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 ReviewsGet to know Phoenix with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Phoenix
The UGLY truth about Phoenix - 2/6/2007
I moved here in 2002, my spouse was transferred to Phoenix. We were glad to leave the mid-western winters as many transplants. I am a college educated man who has been unable to find an equally paying job to the one I left (90,000 vs 55,000 in Phoenix).I was told the large population of low cost workers has driven down wages for the entire state. Back in 2002 we could still afford housing, before all the Californians moved here and drove up all the costs. The winters here are wonderful but the heat starts in April and lasts until October, and that is the truth, anyone stating otherwise is lying and after 5 years I find the summer is unbearable. While real estate taxes are low, it reflects in the inferior public school system, which is terrible. The traffic is some of the worst in the country and car insurance is outrageous. There is a serious lack of physicians per capita in Phoenix. Arizona is a beautiful state, especially Sedona but Phoenix is not all it is cracked up to be. In my
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Phoenix Sucks - 2/4/2007
I moved here 8.5 years ago and have been looking for someplace else to move ever since. After moving here to escape the high price of real estate in California, which is where I'm from, everyone else had the same idea and drove the price of housing up here by 400%. If you don't mind incredibly hot weather for seven months out of the year (I'm talking being able to fry an egg on the sidewalk), air quality that is the third worst in the U.S., traffic that is unbelievably bad, and a drought that is going into its 12th year, on top of housing prices that have become unaffordable for the average person - come on out! Join all the other people who came here to escape the cost of living in California, the snow in Minnesota, the lack of work in New Mexico, etc. etc. etc. Good luck!
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Let's get realistic ... - 2/3/2007
It is not a TERRIBLE Place to live ... nor is it the best.
I have now lived in Scottsdale/Phoenix Arizona for 7 years. I am originally from CA. Do not believe ANYONE who tells you it is only hot for 2 months of the year ... this place is an oven from Mid May through mid October. It is HOT for 5 months of the year ... for two months it is pleasant and for 4 months (winter and spring)it is stunning, beautiful and a little piece of heaven. The 5 months of summer are sheer hell.
Its very crowded and we have traffic issues. House is over inflated like CA.
I would love to buy a bigger house here (and I am a Realtor) ... but anything decent with 3 to 4 Bedrooms and 1700 plus sq feet is going to cost you between 300K (yucky area) to 500K in a really nice area.
We are looking to move out of Phoenix. If I could live here in the winter only and live else where in the summer ... that would be a prefect world.
Just my two
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Don't Listen to "Don't Move Here" - 1/29/2007
Don't Listen to "DON"T MOVE HERE"
That guy is just obviously angry. Arizona is Amazing! It's absolutely beautiful. It's blazing hot two months out of the year...So deal with it.
Although, still a BUCKEYE at heart....It's better than the second cloudiest state in America, where I grew up. I will take the sun and warmth over rain, slush, wet heavy snow anyday! And when you want real powder snow, Now I take a drive 2 hours north...I love it here...it is the #1 growing state in America!
WAY more opportunity...way more entertainment....it's not polluted...it's actually one of the cleanest states I've been in...That guy obviously has never been to the EAST! It is gorgeous! How can you say the mountains are UGLY...what is wrong with that guy! AZ is a ton of
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Cost of Housing and demographics - 1/26/2007
Even though the housing bubble is supposed to be deflating, I am unable to find reasonble housing. Here is one recent find: condo, 2br, 2ba, 2 car garage, 965 sq ft, tiny back patio, HOA monthly fee $130 (no community ammenities) --- $225,000!
During a two year period I was rear-ended three times at stoplights by Hispanics, all of whom fled the scene. On a forth instance, the gentleman was forced to stay put because he was pinned in by traffic. In his case, he had a stolen license plate, no legal driver's license, and no insurance.
Running stop signs and red light is a norm in the metro Phoenix
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Pollution misunderstood by reviewers - 1/18/2007
Phoenix's pollution problem isn't SMOG, it's DUST and PARTICULATES. Phoenix doesn't have smog because it's too dry. The 'brown cloud' is dust kicked up by human activity (cars, industries, etc). The longer Phoenix is dry in its dry spells, the more dust is kicked up. The valley geography doesn't help matters, it keeps the air stable. Inversions in the winter (warm air on top of cooler air) are when the pollution is the worst.
Is Phoenix dry? Yes, but so is Colorado and the mountain west for the most part. Actually, on a relative scale, most of Colorado is drier (colder air holds even less moisture). Will your skin dry up? Probably unless you use some kind of moisturizer. If you live in the Midwest in the winter, you know how dry that can get. It's not that bad here.
Like all cities, Phoenix has some problems. But it is far better here than in many other areas of the US. If you're unskilled and looking for a job, PLEASE choose some other place!
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DON'T MOVE HERE!! - 1/5/2007
The climate sucks. your skin will dry up and peel off. It's hotter than hell in the summer. The air is so polluted you can't breathe most of the time. [when the air is "clear" you breath dust, the rest of the time--smog.] The cost of living is higher than the national average, and it's ugly! there's nothing but dirt and rocks as far as the eye can see. Arizona has been rated one of the least educated states in several surveys, and it's obvious when you live here. You can't even order a simple burger at a drive through with having it screwed up--and god help you if you need a precription filled at a
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Highly polluted, brown cloud - 12/29/2006
If the weather wasn't so hot, the brown cloud didn't exist, and the City built up instead of out, it would be a nice place to live. Unfortunately, my twice a year visits here end up w/me having bad asthma and hair that looks and feels like straw.
The air is like being in a car full of cigarette smoke with the windows rolled up. It is really that bad. Carbon Monoxide City.
You have to drive EVERYWHERE and it takes forever.
I like to walk City neighborhoods, in general. Unless youre hiking, walking here is non-existent.
The brown cloud over Phoenix reminds you of your immortality and will give you anxiety over developing emphysema or lung cancer. It makes you want to ride a bike and boycott cars.
I LOVE Flagstaff and Sedona. That is a different post.
Phoenix, however, is a newer City with a suburban vibe. Its spread out and has a lot of mini-malls. Tempe is the coolest area. It is nice having a fruit tree in your backyard,
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WHAT CULTURE? - 12/18/2006
Phoenix has a sub par symphony with little to no support.There has NEVER been a First run play in the area,not even first run rock & roll concerts or other first run entertainment.The reason being is there are other venues to play where people can afford the tickets.People in Phoenix are CHEAP and will only go to see performances that don't cost as much to see as when the performers could have and did command the monies to see them in their PRIME.Aging performers come here to wind down their careers and are nowhere near their past PEAK PERFORMANCE.Phoenix also has a 4th rate football team that plays in UPIG(UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX IN GLENDALE) STADIUM,a very lowly HOCKEY TEAM,a BASKETBALL TEAM that ALWAYS seems to self destruct,and a BASEBALL TEAM that will be NEVER win another WORLD SERIES.which is a strong statement to make but the only reason that they got as far as they did when they won the WORLD SERIES was that for an expansion team to come into the league they had to forgo TV
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Phoenix is a great place to live - 12/16/2006
I am shocked and appalled at the earlier racist comments. My husband and I moved to Phoenix in the 80's and think the city has gotten better and better. I couldn't disagree more with the earlier negative comments. I love a cosmopolitan city. There are so many more opportunities to learn about other cultures and be exposed to different ways of thinking. The outdoor opportunities abound for cycling, hiking, camping. The mountains are only a few hours away. Yes the weather is hot for late spring earlier summer, but the rest of the year is gorgeous. I have found the people here friendly and hospitable. And yes there is traffic, but spend a day in Los Angeles before you complain about traffic
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