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What BestPlaces Users Say about Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona is a popular city located in the northern part of the state, known for its beautiful natural landscapes and outdoor activities. With a population of around 75,000, it is a small yet vibrant community that attracts many visitors and residents alike. In this particular place, people have different experiences and opinions about living there. Some rave about the city's charm and amenities, while others point out its drawbacks. Let's take a look at a few user reviews to get a better understanding of living in Flagstaff.
According to Sarah H., "Flagstaff is a hidden gem in Arizona. The mountains, forests, and canyons make it feel like a small, secluded town while still offering all the amenities of a larger city. The people are friendly, and there's always something to do outdoors. It's a great place to raise a family." This positive review highlights the natural beauty and community feel of Flagstaff.
On the other hand, Jessica M. shares, "I moved to Flagstaff a few years ago and have been struggling to adjust ever since. The cost of living is high, and the job market is competitive. The weather is also unpredictable with harsh winters and dry summers. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't recommend living here." This review sheds light on some challenges that come with living in Flagstaff, such as high living expenses and extreme weather conditions.
Another resident, Kevin B., praises the city's cultural diversity, saying, "Flagstaff is a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds. It's refreshing to see such a diverse community in the predominantly white state of Arizona. The food scene is also fantastic, with many international cuisines to choose from." This review highlights the city's cultural diversity and culinary offerings.
However, not everyone is a fan of Flagstaff. As David S. shares, "I lived in Flagstaff for a year and couldn't wait to leave. The winters were too cold for me, and the summers were too hot. The city is also very touristy, and the traffic can be unbearable during peak seasons." This review showcases some of the downsides of living in Flagstaff, such as extreme temperatures and tourist-heavy areas.
In conclusion, Flagstaff, Arizona, has its pros and cons, as seen through the various user reviews. While some appreciate its natural beauty, friendly community, and diversity, others struggle with its high cost of living and unpredictable weather. It is always a good idea to do thorough research and visit a place before deciding to make it your home.
based on 50 ReviewsGet to know Flagstaff with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Flagstaff
Flagstaff is ideal for young families - 11/13/2023
Flagstaff is absolutely the perfect place to call home. Especially for families. 4 perfectly balanced seasons. None too extreme and all beautiful. Ridiculously safe! Small town vibe with big city variety. Great music venues, restaurants and shopping. Community engagement is abundant. Everyone knows the mayor, and we like it that way.
The biggest gripe I hear about Flagstaff is cost of living, this is true. But the caveat is that minimum wage is fn great! McDonalds employees start at $21/hr! Even restaurant servers rake in $18/ hr before tips.
And with the revolving door of University students, climbing the ladder at work in Flagstaff is a cake walk.
The cost of living is well worth the quality of life.
In Flagstaff, you get what you pay for..
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Cost of living is outrageous - 6/29/2022
I've lived here for one year and have to move because the cost to rent here is astronomical. I've been paying $2550/month and now for a comparable home it is $2900 and up (if you can even get one). You basically pay California prices for real estate here. A tiny one-room studio could cost you $1800.
The cost of living in general is high, my water bill is often $180/month because we don't have water here. You have to drive to Sedona to get in Oak Creek if you want to go swimming, as Flagstaff HAS NO WATER. Food is also expensive, plus it's hard to find good restaurants. If you come here to visit, definitely eat at Karma, that is the best sushi I've ever had which is weird to say while living in the desert. Also, the food trucks at the farmers' market are decent. And definitely get some chocolate from Chocolita, she's cool.
The air here is so dry in May and June that your skin will literally fall off. Monsoon season is cool because you get relief from the
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Small city feel and beautiful outdoors - 11/25/2019
Every place depends on what you are looking for. So I will say a bit about me so you can assess where the review is coming from.
I am a professional, single, female in my 30s with a graduate degree. I make 80k. I am *not* a party person. I live a quiet life where I enjoy the outdoors and a coffee with friends. Before coming to Flagstaff I have lived in Southern California, Northern California, Saint Louis, Kansas City, and Hartford CT.
I moved here for work, and I was pretty hesitant to do so because I absolutely loved Orange County, CA. Much to my surprise, after two years I would put Flagstaff and Orange County as a tie for my favorite place to live.
What I love about it: it is a great city for those who don't like the craziness of a large city (pop 70k in Flag) but also don't want to be isolated in the country. The downtown area is very cute/unique with lots of great shops. There is a community feel to things that you don't get in a big
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Not perfect, but pretty darned nice. - 11/16/2019
Flagstaff is a city that enjoys clean air, a mild four season climate and abundant natural beauty. Nestled near the San Francisco Peaks, approximately 50 miles south of the Grand Canyon Flagstaff is a paradise for anyone who enjoys nature and the outdoors. As a place to live Flagstaff is very different from many other sunbelt cities. On the positive, while it has become more populated in the last 20 years it is still far less congested than nearby Phoenix or Las Vegas. Traffic is typically problematic only when your travels take you near Northern Arizona University’s campus. Crime is relatively low, and the city still enjoys a small, community feel. On the negative, Flagstaff housing is costlier than the state average. This is exasperated by the fact the City’s primary industry is tourism (and the typically low wage jobs it creates). Beyond the University, Gore Medical Devices and the Flagstaff Medical Center it can difficult to find a job that pays a living wage. The city government
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youve lost your beautiful downtown area - 10/12/2019
we have visited your city a couple of times and absolutely loved it until our recent visit in early october 2019. you had a beautiful downtown area with lots of unique shops with native american items and great gifts for family and friends. it's been several years since we had visited and can not believe the changes! all the shops are gone,replaced with breweries ,bars and restaurants. your city leaders did not have a vision and did not preserve your historical beautiful downtown and that is a crime. we will not visit here again because you are just a typical college town now with nothing worth seeing. so sad and
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Poverty with a view - 8/14/2019
I work in Flagstaff and live in Sedona out of necessity, I have the deal of a lifetime for housing in Sedona - couldn't touch an outhouse in Flagstaff for what I am paying in Sedona. Flagstaff housing enormously expensive as well as food. NAU is the largest employer in Flagstaff and due to the wages they give being suppressed in comparasion to ASU and UA I cannot see Flagstaff becoming the " next best place to live " anytime soon. NAU is losing talented professionals YOY because of the enormous pay gap and the product NAU provides has taken a hit. Administrators think there is a bottomless well of talent and I can assure that the well is deeper than most think but inevitably mismangement by this university will cause Flagstaff to remake itself or die. It is unfathomable that over the last decade when the economy has thrived that the University hasn't addressed this issue other than to give it lip service. The hook the university uses is that a person / family cannot make it on a
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Some Honest Thoughts on Flag. - 4/23/2019
Lived here for 1 year, and don't think it will be a final landing spot. It depends on what you are looking for.
PROS:
-Clean Air
-No massive superfund sites or radon issues (some, but very minor, do your homework before moving to the Denver area folks)
-Nice Weather, very mild seasons compared to other places I have lived
-Beautiful views
-Grand Canyon, San Francisco Peaks, Sedona, etc. all out your back door
-Short commutes
-Nice people
-Decent trail system
-Mountain Biking
-Shooting ranges
-Skiing (both cross country and downhill)
-Fairly Quiet
-Dark Skies Compliant (Beautiful Night Skies, Seriously)
-Decent Snow (If you like snow!) and it melts quickly
-Beautiful monsoon season and wildflowers
-Fun Holiday events
-Arizona has very low income and property tax compared to other places we have lived
CONS:
-No water. Lake Powell is over 2 hours away, Lake
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Poverty with a view - 1/24/2019
I've lived here since 1998. This town is very beautiful with the scenery and the community. But it's literally the "poverty with a view" town. NAU had been taking over the town by building and buying new buildings for the students, the town is very crowded and it makes it difficult to find jobs because of the college students.
The cost of living is outrageous. Theres loopholes the real estate and property management that they raise rent or price of a home as soon as someone moves out or renews a lease. I know people who have 3 jobs just to make it here.
The town in split because of the minimum wage increase. Half the people are relieved to make a decent living and not have to struggle paycheck to paycheck as much. The other half is worried about price hikes of everything, in business and cost of living. So the town is torn whether to barely afford anything getting paid less or living moderately comfortable and paying a bit more.
As there
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We Love Flagstaff Arizona! Great Place to Live - 6/8/2018
My family and I have lived here our entire lives. We love the atmosphere, the people, and the activities available to us. Our family started Polaris Roofing Company in Flagstaff and have had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful homeowners and business owners in the area. From our family to yours, we know you'll love the
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Retired and loving Flagstaff - 5/18/2015
My wife and I retired to Flagstaff in 2012. Our search criterion was for a college town to add culture, good medical facilities, four seasons, within two hours of major airport and low humidity. We vacationed in several cities to get a feel for them. Denver was over crowded, suffered from traffic and polluted while Santa Fe did not inspire us. Flag has very youthful feel with the NAU's 25,000 students, hiking and biking trails abound the Falstaff peaks at 12000 feet above sea level with a ski area. Blues skies most days so we enjoy getting out side. Culture comes in many forms from the Lowell Observatory, Museum of Northern Arizona( native Americans), to a 10 day Science Week that provides an astounding number of events to excite us. Downtown is packed with good restaurants, bars and 5 mini-breweries. Friday Nite Art Walks at the first of every month gets us out for a dinner date and a stroll of the town where music is played on the street and in the many art galleries. During
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