Show Low is nice, but......
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2/29/2008
I have lived in Show Low for 14 years. It does have nice weather and outdoor activities like fishing camping in the summer and nearby skiing in the winter. But as far as living here permanently , year round, it can be difficult especially if you are young and just starting out. I am a single mother. I work at the largest employer in Show Low (Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center) as an RN. So in response to a comment by “joedert h” who said “Without a trade or a skill you can offer a possible employer, you can expect to work at taco bell. Better yourself with some education or put the time in to work and learn a trade then you will make more money.” Ouch. Well joe, I have gone to college and now I’m a nurse, and compared to the average individual income in this town I am doing well. However I still find it difficult to maintain a household and make my mortgage on my double wide. For someone who is looking for a vacation or second home, Show Low is ok. The cost of real estate is absolutely ridiculous in Show Low. For young people, new families or single income households who did not purchase their home at least five to ten years ago, this can be very difficult. It is a fact, the two largest employers in Show Low are the hospital and Wal-Mart. Wages here are slightly lower than average and the cost of housing is through the roof. If you read the stats provided by this site you will see that recent job growth is -3.03%. It was reported by this website “Show Low, AZ, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 10, is 5. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and non negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 3.” So much for the safe small town. Also, in an article in the local newspaper, The White Mountain Independent, on 9/7/07 it was written that “Navajo County Probation reports 85 percent of probation cases have used meth. Navajo County [the county which Show Low is located in] has the highest numbers in Arizona for meth use among 12th graders but it has the lowest per capita spending on prevention." The Show Low School district is mediocre at best (“performing” to “performing plus”). All in all, it is small town that is easy to get stuck in, but I would not recommend looking to move here unless you are retired with a lot of money!
S=) | Show Low, AZ