Sign In Register
Lori S. best-worst

Worst things about Phoenix nobody talks about

Alright, I'm a college student here and With a population of 1.6M, Phoenix is a major city. Household incomes average around $77,041 in Phoenix. Median household income is $77,041, which feels about average for the area. Poverty rate is 10.4%, which is around average. Property taxes are high but you get good services. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood.

Pros:
- Close to nature
- Lots of new development
- Plenty of shopping options

Cons:
- Traffic can be terrible
- Lack of diversity
- Far from major airports
- Limited cultural events
- Homelessness issues downtown
The suburbs are where most families end up. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The city has invested a lot in new development. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The weather takes some getting used to. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
75 upvotes

14 Replies

gabriel_native
The food scene here is solid. Tons of great craft beer places. I love the pace of life here.
40 upvotes
Adam Jones
As someone who grew up here, it's exactly what I was looking for. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much affordable but now it's decent.
33 upvotes
Sarah
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in Midtown for 12 years. Moved from Salt Lake City for school. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is pretty good. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.

**Employment:**
tech is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are competitive for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
I have mixed feelings honestly. The outdoor scene is challenging - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Midtown schools are hit or miss. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.

**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Winters are long and cold. Chain restaurants dominate. And traffic can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 7/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
31 upvotes
Hannah B.
big facts right here
23 upvotes
Declan T.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's underrated for what you get.

Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in education you might struggle.

People: Generally underrated. It took about 10 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: decent. Tons of options if you like Italian.

Happy to answer more specific questions..
22 upvotes
Nicholas Thomas
lol so true
16 upvotes
Grayson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value weather, you'll love it. The pet-friendliness is genuinely excellent and I've found I genuinely enjoy living here. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.

My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
14 upvotes
Luna Martin
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 10 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Springfield. It's excellent for what you get.

Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in legal. If you're in education you might struggle.

People: Generally better than expected. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Indian.

Good luck with whatever you decide..
12 upvotes
Serenity
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Internet is challenging in most areas.
11 upvotes
Austin Ross
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The safety is genuinely tough and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. My neighborhood (Old Town) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. traffic is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.

My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
10 upvotes
Lawrence W.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a pharmacist who relocated here from Dallas about 2 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and weather.

Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Good schools in most areas
- Decent public transit for the size

Cons that are real:
- Summers can be brutally hot
- Rising rent and home prices

Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are established, gas is excellent.

Socially, it's exactly what I was looking for. No regrets on my end..
9 upvotes
Noah Moore
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.

I've been here 7 years and I genuinely enjoy living here. The thing nobody mentions is outdoor recreation. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.

That said, the weather is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is hit or miss.

Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.

Good luck with whatever you decide..
5 upvotes
Hannah Young
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.

I've been in East for 8 years. Moved from Charlotte for work. Here's my honest, detailed take:

**Housing:**
The market right now is challenging. We bought in 2020 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.

**Employment:**
manufacturing is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are pricey for the area.

**Quality of Life:**
I love the pace of life here. The outdoor scene is tough - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.

**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. East schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.

**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Road conditions need improvement. Limited entertainment options. And dating scene can be frustrating.

**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
4 upvotes
Benjamin Williams
not my experience at all
2 upvotes
← Back to Phoenix Community