Posted: 7/8/2009 10:29:16 PM EDT
Wife and I have been kicking around where we would like to move to some day. Due to some injuries I got at work I maybe retired at an early age  . Friends have said that we may like Flagstaff as we like AZ but are not fans of the heat. So anyone got any info for us on living in Flagstaff or any suggestions on other towns in AZ that may work for us?
TIA |
| Any of the northern towns will work if you don't lke heat. Flagstaff gets plenty cold during the winter, and lots of snow, so if that's your thing, go for it. It's a bit of a liberalist town - lots of hippies up there. There are a lot of great mountain and high desert towns in AZ - it kind of depends on what size and what commodities you want. I live in Prescott Valley - about 1 1/2 hours south of Flagstaff, 1 1/2 hours north of Phoenix. Today our high is 91, compared to Phoenix at 108. We don't get nearly as much snow as Flagstaff, but we do get down into the single digits sometimes during the winter. It's a big enough town to have everything you need, and still not exceed my limit for too big to bug out of! |
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Another possibility would be Payson. I think it is a little higher than Prescott and gets a bit more snow and rain. Its smaller than Prescott in size and population but a little closer to Phoenix via Mesa. Also, within 20-30 miles you are up on the rim of 7500 feet all the pines trees and snow you could want.
Personally, I would live in Flagstaff in a heart beat if I could. I have 9 year old son so Flag is big enough to still have a "city" feel with plenty to do. Also, if you like the cool weather, snow and 4 seasons, no other town in Arizona can beat it. If Flag didnt work, then Payson would be my second choice. Smaller, closer to Phoenix and great camping and exploring in the high pine country. Heck, have some fun and spend some time up there checking the places out. Due to the university in Flagstaff, NAU housing prices and rental prices could still be somewhat $$$. Payson my have more economic friendly outlook on property and home prices. |
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If you are a political conservative a good choice would be Williams, 20 miles from Flag without the every day anti[gun banter. My wife is related to the big family in Flag so i know of which I speak. I have an MA from NAU and both of my son's have B A's from there.
Another good choice would be Winslow. |
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Quoted:
Flagstaff is artificially inflated because of the university rentals, and for whatever reason Payson is just as expensive as homes in the valley. That because everyone with money in the valley has a quick get away from the heat house in Payson. But with the housing crash, prices are coming down up there as well. |
| flagstaff is quickly becoming a busy city. during the day the main roads in town are packed. weekends are bad to. we live a few miles out of town so we avoid town as much as possible. depends what you are looking for in a city/ place to live. hippies tend to congregate in the down town area so i have never been bothered by them. |
| Verde Valley area. Moderate temps (maybe mid 90's in the summer and mid 40's in the winter), little snow, and close enough to Sedona and Flag for weekend entertainment. Also a less liberal town than Flag, they dont mind the occasional bang in the wilderness. just .02 from a 4th gen. Flag resident. |
| Verde Valley in the 90s? I grew up in Cottonwood - we broke 100 every day from the middle of June through the end of August (at least). It's gonna be 100 there tomorrow. Mild winters there, which is nice, but to do or see anything you have to travel - to Flagstaff, Prescott, or Sedona (DO NOT WANT!). |
.............Ok Ok 100's! I give.
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Quoted:
I sure liked Flagstaff better when drunk Indians layed on the sidewalks outside of Joe's Place and Club 66, you could get some college Tang at Shaky Drake's, and cowboy kids still beat up hippies in most of the other bars. Must not have been too much before I went to school there in the late 90's. 
When I went to NAU, there was only 1 movie theater in town, and the last showing was like 8pm on the weekends. That and Ruff's still sold Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms at the same register. 
Now, when I go up there I hardly recognize the place. |