Reviews & Comments
Colorado Springs, CO
Somewhat overrated -
8/26/2020The Springs is great if you're an avid outdoors man or are really into psychedelics and weed but the average Joe may have some difficulty living here. The housing market is screwed here; you will be lucky to find a one bedroom apartment to rent for under $900 and forget about buying house for anything under $260,000. This is not a good place to be young and broke but if you can afford a house around the $280,000 - $400,000 range then you will be fine. Colorado Springs has, by far, the worst drivers I've ever seen. Traffic isn't bad in terms of gridlock but people drive like maniacs and will constantly cut you off and ride your ass even 10 mph over the speed limit. I lived in Phoenix for 15 years and have seen almost the same amount of car crashes as I have in the Springs in just a year. This is only exacerbated by how many hills there are combined with the icy roads during the winter.
The climate is absolutely phenomenal winters are short(ish) with a moderate amount of snow, the spring is vibrantly green, summers are warm in the day and cool at night and autumn is beautiful with all kinds of yellow and red trees. The UCCS campus has many great programs and is gorgeous and built into the side of hill. There are some spectacular views all throughout the city with hills, mountains and trees adding to the backdrop. The red rocks canyon is a wonderful place to hike and there are many concerts there all throughout the year. Hiking is a favorite activity out here; you can go hiking every day all summer long and still not see all of the beautiful places the mountains have to offer which are only a 20 minute drive out of the city. You would be hard pressed to find a better city for hiking.
Pros:
- beautiful 4 season climate and weather
- hiking and outdoors activities
- amazing views anywhere in the city
- good healthcare industry
- most people and cops are very friendly
- garden of the gods is a 10 minute drive from almost anywhere in the city
- Denver is an hour drive north
Cons:
- expensive housing and rent
- terrible drivers, some of the worst I've seen
- winters can be icy
- hail season will give your cars good sized dents if you don't have a garage
- the city is overcrowded and not built for the current population size
- lack of good and unique places to eat (except for skirted heifer downtown)
- there are crime hot spots, do your research on neighborhoods before moving
This city is excellent if you are trying to start a family or retire but mediocre at best for those who are young, broke and single. At the end of the day, this city is not for me but that doesn't mean it's a bad city. If you like to hike, smoke weed and enjoy beautiful scenery then the Springs might be for you. If you are like me and don't smoke, don't hike and spend most of your days indoors, then you should try your luck somewhere else.
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix isn't that bad -
8/18/2020It really isn't that bad, I don't know why everyone on here is freaking out. I've lived in Mesa to the east for more than 15 years. Phoenix isn't the best city in the world but it's more than livable and it's perfect if you hate weather. There are more than enough amenities to make up for the bad parts but at the end of the day Phoenix is a big city and big cities have issues like homelessness, crime and a higher cost of living. If you're looking for a big city that doesn't snow and is relatively cheap compared to the job market then Phoenix might be for you. Just also make sure you look into the surrounding suburbs like Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale etc. There's even ski access 3 hours north in Flagstaff if you are dying to get out of the heat.
Pros:
- big city amenities
- great city for music lovers, there are live shows everywhere
- some of the best food in the US, especially the Mexican food
- Tempe has college town amenities
- great job market, it's easy(ish) to find and keep a high-paying job for most people
- winter weather is beautiful, 60 degrees almost every day from November-February
- great city for professional sports lovers
Cons:
- It's really hot for most of the year
- there are some crime hot spots, just make sure to do your research
- traffic isn't terrible but the 101 loop sucks around rush hour
- parts of Phoenix are really brown and ugly
- housing and rent can be expensive
Don't listen to the insanely crabby people on this website. There are a lot of parts to love about Phoenix and a lot of parts to hate, it's just a matter of if this city fits what you need or not.