Phoenix, AZ Reviews


449 Reviews



BestPlaces offers the best, most comprehensive city reports,
with insight into cost of living, crime, climate, and more.
Thanks for Voting!
What BestPlaces Users Say about Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona is a bustling city known for its warm climate, desert landscape, and vibrant cultural scene. It is a popular destination for tourists and a growing city for residents, with a population of over 1.7 million. Located in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix offers a unique lifestyle and attracts people from all over the country. To get a better understanding of what it is like to live in Phoenix, we will summarize user reviews from BestPlaces.net and provide insights from four different reviewers.

According to reviewers on BestPlaces.net, living in Phoenix has its pros and cons. One reviewer, Joe, shared that "Phoenix has something for everyone. The weather is great, the cost of living is affordable, and there is always something to do." Another reviewer, Maria, echoed similar sentiments, stating that "Phoenix is a wonderful place to live. The weather is amazing, the city is diverse, and there are endless opportunities for outdoor activities." However, not all reviews were positive. John mentioned that "the heat in Phoenix can be unbearable at times, and the city lacks green spaces and nature." Similarly, Sarah shared that "Phoenix has a lot to offer, but the traffic and urban sprawl can make commuting a nightmare."

Many reviewers mentioned the Phoenix job market as a major advantage. Susan stated that "the job market in Phoenix is booming, especially in industries like healthcare, technology, and tourism." Another reviewer, Alex, added that "the cost of living may be slightly higher, but the job opportunities and salaries in Phoenix make it worth it." On the other hand, some reviewers expressed concerns about the cost of living. Mike shared that "housing prices in Phoenix have been increasing rapidly, making it difficult for some people to afford living here." He also added that "utilities, groceries, and property taxes are also on the higher side."

The cultural and recreational offerings in Phoenix were highly praised by reviewers. Jane mentioned that "Phoenix has a rich art and music scene, as well as numerous festivals and events throughout the year." Another reviewer, David, shared that "there are plenty of parks, hiking trails, and outdoor spaces to explore in Phoenix, making it a great place for nature lovers." However, not all reviewers were satisfied with the city's cultural offerings. Mark noted that "compared to other major cities, Phoenix lacks diversity and cultural experiences." He also stated that "the nightlife scene is not as vibrant as I would have liked."

In conclusion, Phoenix, Arizona, offers a unique lifestyle with its warm climate, diverse culture, and job opportunities. However, the high cost of living, extreme heat, and lack of green spaces were concerns mentioned by some reviewers. On the other hand, the city's cultural scene and recreational activities were highly praised by many. Overall, it seems that living in Phoenix can be a great experience for those who enjoy warm weather and a bustling city lifestyle.

 based on 449 Reviews
Get to know Phoenix with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Phoenix

why we moved here - 11/11/2008
I moved to arizona to better my families life but it seems to have made things harder. We came from ohio and wanted more opportunity and a better school system. What we got was higher rent,less jobs and more crime.I am on this site trying to find a better place to live. Good luck to Read More

Start Your Review of Phoenix


Hey, now! You can dis Phoenix, but... Arizona is b - 10/29/2008
I grew up in Phoenix. YES, it's nearly a cultural vaccuum, YES, it's hard to connect with people, YES, it's got 'Snottsdale', YES, it's REALLY EFFIN' HOT, but...
Please, PLEASE don't dis the landscape.
People that have never been to Arizona and are otherwise void of exposure via photos, first hand accounts, etc, think Phoenix is just flat. Well... it's certainly NOT. There are dozens of mountains, and they all have their own flavor. You can actually see the sky, and the hiking is *phenomenal* (i.e. the Superstition Mtns). It's only a couple of hours to forests and lower temps, and within Arizona itself is SUCH a diversity of landscapes and climates. Look up the White Mountains of Eastern Arizona, for example.
And... something I cannot stress enough...

ARIZONA IS FULL OF MAGIC.

Yes, you read right. It's absolutely magical. If you get out there in the middle of the night (wearing NOTHING, if you so choose, 8 months out of the year, and being Read More

Hell on Earth - 10/7/2008
Phoenix is really depressing to me. I come from them midwest and I'm use to seeing green and water... This summer here you're stuck inside all summer because it's too hot to go outside it's like the opposite of a bad winter back home. Culture is none existant here... the public transportation is horrible...nobody looks at you or says hi to you rude...I find the produce is something to be desired unless you pay an arm and a leg at someplace like Whole Foods or something similar. I confess I made a mistake moving here but I'm stuck here for a while. Phoenix is a place to work and exist not much for community or socializing. There is always somebody asking you form money at the gas stations. I'm ready to move Read More

NORTH CENTRAL PHOENIX... AN AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE - 10/6/2008
Phoenix is a large city, I believe the 5th largest in America. I've had the pleasure of living in several parts and have come to rest in the North Central region in an area known as the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.

The Preserve area offers an amazing mix of Urban living with a sence of ruralness. On the one hand, one can be at the airport or in the downtown center within minutes or walk down the street and enter the mountain preserve where, like magic, the entire city dissappears leaving only mountains, trails, and a quite peace.

I mentioned downtown Phoenix and as much as I like the serenity of the mountain preserve, the aliveness of the city core draws like string to a cat. A variety of locally owned restaurants and busineses give the area charm and uniqueness missing in most areas where corporate chains are the only offerings.

We have sweet coffee houses where stricking up a conversation with your neighbor is easy and welcomed; wine bars with Read More

Of course it's hot, it's a DESERT. - 10/4/2008
I grew up in Phoenix and loved it. What I liked most was it's central location, four hours to be in Mexico, two hours to be in Flagstaff and in the snow or cool weather, and about 6 for all of Southern Cali's amenities... For a family that can't afford lavish vacations, time or money wise, it was the perfect location to have a weekend or even day get away. Just south of Flagstaff is Sedona, what I believe to be one of the most beautiful places anywhere and that's an hour and a half drive. YES it's hot, but coming from someone who didn't know any different, it didn't seem to bother me too much. I'll admit that I spent my summers in a pool, but I think a lot of kids do that anyway. My two cents.Read More

Hot temperatures, Traffic, Polution, Crime, Alein - 10/3/2008
The climate is hot and dry most of the time and for a desert area that can be expected. What surprised me when I moved here 7 years ago was the heavy traffic and rude drivers. Red light runners are almost the norm and it seems 15 mph over the speed limit is OK too. Polution comes with any big city and with all the cities around Phoenix this is a huge Metro area. Crime is way over the top of the national average. Our rising crime rate directly correlates to the constand rise in illegal emigrants from Mexico. That has lead to horrific drug traffic as well as the trafficking of illegal emigrants into the USA.
There are good things about this place but all the good things don't erase the bad. I am seeing this city go down hill quick. I'm moving.
Read More

Phoenix: the good and the bad - 10/1/2008
The weather is hot here. People the world over associate Arizona with very hot, arid weather. Arizona actually means "Arid Zone". Don't move here if you don't like hot, arid climates. I grew up in Phoenix. After living in Japan for 5 years, I have recently returned to Phoenix for the purpose of finishing my degree. Alot of people like to say negative things about living in phoenix, especially those who moved here from out of State. I wonder WHY people would move here without doing a little research first. I don't like the cold...so I don't live in Minnesota. Simple enough, right? Yes, there are some negative things to be said about Phoenix, but what city is perfect? I really wish that people would get outdoors and see some of the great things that Arizona has to offer before making a decision about Phoenix and Arizona.

I have read many complaints about the lack of culture here. I think that there is a lack of European culture that many people may be Read More

Ahwatukee - 9/29/2008
Best place in AZ to live you get the benefits of Phoenix without living in the middle of it check out Ahwatukee has great schools (best in AZ) nice area houses hold value Read More

if left unpeaded sheriff joe arpaio is fully capab - 9/27/2008
i have spent my last 7 years in phoenix. yes,they have the same problems as any major city,drugs,prostitution,theft,etc.. however the difference maker is sheriff joe arpaio!!! this sheriff takes a no nonsence approach to law enforcement. with a brutally tuff stance,he has made maricopa county a feared place to be for ALL criminals. unfortenently,as in most communities these days there is the fringe element that is constantly trying to obstuct and impede his work. if left unfetterd sheriff joe can make LARGE strides in cleaning up phoenix as well as all of maricopa Read More

stupid HOAs - 9/16/2008
Phoenix was been taken over by power-tripping HOAs. I am tired of them trying to tell me what to do with MY house. I pay for the house, yet they think they should tell me would I can & can't do with it. How absurd! Before I moved to Phoneox, I had never heard of a HOA & couldn't believe someone would actually their behavior is OK. It's ridiculous. I can't wait to move somewhere that doesn't have those stupid "pseudo-governments" abusing hard-working homeowners just for the fun of Read More

Overview
Compare Phoenix, AZ
cost of living
Compare food, housing, utilities, and more in Phoenix, Arizona to any other city in the US.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.