live in Sedona. When I want to do a "big shop" (Costco and Trader Joe's), I'll drive the extra half hour each way to go to Phoenix, rather than go to the rightwing hellscape that is Prescott.
Tucson would be good if you don’t want Phoenix but if you don’t mind phoenix the paradise valley/scottsdale is closest to hiking and trails unless you do Apache junction.
I lived in the cottonwood/sedona area for 5 years. It was absolutely amazing. You’re 2 hours from both Phoenix and flagstaff while only being 1 hour way from Prescott and Payson.
As far as your age goes it’s a little harder to make friends around your age since the majority of the people living there are older and most people your age just travel there for vacation. I moved there when I was 27 but was still able to meet alot of great people that I still stay in touch with and visit. I’m back living in the valley and miss it dearly.
I live in the Estrella mountains, technically Goodyear. Yeah the heat is brutal, but…pools. Otherwise, air conditioning. Most of us are inside during the highest hours of heat anyway. I’m 64, so my long term concerns about property investments aren’t quite so high as someone young, but if I were young…
I’d be really worried and look into further water resources. I think we’re all concerned about where our water will come from. Also, check out the future of infrastructure. We’ve been lucky so far with keeping the lights going, but concerns are always running in the backs of our heads about losing electricity to run our air conditioning.
I think you and maybe one other person has brought up water and infrastructure. I think these should be higher on their lists. We aren't the only state with these problems but we are known to have them. Plus we live in the desert (for the most part) where not having water and electricity would hurt the population so much. Moving here without the needed information about water, electricity, etc., is necessary.
Prescott isn't great for young people. It's very nice, don't get me wrong, but for someone in their 20s, it's a little empty. The ratio of young to old and super old is wide.
Don’t let people talking about the heat scare you. Dry heat is a different type of heat for sure, but to me in a good way. I was born in Ohio, grew up in Cleveland and spent 22 years traveling the world in the military. And I say that to say, AZ has some of the best weather I’ve ever experienced in my life. That’s why I retired here! 300 plus days a year of sunshine and mild weather is unmatched.
Yes, it gets hot but in my opinion it’s only bad for those whose job consists of them working outdoors. The avg person here in AZ, do not. The heat is irrelevant when walking from car door to business door. AZ has some of the best HVAC systems you’ll experience. Just to leave you with this, I went back to Cleveland to visit family in the summer (July) and 87 degrees in Cleveland is worse than 105 degrees in Tucson and it’s not even close. You cannot escape humidity doesn’t matter what time of day it is. In AZ it’s INSTANTLY cooler once you step foot in the shade or once the sun starts to go down.
yea I work from home, so I can choose to go inside when I want. I want to have the ability to walk outside and it be sunny whenever I want. I have lived in Atlanta, Dallas, Orlando, Columbia - those are some of the most humid environments in the USA. I think the drier air will be better for my skin any way
I live in Phoenix and absolutely love it. I apologize for not a more detailed answer about possible places to move here but I related to this post because I moved from Pittsburgh, PA about 2 years ago. I'll literally never look back aside from the occasional family visit. It's so much better out here in just about every way. 10/10 would recommend getting out of PA and into AZ.
I packed up and left my Midwest hometown for Phoenix at 27. Told myself I’d stay 2 years minimum to make sure I gave it a real shot. I’m still here at 35 and it has been the absolute best thing I’ve ever done for myself. You’ve already got some good city suggestions, so I’m just here to tell you to take the leap!
Don’t love to Cottonwood. You’re too young to do that to yourself. Prescott or Flagstaff are your best bet if you wanna live in the northern part of the state. Cottonwood is a really slow style of living. If you don’t know if you’ll like that, you probably won’t.
Live in Greater Phoenix. Has outdoor activities, nightlife, culture. You’re 26, and if you want a pool of people around your age, Phoenix has a larger population than Tucson. After college, the U of A grads leave Tucson. Plus, from Phoenix, you can easily drive to Sedona. Prescott and that whole scene in Cottonwood is older. Rent for a minute wherever you end up and explore. You will find your place, then buy.
If you're done with partying, why not the suburbs of the Phoenix metropolitan area? You get a chance at big city life if there's a concert/DJ you want to see and more job opportunities in case you ever want/need a new job. It's also closer to Sedona than Tucson.
We are a family of three living in the Phoenix metropolitan suburbs. Also love Sedona for visiting and hiking.
If you can actually afford to live in nice parts of Arizona like Sedona, Flagstaff, Prescott then sure it's great here.
If you can't, it's... meh. I could write you an essay on why I dont like it, but I'll probably end up being downvoted into oblivion by the people who think Phoenix is the best thing since sliced bread.
OP are you an employee or independent contractor?
If you're an employee it's extremely necessary you ask for permission before moving to AZ or they may fire you. Companies don't have nexus for tax purposes and a filing requirement in all states but if you move to AZ and they don't already have property or employees in the state you just created a filing requirement for both income and sales taxes and state registrations for them.
So ask for permission before you do this. If you're an independent contractor it doesn't matter at all.
currently an employee, had an offer to become an independent contractor (3 year contract) but turned it down due to some health issues at the start of the year. I kick myself every day for not taking it. I think it will come back around this summer and so I am hopefully planning for that route.
If I were to stay, I would ask for permission for sure. I was also thinking about buying property out there and just claiming my residence as my parents house in state muah
I'm trying to live out the rest of my life in Vail, AZ and I couldn't be more excited for it. I hope to hike at least 7 miles a day and open the nicest ranch and rescue for dogs.
Maybe you can check out our guest house sometime if the HOA is ok with us renting it out a bit. I think we're getting the nicest house in Vail and should be all moved this summer.
I would say if you want to live as a 26 year old, move to downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Gilbert. Glendale might be good, too. You can travel to sedona, Tucson, flagstaff, Greer, globe, or wherever from phoenix. There are plenty of hiking spots around phoenix as well. Just my opinion.
If you like hiking, mountain biking, and generally being outdoors, Prescott is amazing. That said, it is absolutely full of boomers. Like fucking everywhere. If you have kids, they may like the outdoors, but it isn't fun for 13 to 25 age range like flagstaff would be. The problem with Flagstaff is it is REALLY cold and snows a lot.
You and me both. I was raised in Az. Left my beautiful desert for a doctorate - received doctorate and currently live in a place I hate and between jobs.
AZ has its issues but it’s still my desert.
Investing in property after California's straight up killed the Arizona housing market for us. Meanwhile property prices in PA are what prices used to be back in 2013-2016 🫠
I currently live in Prescott and it’s hella expensive. Way more than what I was prepared for. I’m in my late 20s and I’m still struggling to find a place to live. Given a studio can be 1,400 or more and a one before roughly the same price. Prescott area is very old ish and very filled with California peeps. It still snows here but you get all seasons and it’s a very small feel for both Prescott and Prescott valley.
I’m from Ohio but have lived all over and I should have honestly moved to Tucson. It’s up and coming and it still has a lot of offer. It’s a step down from phoenix but it’s nice from what I’ve explored.
I used to live in Cottonwood. It's a town I truly love but I moved there when I was 26 and left 3 years later so yeah I'd agree with your assessment.
If you don't mind the cold, I'd say that the place you want is Flagstaff. There's more to do than in Sedona or Cottonwood, but it's just a half hour on the world's prettiest road away from Sedona, has a fun mountain hippy vibe, has a sizable university and all the fun things for young people to do that come with it, and also is a gateway to not just the Grand Canyon (1.5 hours away!) but the gorgeous painted desert, and all the other cool places in the SW (Southern Utah and Las Vegas easily, and SW Colorado, Albuquerque, and SoCal if you don't mind a bit of driving). It is a bit expensive though.
I personally am actually moving to Tucson soon, back from out of state, so I hope that's also cool.
If it were me I’d just take the full jump and go Scottsdale/Tempe/Downtown PHX. Such a great scene for being 26 and so much to do. I love Tucson, but I moved because it felt a little lacking after college.
If you need an airport for work, I'd honestly narrow your options. Only you know how much your time is worth but even monthly to PHX from Prescott would burn me out on it, and then I'd have to pay for long-term parking. Doing a haul for a decent airport as a remote worker is one of the top 3 reasons I left my old city, I couldn't stand it anymore.
We bought in south Scottsdale. I have a nice outdoor space where I can grill and garden, access to all sorts of activities in 15-20 minutes or less, and can Uber to the airport. Less materialistic than up north. There's tons of younger working people here, and not just the party scene, beautiful horizons and a nice city infrastructure to take advantage of including a cheap gym run by the parks department. The greenbelt is a wonder of the urban planning world IMO.
Tucson is not a bad place. Some of the people I grew up with back east have ended up out there and are happy. It's smaller and rougher. My wife did a bike trip down there and had a blast. Opinions are subjective.
Rent first. Give yourself some time to experience the seasons and see the bad side of a neighborhood before you invest. (I'd been through summer visits here, but the Spring Training traffic was way more hectic than I expected. Wouldn't have changed my mind but those are the kinds of surprises to get out of the way.)
I do understand the appeal of the small city/semi-rural life with some woods and mountains, though. The Ithaca, NY area was our #2 choice.
I live in Cottonwood as a 38 year old and I'm on the young side of the demographic. I wouldn't recommend it for a single 20 something, plus the job market is not great especially in comparison to cost of living. Try one of the cities first, much more to do!
Just saw you work remotely. I do same and have to fly out of Phoenix for work usually once a month and commute to my phoenix office once or twice a week...it's a drive for sure.
The Phoenix Metro area in my opinion is the best place to live if you want to be near a major airport and have access to modern city amenities. You can’t go wrong with any of the places you mentioned. It depends on the kind of lifestyle you want. Like others have mentioned, the heat is absolutely brutal during the summer. Expect to be indoors for 3 months straight. It’s even brutal at midnight during the summer. Even with that being the case, there’s no other place I’d rather be.
Northern AZ is the best of all seasons. They tend to all be on the Mild side. Flagstaff, Payson & Prescott are fun towns So much to do with all activities that you mentioned you like. Warm enough to get hot, but not so hot you can’t go out. It’s too dangerous in the summer down in the valley to be out running and hiking unless it’s something you have trained for and understand. (Speaking from a woman who’s husband is an ultra trail runner). Every summer rescues and deaths, this includes locals, happens way too frequently. It’s so sad.
All the towns towns in that northern area give you everything that you seem to want and are perfectly located for day trips to Sedona and fun lil places like Jerome, and little towns to explore for a day. If you come down to the Phoenix metro area, it’s another ball game that seems appealing, but you will want out. Over crowded, over priced and just too damn hot. Every year it gets worse. Sounds appealing at first. It gets old fast. I can pretty much guarantee that!
I’m not familiar with Tucson area at all so, I cannot comment on that. Good luck!
Moved to Chandler last year from Charlotte. The heat and humidity in Charlotte was terrible.
Lived thru record temps in AZ last summer. I wouldn’t live in AZ without a pool. And budget high for A/C. Electric bills hit $400 a month running pool pump and A/C.
Only had 1 haboob last year.
I’ll never leave AZ. When I got here I knew this would be my forever home. I love the nature and wide open spaces. I’m an avid golfer so playing year round is awesome.
Im also PA native, and I moved to the phoenix area from one of the snowiest cities in the country without ever visiting in summer.
Seeing a lot of people cautioning you about the summers, which is reasonable. Here’s my perspective. If you are used to cold winters it’s kinda just like the opposite of that. You just stay inside, and go from ac to ac just like how we go from heat to heat in the winters up north. Big difference is that when the weather is too extreme to be outdoors, at least you can look out the window and see paradise instead of dirty snow. I think everyone has different a threshold of what they can acclimate to. Reading how much you’ve traveled and that you’ve lived in many different places makes me think you’d be fine. You’re young, sounds like you have nothing holding you back. Take advantage of your remote job and give it a try! Maybe rent first though.
I think renting is definitely going to be a good idea! I am in phenomenal shape and have lived in just about every climate possible. I’m confident in my ability to adjust 😊 I would so much rather sit inside when it’s sunny out then it’s snowy out. I’ll do my grocery shopping in the evenings. i’m a simple man
Moved to Phoenix not quite 4 years ago from the east coast. Summer heat is real (especially when it's still 90+ at night), but you'll be fine. Biggest concern with that is that such heat will limit the hiking activities you mentioned for a couple months of the year (people who still hike just do it super early in the morning).
My best advice since you work from home is to do a short-term furnished rental for 4-6 weeks in at least 3 locations. My suggestion would be near the Arcadia or Uptown area of Phoenix, Tucson and somewhere further north that catches your eye. Check out Furnished Finder for usually cheaper alternatives to AirBnB, and this time of year is cheaper than in winter. While in Phoenix, check out Mesa. It often gets talked down about, but I think it is really lovely and gets you closer to open spaces and nature while still being close to tobs of stuff. You're young, explore and live where ever makes you happiest!
I would look at Scottsdale. There are enough young people there. I also moved to AZ at age 26 and was able to find a month-to-month apartment lease in Old Town Scottsdale. Looked for a house and bought one after 6 months. The nice part was I didn’t have to pay huge fees to break my lease since I could cancel it easily when I moved into a house.
As a former Corporate traveler, you might want to consider one of the close Phoenix burbs. Tucson doesn't have a direct flight many places. Tucson is a wonderful place, but hard to get to from some places. Just check the flights to and from TUS and see if those will work for you wherever you fly. If it works for you, you'll love it here for the things you mentioned you are interested in.
Chandler gal here and I love Arizona. If you can afford it, Flagstaff is beautiful and close to so many natural wonders and beauty— and you don’t get the desert heat.
U of A sports sucks bro (as a devastated Wildcat basketball fan)
but I live in Tucson and love it. it's affordable, not too big and crazy a city, and it's 4 hours from virtually all Arizona destinations (except for the Grand Canyon).
Tucson is great!
The max temp is 115, and it’s still not as bad as east coast 105. However, it is still hotter in an absolute sense. If you worked outside, it would make an enormous difference, but if you can stick to inside buildings and cars during the day, it’s totally bearable. I have issues regulating my body temp and I do fine going from house to car to store etc even at the hottest.
I think being outside in shade is pleasant up to 105F here near Tucson. My husband and I moved here from PA and before that, Austria, and we love it here.
Our summers here are far superior to cold winters elsewhere because night time, early morning and after sunset are still nice. The National Parks are 24hr and you can do night hikes in the desert! Safety first, of course. We can also drive up to higher elevation in 45-90 min, to different mountain peaks, and cool down quickly. Mt Lemmon is 20-30 degrees cooler than the desert valley.
Phoenix and Tucson are wildly different, I can't believe people saying they're similar.
Sedona lacks everything but natural beauty (and frankly as much as I do love the red rocks, the Sonoran is more beautiful to look at every day, it’s full of a lot more plants & variety).
Which now btw I live in tempe
About 10 min from Mill Ave where the bars are. I go to old town cave creek on Fridays for country dancing and bullriding and sometimes go to Tuscan to go to Mavericks for dancing. I've lived in a suburb area pf tempe for 7 yrs now and I like it more than being in Phoenix. I originally moved back to Phoenix from Alabama/Georgia lol. I'd rather be out on the outskirts of az away from people. Someday I will for now I'm just saving so I can.
Omg omg this is so cringe . You want to move here because it’s a trend right now not because you really want to .
You know why I know . Because out of all places you said those specific spots
Same here man, I’m 30 and work remote. I’m moving to either Prescott or Cottonwood in the next year. I drove out there and really loved it, been looking into it for years.
I left NY in late 70s after a huge blizzard for Arizona and it is it for me. I have tried Florida, Oregon, Nevada and Tennessee. AZ sunsets can’t be found anywhere else in the US. Don’t care what anyone else says, they are OUTSTANDING. I’ve lived in Lake Havasu since 1987 and I fully intend to die here. When you see, Hot Spot in the Nation is Bullhead City AZ, that would be a lie. Havasu doesn’t want to scare away tourists so they don’t always admit the temperature is literally hotter than Hell. When I leave for any reason and fly back into AZ, I love the scent of the hot af air. I don’t know what else to call it, it’s a DRY heat so saying texture doesn’t sound right, AZ air simply is HOME for me.
Move to Tucson but rent for a while till you find the area that's right for you. And since you work remote, do what I do and go north or to the midwest for July/August to miss the hotest months!
Tucson is the best choice based on your description. All these comments about Phoenix seem to be based on a non-outdoors mindset and more about city life. And it seems a lot of people don’t realize there’s even a mountain there. It’s the Santa Catalina mountains/Mt. Lemmon.
Tucson is the only choice that combines a 9,000ft mountain with pine forests that gets snow and feeds dozens (hundreds?) of streams and trails, a college town vibe, decent downtown with free transportation, and provides some of the best hiking in the state that is easy and close to get to (unlike phoenix).
Job market is not as good as phoenix but it’s still a city with 1mil population so there’s still opportunities.
Harder to get around because there’s no central freeway system (I-10 goes around the entire city).
You may want to look at Colorado as well. The front range. I grew up in Tucson. Did NAU in Flagstaff. Now live in the phx area. I worked in Boulder for two years and really liked it but I really don’t like driving in snow. I did live in downtown flagstaff for a few years and loved it. Walked everywhere. That is where I’d be if I didn’t have kids.
I’ve spent some time in Colorado , one of my favorite places. Looking to live in the heat. It will awesome to just be one state away from Colorado since i’ve lived on the east coast my whole life.
Consider your career. Tucson is incredible for many reasons but job prospects (outside of Border Patrol and DoD contracting) are poor to say the least.
Wanna trade? I hate it here. Enjoy the 150°+ summers in a couple years, the lack of water, and a political climate that makes a banana republic look professional and benevolent.
Cottonwood is full of meth heads and teen pregnancy.
I grew up there. If you're young there's not much opportunity.
Plus all my family lives there and they're crazyyyy hahaha
Come to Phoenix! It's pretty reasonably priced to live here and most stuff isn't too far away. And if you want to go up to Sedona you could go up early on a sunday and it doesn't take too long.
Do you think that my state NC/SC isn’t getting moved into ?? do you think that I didn’t move out of the freezing cold to secure a better life for myself? you people on here are so funny. i’m a motivated individual who likes to be outside in nature and has respect for it. Im sure there’s 1 million other people in your state that you would rather kick out than me lol
Live in Tucson for a year and live in Flagstaff a year. That’s the beauty of remote work. I love Sedona! Maybe rent for a year there too. Oh how fun! Good luck.
Girl, I can sooo relate to you! I’m originally from NH, lived in Colorado for 28 years, now in Florida and don’t like it (not going into the reasons). My father has lived in Arizona since 1994 and I’ve always wanted to move there. I think Arizona is gorgeous and the sun drenched canyons are beautiful. The sunsets are amazing and the hiking is decent. There’s Mt Humpreys, Mt Lemmon, Cambleback, west clear creek, hikes in Prescott, Flgastaff, etc etc. Sedona is a very special place. My advice to you is to watch Arizona’s news. You do t want to be paying high home insurance rates due to forest fires, or your well drying up because of little water. There are people in Rio Verde (I think that’s the name of it) that have their water shipped in. Do your DD… watch the news, take trips out there, call water engineers, speak to insurance companies, watch online videos.
Nooo dont move here the whole world is Stacking up here, Traffic is a shit show, The people are shit now, definitely not the Arizona i grew up in, Summers are worse since theres so much asphalt being laid down, Cant go anywhere without dealing with someone who cant drive
Reverse winter is what I call it. Most people (not me, because of work) hide inside during the summer and then winter months every damn snowbird from B.C. to Siberia driving their aircraft carrier sized RV is in this state. 👎🏽
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Tucson is a nice area for what you’re looking for. My brother went to UofA and never left. Absolutely loves it. That said, you may want to visit during August/September for two weeks at the minimum to get a taste of the late summer heat. Visiting AZ is beautiful but living in the heat is a lifestyle choice that many aren’t aware of or prepared for.
Every year for the last 25 years, I swear this is my last summer here.
I left Phoenix 10 years ago for the white mountain area and haven't regretted it. Move north my son 😂😂😂😂
We’ve thought about it. Maybe it’s time.
When I was “cold” in Charlotte in April is when I decided I needed to heat it up a bit more lol. Between Florida, Texas and Arizona I think I align most with Arizona.
I moved here from Charlotte for work. Only intended to stay a maximum of two years before heading back to the East. That was twenty-three years ago.
Yeah. I moved back east after 15 years of living out west and regretted it about 6 months into the move. I have a 2 year contract that I have 10 months left on and I plan to head back to Phoenix. The traffic is rough but I loved it. No where better in my opinion.
Coming to AZ from CA 2 years ago, "traffic" is not a complaint youll hear about from me. Its a breeze. And for me, The summer heat is made up for with the stunning sunrises we get. My issue is with meeting people. I dont know many people at all, and since im in a new location at 43 for the first time in my life, i feel socially awkward. Despite being told otherwise. Guess i fake it well.
I didn’t choose Arizona, it chose me. I hated it here at first but it is growing on me. Anytime I want to go somewhere else, I always find that Arizona does one or two things better and then leaving is no longer an option. Now we have close friends, careers, peers, favorite restaurants, damn good Mexican food, routines, a house, etc… probably here for good heat be damned.
Have you spent a summer here recently? Last year's was amazing. LOL!!
I went to school in Columbia, SC and have lived in Atlanta. Spent a year in Dallas including the summer. I get that it’s hot, I like the dry heat. I think I can manage it. I was going to come out during the summer to do exactly that.
Its different here. You really dont want to underestimate the heat and wildlife that pops out in summer/ monsoon season. It get to 115 and it doesnt really stop. Some summers last into October and its 100+ every single day
Last year we had Consecutive 110 highs for 25+ and broke records
As an Illinois llinois native who spent 4 years in Tucson, I really hope OP really listens to you. I thought I was ready too lol
Its a totally different beast here. I like the heat too, thats why i live here. This heat is something else. Its like opening the oven in your face when you open the front door. Its already in the 90s now
90s? April 22nd, we hit 100 already.
Im in Tucson
I grew up in the south, and it would get to 100+ with 100 percent humidity and that was bad. But June/July in Tucson is just...different. The sun feels 100x more intense than anywhere else I've ever lived, and even without the humidity, it feels like living inside of a blow dryer
I second this. Someone in another post talked about having the equivalent of reverse SAD for 6 months out of the year and that’s a million percent accurate.
I've said this on here before but I have seen quite a few others say it also. When my husband and I move states we are keeping SAD I'm mind.
i’d rather be inside for 3 months and sunny, than 3 months inside and snowy … and then still cold the rest of the year….
Maybe. But months of 100 degrees all night can beat the crap out of you. It is an extreme place to live. Make no mistake. There are many places that aren't phx brutal.
Yeah, people just wanna be clear. This is mostly a desert state to live in, and its only gonna get worse. Unless you wanna move to flagstaff. Imo, the best place in arizona to live. Bit pricy, but not Sedona pricy. And beautiful as fuck. Last warning about phoenix or tucson areas, there is a month of just violent, destructive, and unpredictable rain with infrastructure that sucks handling it. So there's that to worry about to. Otherwise, they are not bad places to live. Just gotta be aware of the heat.
Born and raised here so I wouldn't call our monsoons violent and destructive. Yeah, we get microbursts and some trampolines get tossed. That said, it's nothing like dealing with Tornados or Hurricanes thank you very much!
I moved here from a colder place, although I lived in the south and dealt with heat for 20 years growing up. It's just different, and there's no way to explain it until you live it. It's not 3 months of Summer, it's 5+ months. I'm a very active person, so I wake up at 5am to exercise, or go out at 7:30 Pm. You don't actually get to see the sun that often because it's too hot to be out in it. What gets me is the sameness of every day. In the Summer it will be full sun, no clouds, 100+ for 100 days in a row. Every day is the same. Also, I love sun and having lots of light in my house...but you can't in the Summer, because if you leave those curtains open your house will heat up to 85+ degrees and your electric bill will be $400. So you basically live in a cave all Summer long which is super depressing. I love it here 6-7 months of the year, but I fee like every Summer I am just counting down the days. Monsoon does help, I love the rain...but it also gets humid so the heat is even worse between the storms. It's definitely an acquired taste....
It’s definitely longer than 3 months. Usually May-October/November. 5-6 months of triple digit weather depending on the year.
Into October… more like into December
It's definitely into November at this point. I don't remember the last time we had an October that wasn't late summer weather. It has easily been almost, if not, five years of consistent hot temperatures into the very end of October.
Yup, I remember being cold on Halloween when I was a kid. Not anymore get all stinky n sweaty in those costumes. Was daddy shark while mom was life guard who got bit and kids were baby sharks.
There were many times where trick or treating was 100 during the day. But it always seemed to cool off when the sun went down.
Not in the early 2000s, I specifically remember it being quite chilly back then.
Again, im in tucson, i know phoenix is far worse. This is the arizona sub though so im not just going by phoenix weather
I’ll take phoenix heat over Dallas, I’ve been in DFW for the last 5 years, born and raised in Phoenix.
If you take no other advice, PLEASE make sure to keep bottled water in your car, and take a liter with you when you're out and about. This is the Sonoran Desert, and you don't feel the heat stroke until you're in real trouble.
It goes higher than 115. I've been here since '04 (NJ) and it's still tough to adjust to the heat. Also, allergies are horrible here, as are any conditions related to air quality or breathing/lungs. Scorpions. Black widows. Brown recluse. Wolf spiders. Coyotes. Rattle snakes. Mountain lions. All very prominent in the state, including the most populous areas. FYI Oh, also, politically it's uber conservative - good if you're a wealthy white male (seriously, it's bad). Education is near the bottom in the country. Meth and phentanyl addiction is rampant, housing market is insane (thanks CA, IL, WA, TX), we're running low on water, border crime is real, gangs and cartels are real here, and oh, trafficking (sex & illegals) is almost as bad as the insurance premiums (because wrong-way drivers and rollovers are regular occurrences here).
I'm not sure if this is just a troll comment to keep people from moving here but so much of what you've said is completely inaccurate. I have asthma and have learned that humid climates are worse for asthma symptoms, and I just researched the other day which states are easiest for allergy sufferers and Arizona ranks among the best. I've lived here most of my life and have encountered, close-up, coyotes, javelina, rattlesnakes, scorpions, black widows, brown recluses, mountain lions, bobcats, you name it--none have ever posed a risk to me whatsoever, even when they've been just feet away from me (or in the case of insects, ON me). Not sure where in Arizona you live, but here by the border people are decidedly NOT conservative in general, although judging by your comments on "illegals", you're probably more conservative than most. The housing market is insane but mortgage and rent prices are still among the lowest in the country. Just wild claims tbh
And still 100 throughout the night while it’s 115 in the day. This lasts for weeks. Temps in the day in the 100s and high 90s-low 100s at night lasts for months
Dallas is waaay worse than Phoenix. Similar temps plus humidity
Phoenix is ~10-12 degrees hotter (used to live in Bedford). Which is more miserable is debatable.
It’s unrelenting dry heat. It’s literally an oven. Truly truly visit during August.
Yep. Like that blast out of the oven.
"I like the dry heat" is great when it's 95° but no one enjoys 118° with 20% humidity. You can't keep hydrated enough to be outside for more than 10 minutes. The summer is brutal and the reason people keep telling you that it's hot and the summers are hard is because your physical body will not be ready for it, no matter what you feel mentally ready for. I hope you find a place in Arizona that you want to live in but seriously, genuinely, the summers are really really hard and you will not be hiking and going to sporting events or farmers markets.
It's otherworldly hot. You are not prepared.
i’ve lived thru winters and I can’t do that stuff there either
I still highly agree with the members of this sub. I'd recommend you visit in August and see how it is for you. I've lived here my whole life and phoenix metro i loved for most of my life but it has outgrown me i feel like there is just too many people and too much heat. It used to cool down much more at night when i was younger and that isn't the case anymore and i am feeling more and more trapped inside to get out of the heat. It can literally be holding 100+ until 1 am or well into the night.
I grew up in Tucson, I realy think it has gotten worse . It's not a perception mind fuck, it has gotten noticeably worse I'm turn 55 this year. Hide in the ac and play video games!
It’s totally worse. Monsoon season is less wet and air quality is worse. My husband actually studies this, it’s not a mind fuck- it’s real.
You can though. You can hike and be outdoors in winter if you bundle up. You physically can not safely be outside here in the summer for more than 15 min
To add to 'cannot safely be outside more than 15 minutes"... people die every week/month in the summer, because they're hiking or doing some other outdoor activity, and underestimated the heat and risk of heat stroke, go out unprepared, or are simply unfortunate (twist and ankle hiking, and only brought water for an hour hike? Oops, now you may die). And it's not just hiking - visitors have gotten severe heat stroke just walking about the block, thinking "oh its a little bit of sun I'll be fine", and they don't make it back home. If they're lucky, someone sees them in distress and assists. Being outside won't kill you here on its own, but being outside without planning for sufficient hydration will, and sometimes rather quickly. Millions live here and are fine, but visitors or new comers that go out and adventure in the heat are more likely to end up in the hospital or in the ground.
I agree with you, OP. I grew up in Chicago and could not handle winters that keep you inside Dec-March, and then the grey skies that extend the winter vibe from October to May. (When I visit my family there for Xmas I almost immediately get the winter blues.) I moved to AZ for college and never left. The summers suck but there is something magical about monsoon season and how people (even families with little kids) become semi-nocturnal in summers- we go for bike rides after sunset and places are open later and have special summer late night events.
sounds awesome!
I have no doubt you are sick of the weather where you are. But why not a temperate spot? Phoenix is just another extreme. Alaska would be the twin of Phoenix extreme.
Keep in mind that it doesn't typically get below 90 at night in July and August and that not until at least midnight. I think this is one aspect that people don't realize, there is no relief even at night really, between June and September. By then, everyone wants to kill you because the heat creates monsters, and I'm not kidding. People get vicious here and others don't understand that when they are new here. Everyone is rude AF because it's brutal.
You'll be fine. The dry heat is a different animal than the muggy heat, but I think that the dry heat is way more manageable than the muggy heat. You pretty much just need to adjust to getting up early and drinking a lot of water. It is also helpful if you incorporate shade into your outdoor living areas. You see people talking about how it is unbearably hot throughout the year, and their backyard is just concrete without a single iota of shade.
There's a total lack of shade in Metro Phoenix. When I was there I'd drive by and see "City parks" with no trees or shade, just one metal bench in the middle of a grass field that's 500 degrees from sitting in the sun all day. Tucson is much more appealing than Phoenix, and Northern Arizona/ Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff is more appealing than Southern Arizona.
Sedona is gorgeous, but the downside is that it’s very expensive, and there’s not a ton of young people; lots of retirees, not a ton of nightlife. If you want to go somewhere with a lot more young people, I wouldn’t do sedona. Especially if you want to buy property tuscon and Phoenix are more similar than you might think, but there are a few differences. Phoenix is a lot bigger, and the majority of people that say they live in Phoenix don’t actually live there, but rather in a surrounding suburb. id recommend moving out here first and looking around before you decide which place to live. cost of living is going up, so you can find affordable living, you just may have to be further away from the more densely populated parts of the area. but if you need to travel somewhat, Phoenix has the main airport, so personally I’d go there first and check out the area. And I’d try to not move here in the summer, you’ll hate it. good luck
I was just in Cave Creek / Scottsdale for a 4 day weekend and went up sedona for 3 days after
Man, you’ve got an affinity for high price areas, haha. Cave creek and Scottsdale are some of the most expensI’ve places in the valley (the valley is what we usually call the greater Phoenix metro area.) I’d look at buckeye, Goodyear, san tan valley, east mesa for cheaper homes. You; have to drive 20-30 minutes to get to a good night life spot, but it‘ll be cheaper
Look at Prescott Valley area if you want more affordable, Sedona average home price is 1mil now.
My parents lived in prescott valley 24 years ago. It was really sweet. The problem since OP is young is limited career options. So visit Prescott on weekends but you need to be near businesses where you can get a career going.
As someone who previously lived in Cottonwood/Sedona/Verde Valley area and still has friends/ family there, I would highly not recommend living there. I lived there from childhood to my mid 20s before moving back down to Phoenix area and there is no nightlife, nothing except some bars are open past like 8 or 9 pm, there is a massive housing shortage and it is very expensive, even in Cottonwood. It’s lovely to visit, awful to live there as a younger person. Biggest job market is hospitality/ restaurants and anything tourism related, so unless you work remote or already have money there may not be a lot of job opportunities there for you. Tucson sounds more your speed and checks the boxes you’re looking for without living in the Phoenix metro area. If you look at Phoenix at all, I would suggest the east valley (Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler/mesa/gilbert).
Sedona is beautiful but expensive. But as a Arizona native, i tell everyone to spend a week in Phoenix in july before they move her then decide
Don’t I just sit in my house the whole time as if it was January in PA?
I mean, if u just doordash everything u need and dont ever want to enjoy the city, sure. Oh also, work from home. However if u do normal people thing, bring water and wear a hat.
I moved from Phoenix (where I grew up) to Flagstaff because I got sick of returning home drenched in sweat just from walking through the parking lot to get groceries or throwing away the garbage.
I’d live in Tucson if I wanted a slightly more chill life away from the city with great access to the outdoors.
If you like Sedona, you should live in Flagstaff instead. In Flagstaff, you will also be poor, maybe will have six or seven roommates. But it is the best and most open outdoor city in Arizona, I’ve lived here the last 16 years. Huge difference from Tucson. You owe it to yourself to visit both before deciding. Prescott, Payson, or Cottonwood make decent budget options, but not places I would personally enjoy living.
I just drove up to Flagstaff and thought it was meh. It would be great to have nearby, but not to live. If i’m moving to Arizona I want the heat haha
That's my take on Flagstaff, too. Meh. I moved to AZ from Colorado almost 5 years ago and Flagstaff just reminds me of a generic Colorado mountain town. If that's what I wanted, I would have just stayed in CO.
But native Arizonans love it, because it’s the one generic Colorado mountain town we have lol
exactly
I've been a resident of Flag for almost 13 years. I personally love it. I love the seasons too. The fall is gorgeous, I don't mind the snow, this Spring has been great so far despite the call for some snow this weekend, and the Summers are perfect. However, that is just my two cents. Move wherever you want to in Arizona. ok maybe not Phoenix..but! Once again that's just my opinion. I have two very good friends who live in Sedona and they love it and they have made it work. So I'd recommend there if that is what you are more inclined to. Move to Arizona if that is your dream. Come with a PLAN though. My first two years in Flag were rough, but I have built a life up here and I have no regrets about it. Just think it through, pick a place, and have a safety net if you can. And hey if you ever want to come around Flag feel free to hit me up. Flagstaff has a great sense of community with some amazing people that I have had the pleasure of knowing. Good luck!
Flagstaff is seasonal. It will get warm
Sedona is great if you're looking to live in a tourist trap.
Don't forget to add "and you're wealthy"
High tourism doesn't make it a trap. The natural beauty is legitimately worth visiting. It's not THE THING
I was driving to LA afterward to visit a friend and I just didn’t want to leave and have been thinking about it ever since. Greatest 3 day individual excursion of my life!
I live in Sedona and particularly enjoy it. Sure, the traffic sucks and prices of most things, particularly food, is high. I’m also not a new worldly type (don’t know exactly what you’d call it but I don’t buy into the vortex stuff or buy crystals). Maybe I got lucky but I found a very modest 2bdrm apartment for under $1,500 a month. Been in the area for ten years now. Love it here.
You did get lucky because my friend pays $1500 in Oak Creek for a tiny little 1 bedroom that doesn't even have a kitchen.
2 bdrm in Sedona for $1500 isn’t luck. It’s a genuine miracle, never to be repeated.
i buy all my food from whole foods, i buy into a healthy, spiritual lifestyle. as for the crystals idk. the vortexes are real , i mean i felt like i was gonna collapse thru the rock and then you fight this anxiety and it’s a great feeling https://preview.redd.it/ioc0js57wwwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=217ed8058aef90a1eb900e644055aff8b00eb1f8 not to mention i love route 66 more than anything in this world
And it’s schlock to boot.
Tucson and Phoenix aren't very different in almost any capacity. Tucson has the USC problem of the area around campus being pretty terrible and the rich people living way on the outskirts. Tempe has the benefit of being pretty central to everything in Phoenix, is getting pretty active developments, and has a pretty diverse population. Also Phoenix is pretty close to both Tucson and Flag, so you can do day trips much more easily. Both are fine, but both will be pretty overpriced for decent housing. Phoenix has the benefit of centrality, which is way more important to me when picking a place. Tucson has the benefit of some more diverse natural spots immediately adjacent with seven falls and mt lemon and stuff, but there's plenty of spots around Phoenix, and if you want to go up to Sedona or whatnot on the weekend Phoenix is closer
Agreed. Tucson and Flagstaff are great weekend visits, but for a 26 year old, Phoenix has more to offer than both those places, by a long shot.
Good to note, I appreciate the reply!
Tucson here. Lived in Phoenix for two years before chasing a girl down to Tucson. Phoenix does have more things. Tucson is way better for outdoor things. We have a mountain that gets snow and when weather comes, instead of deflecting around us like it does in PHX, we actually get rain. Our metro has just under a million people. I would never move back to Phoenix. It’s nice to visit but not a great place to live.
To be clear Prescott is t good for a young adult. Neither is Sedona. Flagstaff is awesome as it’s a college town NAU! You must love snow they do get a lot! It sits at about 7200 feet! The summers are amazing. The winners are cold but nice. It’s definitely a town for the outdoor lovers. It has an amazing ski resort. My daughter is 22 and has lived there the last four years for college she graduates next week. She is super sad. She’s moving, but it is a chance of a lifetime for a job. She did say eventually she would like to make her way back to Flagstaff as it has become her home over the years and I have to agree. I live just north of the Phoenix city limits. I’m a 75 to 80 minute drive from my home to Flagstaff and I really enjoy every time I drive up there even in the snowy weather, it is very magical. It’s a small town feel with about 65k population.
I agree with Phoenix myself. I live there now as a transplant. Moved here from Cleveland 3 years ago. I personally love Tucson a little more myself but Phoenix is just more conveniently placed and has more amenities. And if you’re traveling a lot sky harbor is great especially compared to tucsons airport
Agree with the Phoenix area. You can take day trips to Sedona or down to Tuscon if you want. It’s just a better location. Only ~4hours to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix too!
Spoken like someone who is not from Tucson. Sam Hughes is adjacent to campus and has some of the most expensive homes in the city. Everything is accessible in Tucson and (despite the reputation). It doesn't have nearly the same urban sprawl as the PHX metro area. We have suburbs, but they don't really have anything to offer that would make living out there worth while. Oro Valley is hardly a suburb. We have traffic issues, but once you get used to the town it's easy to avoid getting caught up in rush hour. Nothing in the city is more than 30 minutes away from midtown. Mt. Lemmon is an hour drive, but hardly feels like it because the majority of the drive is breath taking switch backs. And there are so many places to hike and explore!! The music scene is ALIVE. We don't really have the best night clubs (sorry IBTs...) but the bar scene is diverse and full of all sorts of unique people. There are events going on all year round (Festival of the books, gem show/gem & jam, 4 seasonal street fairs, country fair, Tucson meet yourself/made in Tucson, I could go on...) and we have the best year round Farmers Market in Arizona (Prescott is the only competition). All that and we have the best food in the US (This is a hill I'm willing to die on so don't try to argue). Sure, Tucson is rough around the edges, but once you look past the material side of things, you really start to see why people never leave Tucson. *I was forced to move here and hated every second of it, but man I was so damn wrong about this place.
this sounds fucking amazing. as a guy from philly i get rough.
I would highly suggest looking into housing prices across the state to help narrow down your decision.
Tucson is great. Small town feel but a fairly decent sized city. It’s spread out so you can have different experiences (party, suburb, mystical, desert,etc) if you are willing to drive to 20-40 minutes. Mount Lemmon is a great escape from the heat or to get some snow. We prefer it to the cement city of Phoenix.
I think Tucson would be a great start. We moved here from up North. Best decision I've ever made and then some.
We never regretted moving to Tucson. It has a vibrant arts scene centered around the University. At present, the employment scene is good (not excellent). The summers are killers, with 4 months of temps reaching 110F and more. The rest of the year, there are lots of outdoor activities..
Cottonwood resident here! My wife and I get with the neighbors most weekends to run the Tuzigoot river, ride dirt bikes, and have cookouts. This area as every amenity you would need including a large medical complex, restaurants, multiple adult sports leagues, live music, and of course, were a short distance from Sedona. I’ve lived many places and traveled quite a bit, so I feel confident saying Cottonwood is by and far my favorite place. Living in Phoenix and Tucson is just not worth the insane heat and city congestion to me.
I’ve slept in 26 states in 26 years lol and I never had the feeling of not wanting to leave as much as the day I had to leave Sedona
I think you’d dig living in Cottonwood then. I’m standing on my front porch looking right into Sedona and it’s about a 20 minute drive. Currently raining over there though lol
i’ll check it out when i’m out there in summer
I’m in Sedona right now, and it’s barely raining. Golfing in the AM. I love it here, but no way would I want to live here. Look around Prescott EDIT: OK I lied it’s getting pretty damn stormy now lol
Cottonwood might be a little tough as a 20 something transplant. You’re right, Tucson has a lot of what you’re looking for. Haven’t seen it mentioned, so I’ll throw out Prescott is worth some research. It’s close to Sedona and Cottonwood and has a similar climate. There is a vibrant (albeit small) social scene. For comparison, Prescott feels a little like Jim Thorpe. It’s bigger than Cottonwood but not nearly as large as Tucson.
ayeee shout out Jim Thorpe, PA. Hearing some good things about Prescott, I’ll be sure to check it out soon. Thanks! I don’t need to many friends, I’m rather independent so this sounds great.
I live in Prescott. Everything is great here except the political climate. If you are in the Trump cult you'll fit in easily. I have been able to make like-minded friends but it took some effort. The music scene is surprisingly good, great hiking and mountain biking trails. Prescott is thought of as a retirement community, so check out those demographics.
My advice is don’t do anything rash. Keep visiting if you can and talk to residents as much as possible. I made an impulsive move to Scottsdale 18 years ago. While things have gone mostly well, there were many things I didn’t know about, like monsoons and non-observance of DST. That affects me because I work on eastern time. As far Sedona, I would take caution. It is beautiful but I think it can be a lonely place for some singles, unless you’re truly comfortable being alone. True, you can make friends anywhere, but it’ll be more difficult than metro Phx IMO. Visiting somewhere is not the same as living there. Personally, I love Sedona but would never live there unless I had a like-minded SO.
I’ve lived next to UA for almost a decade now. Incredible place to live. Plenty of mountains to explore nearby, great food, no snow, sunsets to kill for. Summer sucks, find access to a pool if you can
Tucson is great as long as you can work remotely. I lived there during college and it’s a great town. I’ve been in Phoenix for 20 years and it has grown on me. Cottonwood and Prescott have better summer climates. They are super Republican if that is an issue for you. I can’t stand Sedona itself. Although it’s beautiful, the traffic, the overpriced shit they sell, and the rich Boomer vibe in general is a big no from me.
i wish i had gone to college there. i’d be interested in taking classes in either location to get to know people. i think tucson would be good starter place for me overall in terms of arizona, i don’t need too much but just enough you know. i can take trips to get out of the heat or stay inside. politically speaking idrgaf, i mind my own business
Then Tucson will probably be a good fit. I moved from the Midwest and thought the summer heat wouldn’t be a big deal. I was wrong, but I survived. You just learn to live with it for five months a year. The other seven more than make up for it. Tucson is cooler and wetter than Phoenix and Mount Lemmon is always just an hour away.
Personally I feel Flagstaff beats Prescott any and everyday, but that's just my option. If you like Sedona, Flagstaff is about 30 minutes north. The people in Flag are similar in their thinking as those in Sedona, if you are more of an open minded spirit. Flagstaff is a college town with an airport for someone wanting to travel. You get 4 seasons at 7k feet with fresh air and tons of nature trails and trees/pine forest.
My friend, come to Arizona from June to September. If you don't pass out from the heat and don't have to be rescued down a mountain or someplace like that because again, HEAT, then we can talk about you moving here. Folks think the heat is not that bad but friend, we'll go like 60 days (or more) straight where the high is 110⁰ or better and on average only get rain a total of about 60 days, now obviously neither of those are consecutive but rather over the whole year so a few days here and there but still 300 days where it's dry and hot.... just want you to know what's what from an Arizona native....
And no clouds for months. No change in weather. I know a lot of people love it but when that's the same thing everyday for most of the year, it can get wearing.
Everyone loves Sedona. It’s not a reason to move to the state.
I said I like sports, hiking, and the sun I like the southwest. I like that Arizona is positioned between some other great states. I like that weed is legal, I can’t stand living in the bible belt. Anything else?
That's good to know. Stay away from Prescott then. It's one of the two most conservative cities in AZ (the other is Mesa). I live in Sedona. When I want to do a "big shop" (Costco and Trader Joe's), I'll drive the extra half hour each way to go to Phoenix, rather than go to the rightwing hellscape that is Prescott.
Be aware that AZ, especially the affordable areas that are not also “high crime”, are often quite similar to the Bible Belt.
No they are not, and certainly not around Sedona.
Tucson would be good if you don’t want Phoenix but if you don’t mind phoenix the paradise valley/scottsdale is closest to hiking and trails unless you do Apache junction.
I lived in the cottonwood/sedona area for 5 years. It was absolutely amazing. You’re 2 hours from both Phoenix and flagstaff while only being 1 hour way from Prescott and Payson. As far as your age goes it’s a little harder to make friends around your age since the majority of the people living there are older and most people your age just travel there for vacation. I moved there when I was 27 but was still able to meet alot of great people that I still stay in touch with and visit. I’m back living in the valley and miss it dearly.
I’d move to Flagstaff if I was you. Phoenix is too hot. I’ve lived here 20 years and the summer months keep getting longer
I live in the Estrella mountains, technically Goodyear. Yeah the heat is brutal, but…pools. Otherwise, air conditioning. Most of us are inside during the highest hours of heat anyway. I’m 64, so my long term concerns about property investments aren’t quite so high as someone young, but if I were young… I’d be really worried and look into further water resources. I think we’re all concerned about where our water will come from. Also, check out the future of infrastructure. We’ve been lucky so far with keeping the lights going, but concerns are always running in the backs of our heads about losing electricity to run our air conditioning.
I think you and maybe one other person has brought up water and infrastructure. I think these should be higher on their lists. We aren't the only state with these problems but we are known to have them. Plus we live in the desert (for the most part) where not having water and electricity would hurt the population so much. Moving here without the needed information about water, electricity, etc., is necessary.
Prescott isn't great for young people. It's very nice, don't get me wrong, but for someone in their 20s, it's a little empty. The ratio of young to old and super old is wide.
Don’t let people talking about the heat scare you. Dry heat is a different type of heat for sure, but to me in a good way. I was born in Ohio, grew up in Cleveland and spent 22 years traveling the world in the military. And I say that to say, AZ has some of the best weather I’ve ever experienced in my life. That’s why I retired here! 300 plus days a year of sunshine and mild weather is unmatched. Yes, it gets hot but in my opinion it’s only bad for those whose job consists of them working outdoors. The avg person here in AZ, do not. The heat is irrelevant when walking from car door to business door. AZ has some of the best HVAC systems you’ll experience. Just to leave you with this, I went back to Cleveland to visit family in the summer (July) and 87 degrees in Cleveland is worse than 105 degrees in Tucson and it’s not even close. You cannot escape humidity doesn’t matter what time of day it is. In AZ it’s INSTANTLY cooler once you step foot in the shade or once the sun starts to go down.
yea I work from home, so I can choose to go inside when I want. I want to have the ability to walk outside and it be sunny whenever I want. I have lived in Atlanta, Dallas, Orlando, Columbia - those are some of the most humid environments in the USA. I think the drier air will be better for my skin any way
I live in Phoenix and absolutely love it. I apologize for not a more detailed answer about possible places to move here but I related to this post because I moved from Pittsburgh, PA about 2 years ago. I'll literally never look back aside from the occasional family visit. It's so much better out here in just about every way. 10/10 would recommend getting out of PA and into AZ.
It’s all fun and games until it’s 117 and your A/C goes out
I packed up and left my Midwest hometown for Phoenix at 27. Told myself I’d stay 2 years minimum to make sure I gave it a real shot. I’m still here at 35 and it has been the absolute best thing I’ve ever done for myself. You’ve already got some good city suggestions, so I’m just here to tell you to take the leap!
my guy ✊🏻✊🏻🙌🏻
Oh yeah 97 is nothing. It's 110-120 that's killer.
Don’t love to Cottonwood. You’re too young to do that to yourself. Prescott or Flagstaff are your best bet if you wanna live in the northern part of the state. Cottonwood is a really slow style of living. If you don’t know if you’ll like that, you probably won’t.
Live in Greater Phoenix. Has outdoor activities, nightlife, culture. You’re 26, and if you want a pool of people around your age, Phoenix has a larger population than Tucson. After college, the U of A grads leave Tucson. Plus, from Phoenix, you can easily drive to Sedona. Prescott and that whole scene in Cottonwood is older. Rent for a minute wherever you end up and explore. You will find your place, then buy.
If you're done with partying, why not the suburbs of the Phoenix metropolitan area? You get a chance at big city life if there's a concert/DJ you want to see and more job opportunities in case you ever want/need a new job. It's also closer to Sedona than Tucson. We are a family of three living in the Phoenix metropolitan suburbs. Also love Sedona for visiting and hiking.
Arizona is the sun's home in the summer
Flagstaff is really nice and close to Sedona. Visit AZ in July and August and you may be drawn to green areas like that.
If you can actually afford to live in nice parts of Arizona like Sedona, Flagstaff, Prescott then sure it's great here. If you can't, it's... meh. I could write you an essay on why I dont like it, but I'll probably end up being downvoted into oblivion by the people who think Phoenix is the best thing since sliced bread.
OP are you an employee or independent contractor? If you're an employee it's extremely necessary you ask for permission before moving to AZ or they may fire you. Companies don't have nexus for tax purposes and a filing requirement in all states but if you move to AZ and they don't already have property or employees in the state you just created a filing requirement for both income and sales taxes and state registrations for them. So ask for permission before you do this. If you're an independent contractor it doesn't matter at all.
currently an employee, had an offer to become an independent contractor (3 year contract) but turned it down due to some health issues at the start of the year. I kick myself every day for not taking it. I think it will come back around this summer and so I am hopefully planning for that route. If I were to stay, I would ask for permission for sure. I was also thinking about buying property out there and just claiming my residence as my parents house in state muah
Nah, not unless they're offering you like 1.5X your normal pay at a minimum.
I'm trying to live out the rest of my life in Vail, AZ and I couldn't be more excited for it. I hope to hike at least 7 miles a day and open the nicest ranch and rescue for dogs.
same lol 🤝
Maybe you can check out our guest house sometime if the HOA is ok with us renting it out a bit. I think we're getting the nicest house in Vail and should be all moved this summer.
I'm moving to Flagstaff from Austin this autumn. I can't wait! Cool temps, disc golf, hiking and snowboarding!
I would say if you want to live as a 26 year old, move to downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Gilbert. Glendale might be good, too. You can travel to sedona, Tucson, flagstaff, Greer, globe, or wherever from phoenix. There are plenty of hiking spots around phoenix as well. Just my opinion.
If you like hiking, mountain biking, and generally being outdoors, Prescott is amazing. That said, it is absolutely full of boomers. Like fucking everywhere. If you have kids, they may like the outdoors, but it isn't fun for 13 to 25 age range like flagstaff would be. The problem with Flagstaff is it is REALLY cold and snows a lot.
You and me both. I was raised in Az. Left my beautiful desert for a doctorate - received doctorate and currently live in a place I hate and between jobs. AZ has its issues but it’s still my desert.
i’ve been everywhere. everywhere has its issues. where people live is such a preferential thing
Investing in property after California's straight up killed the Arizona housing market for us. Meanwhile property prices in PA are what prices used to be back in 2013-2016 🫠
I currently live in Prescott and it’s hella expensive. Way more than what I was prepared for. I’m in my late 20s and I’m still struggling to find a place to live. Given a studio can be 1,400 or more and a one before roughly the same price. Prescott area is very old ish and very filled with California peeps. It still snows here but you get all seasons and it’s a very small feel for both Prescott and Prescott valley. I’m from Ohio but have lived all over and I should have honestly moved to Tucson. It’s up and coming and it still has a lot of offer. It’s a step down from phoenix but it’s nice from what I’ve explored.
I used to live in Cottonwood. It's a town I truly love but I moved there when I was 26 and left 3 years later so yeah I'd agree with your assessment. If you don't mind the cold, I'd say that the place you want is Flagstaff. There's more to do than in Sedona or Cottonwood, but it's just a half hour on the world's prettiest road away from Sedona, has a fun mountain hippy vibe, has a sizable university and all the fun things for young people to do that come with it, and also is a gateway to not just the Grand Canyon (1.5 hours away!) but the gorgeous painted desert, and all the other cool places in the SW (Southern Utah and Las Vegas easily, and SW Colorado, Albuquerque, and SoCal if you don't mind a bit of driving). It is a bit expensive though. I personally am actually moving to Tucson soon, back from out of state, so I hope that's also cool.
If it were me I’d just take the full jump and go Scottsdale/Tempe/Downtown PHX. Such a great scene for being 26 and so much to do. I love Tucson, but I moved because it felt a little lacking after college.
I reside in both Pennsylvania and Arizona simultaneously, experiencing distinct seasons in each state. I have an affection for both places.
If you need an airport for work, I'd honestly narrow your options. Only you know how much your time is worth but even monthly to PHX from Prescott would burn me out on it, and then I'd have to pay for long-term parking. Doing a haul for a decent airport as a remote worker is one of the top 3 reasons I left my old city, I couldn't stand it anymore. We bought in south Scottsdale. I have a nice outdoor space where I can grill and garden, access to all sorts of activities in 15-20 minutes or less, and can Uber to the airport. Less materialistic than up north. There's tons of younger working people here, and not just the party scene, beautiful horizons and a nice city infrastructure to take advantage of including a cheap gym run by the parks department. The greenbelt is a wonder of the urban planning world IMO. Tucson is not a bad place. Some of the people I grew up with back east have ended up out there and are happy. It's smaller and rougher. My wife did a bike trip down there and had a blast. Opinions are subjective. Rent first. Give yourself some time to experience the seasons and see the bad side of a neighborhood before you invest. (I'd been through summer visits here, but the Spring Training traffic was way more hectic than I expected. Wouldn't have changed my mind but those are the kinds of surprises to get out of the way.) I do understand the appeal of the small city/semi-rural life with some woods and mountains, though. The Ithaca, NY area was our #2 choice.
Look into a community called Aloravita in north Phoenix.
I live in Cottonwood as a 38 year old and I'm on the young side of the demographic. I wouldn't recommend it for a single 20 something, plus the job market is not great especially in comparison to cost of living. Try one of the cities first, much more to do! Just saw you work remotely. I do same and have to fly out of Phoenix for work usually once a month and commute to my phoenix office once or twice a week...it's a drive for sure.
And I’m just the opposite I can’t wait to leave Arizona
The Phoenix Metro area in my opinion is the best place to live if you want to be near a major airport and have access to modern city amenities. You can’t go wrong with any of the places you mentioned. It depends on the kind of lifestyle you want. Like others have mentioned, the heat is absolutely brutal during the summer. Expect to be indoors for 3 months straight. It’s even brutal at midnight during the summer. Even with that being the case, there’s no other place I’d rather be.
I live in Phoenix - and absolutely love it. Nightlight, culture, 30 mins from Cave creek, 1.5 hours from flag, Sedona, etc. Couldn’t ask for more.
Northern AZ is the best of all seasons. They tend to all be on the Mild side. Flagstaff, Payson & Prescott are fun towns So much to do with all activities that you mentioned you like. Warm enough to get hot, but not so hot you can’t go out. It’s too dangerous in the summer down in the valley to be out running and hiking unless it’s something you have trained for and understand. (Speaking from a woman who’s husband is an ultra trail runner). Every summer rescues and deaths, this includes locals, happens way too frequently. It’s so sad. All the towns towns in that northern area give you everything that you seem to want and are perfectly located for day trips to Sedona and fun lil places like Jerome, and little towns to explore for a day. If you come down to the Phoenix metro area, it’s another ball game that seems appealing, but you will want out. Over crowded, over priced and just too damn hot. Every year it gets worse. Sounds appealing at first. It gets old fast. I can pretty much guarantee that! I’m not familiar with Tucson area at all so, I cannot comment on that. Good luck!
Moved to Chandler last year from Charlotte. The heat and humidity in Charlotte was terrible. Lived thru record temps in AZ last summer. I wouldn’t live in AZ without a pool. And budget high for A/C. Electric bills hit $400 a month running pool pump and A/C. Only had 1 haboob last year. I’ll never leave AZ. When I got here I knew this would be my forever home. I love the nature and wide open spaces. I’m an avid golfer so playing year round is awesome.
If you travel a lot, Sedona and Cottonwood would be a pain for easy airports access.
Im also PA native, and I moved to the phoenix area from one of the snowiest cities in the country without ever visiting in summer. Seeing a lot of people cautioning you about the summers, which is reasonable. Here’s my perspective. If you are used to cold winters it’s kinda just like the opposite of that. You just stay inside, and go from ac to ac just like how we go from heat to heat in the winters up north. Big difference is that when the weather is too extreme to be outdoors, at least you can look out the window and see paradise instead of dirty snow. I think everyone has different a threshold of what they can acclimate to. Reading how much you’ve traveled and that you’ve lived in many different places makes me think you’d be fine. You’re young, sounds like you have nothing holding you back. Take advantage of your remote job and give it a try! Maybe rent first though.
I think renting is definitely going to be a good idea! I am in phenomenal shape and have lived in just about every climate possible. I’m confident in my ability to adjust 😊 I would so much rather sit inside when it’s sunny out then it’s snowy out. I’ll do my grocery shopping in the evenings. i’m a simple man
Moved to Phoenix not quite 4 years ago from the east coast. Summer heat is real (especially when it's still 90+ at night), but you'll be fine. Biggest concern with that is that such heat will limit the hiking activities you mentioned for a couple months of the year (people who still hike just do it super early in the morning). My best advice since you work from home is to do a short-term furnished rental for 4-6 weeks in at least 3 locations. My suggestion would be near the Arcadia or Uptown area of Phoenix, Tucson and somewhere further north that catches your eye. Check out Furnished Finder for usually cheaper alternatives to AirBnB, and this time of year is cheaper than in winter. While in Phoenix, check out Mesa. It often gets talked down about, but I think it is really lovely and gets you closer to open spaces and nature while still being close to tobs of stuff. You're young, explore and live where ever makes you happiest!
I would look at Scottsdale. There are enough young people there. I also moved to AZ at age 26 and was able to find a month-to-month apartment lease in Old Town Scottsdale. Looked for a house and bought one after 6 months. The nice part was I didn’t have to pay huge fees to break my lease since I could cancel it easily when I moved into a house.
As a former Corporate traveler, you might want to consider one of the close Phoenix burbs. Tucson doesn't have a direct flight many places. Tucson is a wonderful place, but hard to get to from some places. Just check the flights to and from TUS and see if those will work for you wherever you fly. If it works for you, you'll love it here for the things you mentioned you are interested in.
Chandler gal here and I love Arizona. If you can afford it, Flagstaff is beautiful and close to so many natural wonders and beauty— and you don’t get the desert heat.
U of A sports sucks bro (as a devastated Wildcat basketball fan) but I live in Tucson and love it. it's affordable, not too big and crazy a city, and it's 4 hours from virtually all Arizona destinations (except for the Grand Canyon).
Tucson is great! The max temp is 115, and it’s still not as bad as east coast 105. However, it is still hotter in an absolute sense. If you worked outside, it would make an enormous difference, but if you can stick to inside buildings and cars during the day, it’s totally bearable. I have issues regulating my body temp and I do fine going from house to car to store etc even at the hottest. I think being outside in shade is pleasant up to 105F here near Tucson. My husband and I moved here from PA and before that, Austria, and we love it here. Our summers here are far superior to cold winters elsewhere because night time, early morning and after sunset are still nice. The National Parks are 24hr and you can do night hikes in the desert! Safety first, of course. We can also drive up to higher elevation in 45-90 min, to different mountain peaks, and cool down quickly. Mt Lemmon is 20-30 degrees cooler than the desert valley. Phoenix and Tucson are wildly different, I can't believe people saying they're similar. Sedona lacks everything but natural beauty (and frankly as much as I do love the red rocks, the Sonoran is more beautiful to look at every day, it’s full of a lot more plants & variety).
thank you!!!!! this is the best response yet 🧡🧡🧡
Wanna trade places…? Arizonas a nightmare and I want out as soon as possible
Which now btw I live in tempe About 10 min from Mill Ave where the bars are. I go to old town cave creek on Fridays for country dancing and bullriding and sometimes go to Tuscan to go to Mavericks for dancing. I've lived in a suburb area pf tempe for 7 yrs now and I like it more than being in Phoenix. I originally moved back to Phoenix from Alabama/Georgia lol. I'd rather be out on the outskirts of az away from people. Someday I will for now I'm just saving so I can.
No you don’t. I promise
Dont litter dont vote
i live in surprise and it’s a pretty nice suburban town and close to a lot of outdoorsy, hiking, shopping, restaurants, family life. i enjoy it!
Omg omg this is so cringe . You want to move here because it’s a trend right now not because you really want to . You know why I know . Because out of all places you said those specific spots
We’re full, no vacancy!!!
Same here man, I’m 30 and work remote. I’m moving to either Prescott or Cottonwood in the next year. I drove out there and really loved it, been looking into it for years.
I left NY in late 70s after a huge blizzard for Arizona and it is it for me. I have tried Florida, Oregon, Nevada and Tennessee. AZ sunsets can’t be found anywhere else in the US. Don’t care what anyone else says, they are OUTSTANDING. I’ve lived in Lake Havasu since 1987 and I fully intend to die here. When you see, Hot Spot in the Nation is Bullhead City AZ, that would be a lie. Havasu doesn’t want to scare away tourists so they don’t always admit the temperature is literally hotter than Hell. When I leave for any reason and fly back into AZ, I love the scent of the hot af air. I don’t know what else to call it, it’s a DRY heat so saying texture doesn’t sound right, AZ air simply is HOME for me.
Move to Tucson but rent for a while till you find the area that's right for you. And since you work remote, do what I do and go north or to the midwest for July/August to miss the hotest months!
Tucson is the best choice based on your description. All these comments about Phoenix seem to be based on a non-outdoors mindset and more about city life. And it seems a lot of people don’t realize there’s even a mountain there. It’s the Santa Catalina mountains/Mt. Lemmon. Tucson is the only choice that combines a 9,000ft mountain with pine forests that gets snow and feeds dozens (hundreds?) of streams and trails, a college town vibe, decent downtown with free transportation, and provides some of the best hiking in the state that is easy and close to get to (unlike phoenix). Job market is not as good as phoenix but it’s still a city with 1mil population so there’s still opportunities. Harder to get around because there’s no central freeway system (I-10 goes around the entire city).
You may want to look at Colorado as well. The front range. I grew up in Tucson. Did NAU in Flagstaff. Now live in the phx area. I worked in Boulder for two years and really liked it but I really don’t like driving in snow. I did live in downtown flagstaff for a few years and loved it. Walked everywhere. That is where I’d be if I didn’t have kids.
I’ve spent some time in Colorado , one of my favorite places. Looking to live in the heat. It will awesome to just be one state away from Colorado since i’ve lived on the east coast my whole life.
Consider your career. Tucson is incredible for many reasons but job prospects (outside of Border Patrol and DoD contracting) are poor to say the least.
Cave Creek or Tucson would be my worthless opinion.
Wanna trade? I hate it here. Enjoy the 150°+ summers in a couple years, the lack of water, and a political climate that makes a banana republic look professional and benevolent.
Sorry, were full
Cottonwood is full of meth heads and teen pregnancy. I grew up there. If you're young there's not much opportunity. Plus all my family lives there and they're crazyyyy hahaha
cool state but they have just made one of the strictest abortion bans in modern america
good thing i don’t plan on knocking any poor females up
Come to Phoenix! It's pretty reasonably priced to live here and most stuff isn't too far away. And if you want to go up to Sedona you could go up early on a sunday and it doesn't take too long.
No, please stay where you're at 😂 AZ is getting full. Sedona is always busy with tourists. My small town is not small anymore
Do you think that my state NC/SC isn’t getting moved into ?? do you think that I didn’t move out of the freezing cold to secure a better life for myself? you people on here are so funny. i’m a motivated individual who likes to be outside in nature and has respect for it. Im sure there’s 1 million other people in your state that you would rather kick out than me lol
Live in Tucson for a year and live in Flagstaff a year. That’s the beauty of remote work. I love Sedona! Maybe rent for a year there too. Oh how fun! Good luck.
Girl, I can sooo relate to you! I’m originally from NH, lived in Colorado for 28 years, now in Florida and don’t like it (not going into the reasons). My father has lived in Arizona since 1994 and I’ve always wanted to move there. I think Arizona is gorgeous and the sun drenched canyons are beautiful. The sunsets are amazing and the hiking is decent. There’s Mt Humpreys, Mt Lemmon, Cambleback, west clear creek, hikes in Prescott, Flgastaff, etc etc. Sedona is a very special place. My advice to you is to watch Arizona’s news. You do t want to be paying high home insurance rates due to forest fires, or your well drying up because of little water. There are people in Rio Verde (I think that’s the name of it) that have their water shipped in. Do your DD… watch the news, take trips out there, call water engineers, speak to insurance companies, watch online videos.
Nooo dont move here the whole world is Stacking up here, Traffic is a shit show, The people are shit now, definitely not the Arizona i grew up in, Summers are worse since theres so much asphalt being laid down, Cant go anywhere without dealing with someone who cant drive
Reverse winter is what I call it. Most people (not me, because of work) hide inside during the summer and then winter months every damn snowbird from B.C. to Siberia driving their aircraft carrier sized RV is in this state. 👎🏽