Dry climate dry unfriendly people... - 2/7/2023

Prescott is beautiful. The climate is wonderful (a bit hot in summer). The people are very unfriendly. I am conservative and have lived all over the country. The people here are not warm and friendly. It has taken years to try to get used to and I’m still not used to it. I do not feel a sense of community here. The churches are again, unfriendly, dry and clannish. If you like making eye contact and giving and receiving a warm friendly smile, maybe try Tennessee or Texas. People there are genuinely kind. They will ask you how you are doing. Even if you aren’t in their “club” or an outsider. They care about their neighbors and are very welcoming. Not so here. Just my two cents.

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Severe shortage of medical providers - 5/27/2022

I've lived here for 11 years and love the small town feel, perfect weather and great mountain biking. I am a medical professional in the area and am providing this as I think the limitations here are important to consider for anyone thinking about moving here. There is a severe shortage of medical providers and it is difficult if not impossible to find a primary care physician or specialist here. A lot of providers are not taking new patients at all. Providers frequently move into the area and rapidly leave or retire. Wait times to get in for an appointment, either new patient or even established patient followups are long - not unusually three months or more. The hospital here is not great, very high infection rate and hit or miss quality of providers working in the ER and inpatient. Another significant concern is very high prices for real estate and rent which can make it very unaffordable.

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Prescott is great! - 9/11/2021

Yes, there is music here. We have a downtown with a courthouse area and yard where bands and singers perform. Also restaurants/saloons in Whiskey Row. The weather is fabulous, not too hot in the summer, and cool in the winter with usually some snow but it varies. We are 5300 in altitude with lakes, forests, mountains. If you like hiking, fishing, and hunting, or just the great outdoors, you will love it here. Hope you give it a try.

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Conservative Prescott - 9/11/2021

My wife and I both retired from California. I retired from a law enforcement career and my wife was a teacher. We are both very conservative, I more than my wife. We love the conservative culture here and feel right at home. Conservative people tend to believe in freedom, limited government, and Judeo Christian beliefs. They are usually not drug abusers, criminals, or homeless. Although some Presconians are first put off when they hear we are from California, most are friendly and tolerant of all people. But we see what's happened in California and other liberal states and don't want that to happen here. If you have a dislike for conservative people, then please move to another area. I have to wonder why you did not know the conservative culture of Prescott before moving here.

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Moving from Nola to out West (Albuquerque or…help - 8/1/2021

I’ve lived in New Orleans for last 17 yrs post divorce. Moved 19 yrs old to Florida. I’ve outgrown the city, weather, population, traffic, horrible roads and streets. I detest this humidity and heat. Rather mountains and cold. Visited Grand Lake Co loved it but so uber expensive. Family in Albuquerque and Phoenix. Ready to make a move by April 15th next year. Im visiting Prescott in November and Albuquerque to decide. Im a safety:fleet mgr construction co, ended 4 yr relationship. amicably. So would love to be out of the city. Enjoy life…any suggestions or help…my mother is a jazz/blues singer and piano player is there music live so I can entice her to move with me…??

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Best place I’ve lived. - 6/7/2021

I just moved here. Friendliest people I’ve ever encountered. Sooooo much better than Denver where there’s scores of homeless people, human feces on the sidewalks, BLM supporters that are ready to attack and loot on a whim, and gays who love to criticize you simply because you don’t believe the gay lifestyle is the best for you and your loved ones. Great to live in America again.

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Don’t move here, very unfriendly - 3/6/2021

I’ve lived in Prescott for three years and can’t wait to leave. Filled with extreme right wing conservatives. We will be selling our home and move back to Nevada.

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Small Town Feel - 1/1/2021

Relocated here August 2020 (Moved from Peoria, AZ.). My humble general impressions. Its conservative, "small town feel," safe, and real estate is expensive. It's definitely a tourist retirement town. Many California transplants with beautiful homes. I don't resent the Californian's. I certainly don't blame them for moving out of California. The town has a Western History which adds to the charm. Lots of sunshine! Nice selection of local restaurants. I always feel safe walking downtown. As I run errands, I usually observe 3-5 marked, City Of Prescott Police units. They seem to be very visible with their patrol (I'm retired LE). People are generally friendly. It does get cold in late Fall & Winter during the evening hours. However, when the sun comes out (daily), its mild (crisp, but not freezing cold). Very few bugs (no scorpions thus far). If you are seeking high wages, nightlife, city/county services, liberalism, Gun Control, and multi-culturalism, this would not be a good fit for you. However, it appears welcoming to everyone. I'm currently leasing and will probably look to Prescott Valley if I chose to purchase. Prescott Valley is warmer, open feel to the landscape, and generally slightly less for real estate. There are two universities here with solid reputations for higher education. You can even survive without A/C in the Summer. Good hospital, VA, and medical services. Nice Costco, Dillard's Clothing store, Trader Joe's, Chick-Filet, and Sprouts whole food grocery. Excellent hiking outdoor activities with a nice trail system. Good museum downtown. Just remember, no place is perfect!

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Great place for outdoorsmen. - 4/19/2020

I’m writing from the perspective of a younger retiree escaping high taxes, high crime, gangs, graffiti, outrageous gas prices, overcrowding, nightmarish traffic, gun grabbing politicians, a polluted ocean and sensory overload. To me, Prescott is a dream come true. Now, I don’t have a family, don’t rent and am no longer working so I can’t speak to those issues, as it seems younger people have a harder time here. But I can tell you, coming from the above environment, Prescott seems to be a great place to enjoy the clean air, hiking, fishing, biking, gardening and socializing. There is a very nice performing arts center if music and theater are your thing, and an event center in Prescott Valley where you can see sports, gun shows, home and garden/RV, etc. no town is perfect and Prescott is no different as it is having growing pains. You will not see (or see virtually no)gangs, graffiti, traffic gridlock, polluted air, high property taxes (sales tax is comparable to Los Angeles), polluted water or outrageous home prices. There is no such thing as hearing sirens all night long. Phoenix is an hour’s drive so if you can’t find something here, it can be found there. Skiing is an hour away in Flagstaff. Sedona is an hour’s drive. All in all, the lifestyle here is much better than the overcrowded cities and suburbs of any big City. So, yes bad/rude drivers are EVERYWHERE you go. People here seem to be more polite and friendly in general. If you enjoy the outdoors, sunshine, monsoons, occasional light snow, generally low humidity the best sunsets on earth, and a quaint small town feel, you will probably like PRESCOTT. Allergy season can be rough here for about 1-2 months (April and May), due to the abundant Alligator Juniper trees, so some end up leaving here within 5 years. There is a shortage of Physicians here, but the doctors that are here, are generally very competent, albeit busy. It was a little bit of a challenge finding a doctor, but you will find one. The Hospital is excellent. Police and fire are Excellent. Dental care is excellent. Fire season can be high risk here, but insurance of all sorts is affordable with the exception of medical insurance. Dining is good, but don’t expect to find a Four Seasons hotel or Ruth’s Christs here here. If you like dogs, guns Pick up trucks and enjoy a bit of the country feel with a bit of the old west, this is the place for you, but if you are an uptight elite that has contempt for the common man, you best stay in Mattha’s Vineyard.

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Balanced Review - Pros and Cons - 2/6/2020

Over 10+ years of living here in Prescott, AZ. No place is perfect and there are plenty of bad places to live. Here are the PROS and CONS: CONS: * Good paying jobs are VERY difficult to find. Most jobs will be in construction, healthcare, food, service industry, hotel industry, big box stores, etc. Forget about IT jobs, high paying skilled labor jobs, business jobs, large companies, etc. This is a retirement & tourist town so that is where the jobs will be (healthcare & hospitality). Average median household salary is around $28k year (compared to $63k avg for USA). * Cost of living is high. Housing is very expensive (mainly due to California transplants & their dollar exchange rate) and apartments are scarce and very expensive. 90% of the workforce doesn't even live in Prescott. They live in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley/Paulden and Dewey and drive into Prescott to work. This also contributes to the roadways being overwhelmed with traffic. Although they are building wider roads and more feeder highways to help with this issue. * No longer a small town feel. Due to the insane growth in the area in the past 10-15 years, this area is no longer a "small town" and it has lost its small town feel. Areas like Chino Valley still retain it but Prescott, no longer. The town officials hand out new house building permits like candy. As a matter of fact, the building dept is so backlogged with new plan reviews, they have to sub-out and hire companies to help them review and issue building permits. As of 2019, they estimated about 20,000 new homes will be built in the next few years. * If you are younger and want a nightlife, Prescott is not your town. Remember, it's a retirement and tourist town. Tempe/Scottsdale/Phoenix is the place for the young adult nightlife. PROS: * Weather is very moderate, a mild 4 seasons. Extremes can happen but overall it's a Zone 4B (building climate) so it's moderate & dry. * Lots of open spaces, nature, trails, outdoor things to do. Beautiful scenery. * Prescott has some of the cleanest air in the country. American Lung Association listed it as #1 for best air quality a few years back. (Although forest fires have been an issue and air quality gets really bad during wildfire events, which have been increasing.) * The city is pretty safe to live compared to big cities. Crime rate is way lower than Phoenix. Main issue are drugs, like many towns are dealing with. The low pay in the area, contributes to the poverty and drug use. That's about as fair of a pro/con review I can give. Biggest issue I have had in the town in the past 10+ years is the low paying wages for the limited amount of jobs they have in the area. I have a college degree and many skills but finding a good paying job is difficult in this area. Most teenagers who grow up in Prescott, end up attending the 2 year colleges and then leaving the area for universities and bigger cities and more opportunities. Most never return. Latest stat was that 80% of young adults leave Prescott and don't come back.

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Not for Families - 8/2/2019

Prescott is a great place to live if you are a retired professional (i.e. doctor, lawyer, etc). If you have a family it is horrible. Houses are unaffordable (you can get a very small dump to live in for $200,00 +), the salaries do not match the cost of living, the school systems are sub-par (the school curriculum was 1-2 years behind from where we came from in the midwest), public education for 3 kids cost me over a $1,000 to enroll them this year (this is not the money they take out of my paycheck for taxes. That came out of my checking account.), sales tax is almost 10% and there is hardly anything to do for families. The police spend too much time policing the downtown area for parking tickets/minor traffic problems and take a long time to arrive at any real emergency. I guess if you are coming from CA you don't see anything wrong with this, but coming from the midwest I literally hate living here.

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SUPERIOR PLACE TO LIVE - 4/25/2019

My wife and I have lived here now for almost 15 years. We moved from Scottsdale (Phoenix area) and have never looked back. Here's why Prescott is so good: Mild four seasons; easy access (1.5-2 hours) to a major metropolitan area (Phoenix) by freeway all the way; friendly people; decent enough shopping and restaurants and not expensive; conservative (generally) populace; no nonsense approach to crime and, therefore, there is little of it; laid back attitude; most people here don't care too much about what is going on politically in DC nor have any fear of unrest. Suffice it to say, this is a great place to live and do your thing; enjoy life the way you want to; without anyone questioning you.

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Prescott is full of Charm and Magic - 3/15/2019

Good Morning ... I have been reading these reviews and from the verbiage, most of the opinions are from the younger population and are stupid. If someone is talking about housing and apartments being very expensive and are referencing a studio apt or a one bedroom ... they need to move to another city. Apples and Oranges. Prescott prices and appeal are on the scale of Sedona and Scottsdale. Rents down in the Phoenix Area are just as high or higher than Prescott. Rents ... trend with the price of homes. Average homes in Prescott Valley, on the low side, run between $250,000 to $350,000. Prices in Prescott, on the low side, run between $400,000 to $600,000 all day long. Someone said $800,000 was the average price of a home in Prescott. They are totally incorrect. I am a Realtor in Prescott and know the actual prices of homes. Both cities are different cities. No connection. Prescott has the Cabin in the Pines Appeal, high-end Golf Resorts and the Historical Downtown Whiskey Row at the Courthouse Square. There is a lot of money in Prescott with a lot of homes ranging from $1 million upwards to $3 million. The Sweet Spot is between $400,000 to $600,000 to purchase a home. Prescott is a highly-favorable Baby Boomer destination because it is a quaint and charming small town full of activities to enjoy. It is not a cookie-cutter town and every home was custom built. Drugs everywhere? Give me a break. 50% of the demographics in Prescott is the Over 50 Crowd ... and they don't do the Drug Scene anymore. We all were children of the 60's. I have been here for 3 years and have never run into drugs. Every town in America has the younger generation doing drugs. Someone said this is not a friendly town in which to meet people? Seriously? One just walks around the Square or walk into the shops and one will meet 4-5 people in just over an hour. Everyone is happy and glad to be in Prescott. Negativity breeds negativity. Someone said Prescott was hot in the Summer? Again, 80 degrees is not hot. I moved up from Scottsdale and Phoenix ... that is hot. One doesn't need air conditioning for most of the Summer and the nights cool down, like in California, and one opens the windows. When it is 115 degrees in Phoenix ... it might be around 100 degrees in Prescott. One turns the AC on in the late afternoon 3-6 to cool down the house and then turns it off. After sundown, the temperatures drop. One only uses the AC in the late part of August. Brian references companies cutting back on water usage? Incorrect. Restaurants and business are not cutting back on water in Prescott. Prescott has strong water. Brian references the Major Highways are overcrowded during 3:30 to 7:00? Obviously, it goes to the definition of 'overcrowded'. Obviously, Brian has never driven in the Phoenix freeways nor in California. There is more traffic holdup in Prescott Valley due to the stop lights not being timed to flow traffic along. Probably, on purpose to slow down the tourists coming up from the Metro Phoenix to come to Prescott for the weekend. It is 10-12 minutes, in the congested traffic, to drive from Costco to the Prescott Square. Most everything is 15 minutes away to go shopping. There is art, theater, symphony, festivals, good shopping, car clubs, music and good restaurants. Prescott is a delightful town for us Baby Boomers ... and lots of Boomers are coming out from California, the Midwest and from Metro Phoenix. The sun shines bright most days, blue skies and the clouds are so billowing and 'close' ... one feels one could reach up and pull one down. It is a "Hallmark-type movie" town.

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Do your homework before you come to Prescott - 11/17/2018

I have live in Prescott since October of 2015 and my experience here has been mix. I would lean more on the negative than anything else. For one, this town is the worse for dating and meeting women and people in general. If you enjoy going to the bars then maybe you will have some luck or go online, but the quality of women is horrible. Most are single mothers out here that have had kids from multiple fathers. Many have high expectations considering what little they have to offer. Most are average at best. The ones that are decent looking are either getting knocked up at 18 or have already left town for the bigger cities ( can't blame them). The ones in their 20's and even 30's seem already busy with kids from multiple men and are delusional of what kind of man they can attract. Jobs are another issue. Unless your going get something with the city or at the hospital (and by the way, good luck) more than likely you will be working food and retail. Most only want to to pay min. wage and if your lucky maybe a little more than that. Another issue is housing. Housing is really expensive even for retirees (depending which states they are coming from). Younger people that are here are even struggling even more thanx to more out of state money flowing in. More land lords know they can ask higher rent prices which are just beyond most people's paychecks. Most landlords are horrible out here. Another issue at hand is the drivers here. There is many drivers coming from out of state and many native Arizonas here as well and let's say it does it mix. Most people don't know how to drive out here and get into accidents that would be very easily avoidable. The city council has pass a new ordinance banning cellphone usage behind the wheel which is great. Unfortunately, there is one more sad problem with this town and that is its drug problem. I personally feel no matter where you go you won'tget away from this. Most people theorizethat people get bored here and that's why they do it and maybe that might be true for some I don'tbelieve that represents every case. For a good while there Prescott and Prescott Valley had a huge surge of drug rehab facilities and unfortunately it brought many of these addicts here with their problems and they never left. Thankfully, both town cracked down on these places and many have closed shop but both town do feel the aftermath of this. If you are coming from high cost states where you can sale your house for a lot then you won't have many problems finding a house here of your dreams. This is not really a cheap place to live. Northern Arizona is more expensive than the Phoenix areas, so if your looking for cheaper than you would want to head south. (But be prepared for the heat and more people.) Now the positives. For one this is a very easy place to get around. Whether you need to go to Prescott Valley or Chino Valley, you day will not be eaten up on the road unless theres bad weather or an accident. The weather here is really awesome for the most part. The summer can get hot, but not as hot as Phoenix by any means. We do get the monsoon during this time all the way in to Sept. So beware, but the lightning storms are awesome, if you love that sort of thing. The winters do get cold and can get snow. It normally melts off the next day, unless we have unusual winter or storm system that comes in. The spring is pretty mild and the best time to plan hiking trips and camping trips. Bust not to camp in the summer mainly due to the monsoon and flash flood risk. Unfortunately we have had people die in the area (whole family in payson), so it's no joke. There is a lot of small shops to check out, tons of nice restaurants as well. There is plenty of medical facilities around plus if your a veteran there is a VA hospital near by. In closing, this town is great for retirees that can afford it, but horrible for anyone under 55.

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First Impressions. - 7/13/2018

Good place to visit if your interested in hiking and leisure activities like shopping, antique hunting, indian jewelry etc. Food is average. Not a place for singles. You don't see many young people roaming about. Real estate is overpriced due to influx of retirees, I think from California. Not a place to settle down unless you are upper middle class for sure. Diversity is lacking as is a major university.

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A great place to live in the high elevation of AZ - 6/21/2018

I was born in Scottsdale, AZ. Having lived in the western United States my whole life, and having travelled around the continent as well, I consider Prescott to be a great place, after recently living here. Prescott has been growing lately, but it still has a small town, friendly feel. There are plenty of fun things to do. Being close to the incredibly beautiful region of northern Arizona, the outdoor enthusiast will thrive here. You have desert and forest in Prescott, swimming in Sedona, and plenty of snow in Flagstaff, all within an hour and a half of driving. The food and drink scene in Prescott is surprisingly good too. Health conscious people will not feel out of place. Also- the Granite Dells are a stunning piece of natural beauty, that everyone should at least look into seeing someday. The only down sides to Prescott, in my opinion, are that it is experiencing a nasty drought, but monsoons in the warm season, as well as snow in the cold season, help out a little at least. The UV rays are quite strong here too, in this very sunny city. The cost of living is a bit high as well, but I consider it worth it. Overall, if you are interested in seeing or moving to Prescott, come out and see this nice, growing town.

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Prescott Financial Trouble - 1/17/2018

Prescott appears to be in financial trouble. The city is over $80 million in debt because of backed up pensions. Prescott has had to close several schools, close fire stations, lay off firemen and policemen. They have had to reduce hours at the public library and lay off other city employees. As I speak, the new owners are demolishing the historic Miller Valley School built over 100 years ago, to build who knows what. Prescott has a shortage of (among other things) doctors, schools, and good restaurants.

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Help! - 10/7/2017

We currently reside in a suburb of Sacramento and with all these new laws i need to get my family out of here. My husband is from Tucson and I went to school there, but I can't handle the heat and I hate the desert. Since in laws would be relatively close and I like the laws in Arizona, I'm came across Prescott as a good compromise. We own a boxing gym and my husband is a barber. I have a 3 year old and one on the way. Is this or Prescott Valley a good place to raise a family? How about running a business? We would either open a barber shop or another gym but all these reviews make me nervous that a business wouldn't do well. How is the homeless problem? I can't imagine worse than Sac... if you don't recommend Prescott, where would you recommend??

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Meth addicts, old people and ZERO diversity - 5/21/2017

We relocated to 'Preskit' about one year ago. Now we have decided to leave. It is as if this place is stuck in a 1950's twilight zone and they like it that way-white. Take that back- if you're a drug addict, you are welcomed, as there are recovery/rehab homes everywhere. (They love hanging out at Fry's on Fair Street.) Sure, they have an okay little downtown-that's it. I've been to this area all of three times, and I live less than a block away. That should tell you something. If you are a mixed race couple, like we are people will turn their heads to gawk at you. If you are an Afro-centric, natural kind of woman-more looks. Educated, articulate and soft spoken- people will find that 'interesting'. Ya know, because you're not a stereotype. Lovely. Moving on.. Wages do not reflect cost of living. $1300 for a 2-bedroom. Yet companies want to pay $10?! Right. .. Listen, my review isn't going to persuade or dissuade a person eager to move here. Go for it, good for you. However, if you are a progressive, educated African-American woman, Sistah stay away. They don't want us here.

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Mile high town - 1/23/2017

This small community located in the high desert has so much to offer. Clean air, low crime, great recreational opportunities, and friendly folks. The climate is mild most all year 'round and offers four seasons with summers in the 80* - 90* range and some snow come early winter.

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