What you need to know before moving to Arizona
The cost of living is lower in Arizona
The price of rent is 27% higher in Newark than in Phoenix. Groceries generally cost 14% more in New Jersey and purchasing power is more than 42% lower than in Arizona. The cost of living tends to be higher in the Phoenix area than in the rest of Arizona.
Arizona is spectacular
Huge craggy mountains, crimson bluffs, tall, multi-armed saguaros, huge sky with dramatic clouds and sunsets, make Arizona one of the most beautiful places on earth. The mountains are scattered all across the state with huge forests, lakes, and deserts in between.
Businesses are moving into Arizona
Arizona is fast becoming known as the Silicon Desert High tech companies are fleeing California for both Phoenix and Tucson. One reason for the translocation is Arizona’s reasonable cost of living. Employment in the tech market is predicted to grow significantly in the next few years.
Arizona has a diverse population
Because of its proximity to Mexico, the Hispanic population is the largest minority at about 34%. The white population is a little over 50%. Native Americans make up about 6% and African-Americans by about 5%. The Asian population is about 4%, but growing rapidly, especially Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian.
Winter weather is wonderful
The winter is lovely. You can hike, bike, and play golf all year long. The rare snowstorm is considered great fun. And the mountains look great with snow on trop. You can go skiing up in the mountains in the morning and play golf down in the desert in the afternoon.
The summers are hot, but the old joke about it’s being a dry heat actually is true. 100 degrees in Arizona with 10-20% humidity feels much better than 90 in New Jersey with 80-90% humidity.
Best Places to Live in Arizona
Before hitting the road to head to Alabama to set up residency, you will want to consider a few moving tips. The right moving tips can make all the difference between a nightmare and a dream come true.
Phoenix
The Phoenix urban area includes more than a dozen communities besides Phoenix. This is the largest population center in the state, as well as the capital. The city of Phoenix has a population of over 1.7 million while the area at large is home to nearly 5 million people as of 2020. Phoenix has just taken over 10th place in the list of the largest urban areas in the country.
The city is located in a large flat area between mountain ranges called the Valley of the Sun with over 300 sunny days each year. It is also known as the city with the best hiking in the country because of the mountains in the middle of the cities.
If you love professional sports, Arizona has got it covered with the NBA Suns, the NFL Cardinals, the NHL Coyotes, the MLB Diamondbacks, and even NASCAR events. Theatres, orchestras, ballet, opera, and dozens of art galleries thrive in Phoenix and its environs.
Tucson
The second largest city in Arizona, Tucson has a population of over 550,000. The metro area is home to nearly 1 million people. The demographics for 2020 show that whites and Hispanics are both about 44%, native Americans about 3%, African-Americans a little over 5%, and Asians about 3%.
The University of Arizona is the area’s largest employer, followed by Raytheon Missile, Davis-Montham Air Force Base, and the state of Arizona.
The city lies at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, 18 miles of spectacular peaks and canyons. The elevation of the city is about 2000 feet, twice as high as Phoenix and therefore cooler. The highest peak at over 9000 feet is Mt. Lemmon, which was named after Sara Lemmon, a woman botanist who climbed Mt Lemmon around the end of the 19th century.
Tucson is all about the outdoors with hiking trails, biking, (the Tour de Tucson is held every November), horseback riding. There are museums, especially the renowned Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Parks and recreation areas showcase the astounding scenery.
There are smaller cities, such as Flagstaff, set in a pine forest at 6900 feet at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, and Sierra Vista at 4600 feet at the base of the Huachuca Mountains. These towns are significantly cooler than Phoenix and Tucson but considerably smaller.
Your wardrobe may be different in Arizona
This state tends to be informal. The only places you will see suits are in the downtown areas and at the courthouses. The rest of the state goes around in jeans and T-shirts most of the time. Prepare for warmer weather but don’t throw out your good parka. You will need it sooner or later as well as a pair of gloves and a scarf.
Plan your trip to Arizona to take advantage of the scenic routes. There’s a lot to see and do along the way. Plan to stop at a few exciting places such as Chincoteague Island in Virginia, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, New Orleans, and the NASA Johnson Space Center outside Houston. There are a variety of routes you can take. Enjoy the trip.
Pick your movers carefully. You will want movers who are professional and extremely careful handling the items you have accumulated over the years. You should do some of the packing yourself, especially the fragile items.
Prepare to be amazed by the beauty of the high desert. You will fall in love with Arizona, no matter where you end up. Don’t be surprised by the necessity for adjustments. This will be an extensive change for you and your family. Do your research. And call the best movers, White Glove Moving and Storage, to transport your furnishings. They will get everything there safely.
