So you’re thinking about moving to Arizona? Well, you’re not the first one! Arizona is the fastest-growing state in the entire United States. I, myself, moved to Arizona and lived there for 10(ish) years after living in California. Here’s what I know about what it’s like to move to Arizona.
What part of the state do you want to live in?
Arizona has three major cities: Tucson, Phoenix and Flagstaff. Phoenix is the largest, Flagstaff is the smallest. Each city has it’s own charms. Phoenix is kind of like a little California; there’s a lot of money in Phoenix. Flagstaff is very nature-oriented; it’s in the north with lots of large pine trees and forest. Tucson is my hometown, and my personal favorite. It is a growing city, but still very conservation and nature-oriented. They are each several hours from one another and, in general, everything in the state is pretty spread out. There’s lot of desert and green space that separates the cities and suburbs, which is both a positive and negative.
It’s kind of an isolated state, as well. There aren’t as many amenities as other larger states do. For example, there’s no exciting amusement parks. The main attraction for the state is the Grand Canyon and it’s incredible landscapes.
Where do you want to live?
One of the pluses of Arizona is that rent is pretty cheap. You won’t find rent above $1500, unless you’re in Phoenix.
Do you need transportation?
In Arizona, you definitely need your own form of transportation. Like I mentioned in the first part of this post, everything in Arizona is pretty spread out and the public transportation isn’t the best, so you’ll almost definitely need your own car. The cities are working on improving their public transportation systems, but it still has a long way to go. Phoenix has some pretty terrible traffic, too.
Do you know where you’re going to work?
The job market in Arizona isn’t the best. I had to move out of the state because I couldn’t find a job that I wanted to work in. Of course, the state is growing so with that is a growing job market, but I would advise ensuring that you have a job before moving to Arizona.
Are you prepared for the weather and climate of the region?
Arizona, anywhere in Arizona, is hot and dry. Phoenix is hotter than Tucson by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and due to it’s location in the mountains, Flagstaff tends to be much cooler. There is a monsoon season from about June to September, and winters can be quite cold and windy. There are many more sunny, beautiful days than days stuck inside due to bad weather.
What are the people like?
The people in Arizona are very nature and conservation-oriented. Hiking and spending time outside is a part of the lifestyle, as is astronomy. Most days you can see every constellation and planet in the night sky, and on exceptionally clear days you can even see the Milky Way. So naturally, there is a huge astronomy community in Arizona and the region prides itself on its “dark skies.”
I hope that this answers a few of your questions, if you’re thinking about moving to Arizona! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask a comment!
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Thank you for reading! Are you thinking about moving to Arizona? Have you ever visited Arizona? Let me know in the comments below and like this post if you want more like it!
Xoxo’s
Emmalee
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Emmalee Mauldin 