Posted: 9/19/2008 12:40:36 AM EDT
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After living overseas for 7.5 years, my wife and I have decided it’s about time to return to the US. We are looking at summer 2010 as a target date. My job will allow me to work from home, so it doesn’t matter where we live in that respect. For various reasons – climate, landscape, family – we are leaning towards Arizona. Next summer we will be visiting family in Colorado, then driving to Phoenix. Along the way we intend to check out a few communities in the northern/central part of the state, including Flagstaff and Prescott, and possibly some communities around Phoenix. In the meantime we are doing research on the web. I will probably be back here asking questions in the months ahead, but for now I’ll just ask for recommendations on other towns we should be looking at. Our main criteria are reasonable housing, good schools (we have two kids, ages 7 and 10), access to outdoor activities (hiking, biking) and ranges etc - the usual stuff. Due to time differences I may not be able to respond quickly, so thanks a lot in advance for your responses. |
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Sounds like Prescott and Flag would be worthy of serious consideration given your requirements--outdoor lifestyle AND good schools. Don't know about the schools situation in the other "cooler climate" locales like Pinetop/Pason/Showlow, etc. May be fine, just don't know. There's lots of data published on school achievement scores for all of the states school districts that you can probably get access to on the web. Housing prices in the Phx area are severely distressed currently, but that may heal itself (hopefully) by the time you move. My assumption is that the Flag/Prescott areas haven't been as severely affected by declining housing prices. There are several nice public shooting ranges in the metro Phx area, and numerous semi-private clubs. Shooting in the desert safely and legally has become a challenge as urban sprawl has claimed much of the prime shooting areas of the past. Tucson might be worth a look. More laid back and less conjestd than Phx and a little cooler. I'm sure the schools there are fine. |