My girlfriend has a decent job and she can possibly transfer to these two areas. I cant find work in my current location so we are thinking about leaving. From her list of places she can transfer I eliminated, Irvine and Rancho Cordova, CA because I figure Cali is to expensive. Tampa was a possibility but Im not crazy about Florida. I almost considered Albuquerque, NM and Salt Lake City, Utah but that just sounds like to much of an uknown. I dont know if I can deal with the heat in Arizona but I have heard good things about this area. I know very little about Wilmington, NC but I always here good things about Charlotte, NC.
I have been living in Chandler for the past 8 years or so.
Honestly, I would not choose to live anywhere else. I have lived in several different cities (Pittsburgh, Dayton, Las Vegas) and this is the first place that truly felt like HOME from the first day we moved here.
I'd classify it as a "professional younger couples with kids" type of area. Lots of great places to work nearby (Intel, Motorola, Boeing, Wells Fargo). There are huge parks everywhere, lots of classes through the city for the whole family, close enough to ASU and that scene, light rail to all of Phoenix right there, and now - thanks to the economy - some really cheap housing (comparatively speaking I guess). Bargains abound though.
Four casinos within 20 minutes, two with some great poker rooms (Casino Arizona and Gila River).
Nationally ranked high school football in our backyard (Hamilton High School).
A lot of the area is very clean and new. The downtown area is dingy but undergoing a revival of sorts as the city dumps money into redoing the whole area (which is very small to begin with).
5 minutes to Gilbert (another great area).
10 minutes to Tempe, Mesa, and Ahwataukee (sp).
25 minutes to the airport
30 minutes to downtown Phoenix with no traffic
4-4.5 hours to Vegas
4 hours to Mexico
6 hours to LA and San Diego
Flagstaff an easy 3 hour drive up the mountain to escape the heat in the summer for a weekend.
Lake Pleasant and several others places to boat.
Salt River Tubing fun to drink and tube for an afternoon.
Obviously I could go on and on.
Where are you coming from? What are you into? How old? etc... I can answer anything you'd like about the area.
Honestly, I would not choose to live anywhere else. I have lived in several different cities (Pittsburgh, Dayton, Las Vegas) and this is the first place that truly felt like HOME from the first day we moved here.
I'd classify it as a "professional younger couples with kids" type of area. Lots of great places to work nearby (Intel, Motorola, Boeing, Wells Fargo). There are huge parks everywhere, lots of classes through the city for the whole family, close enough to ASU and that scene, light rail to all of Phoenix right there, and now - thanks to the economy - some really cheap housing (comparatively speaking I guess). Bargains abound though.
Four casinos within 20 minutes, two with some great poker rooms (Casino Arizona and Gila River).
Nationally ranked high school football in our backyard (Hamilton High School).
A lot of the area is very clean and new. The downtown area is dingy but undergoing a revival of sorts as the city dumps money into redoing the whole area (which is very small to begin with).
5 minutes to Gilbert (another great area).
10 minutes to Tempe, Mesa, and Ahwataukee (sp).
25 minutes to the airport
30 minutes to downtown Phoenix with no traffic
4-4.5 hours to Vegas
4 hours to Mexico
6 hours to LA and San Diego
Flagstaff an easy 3 hour drive up the mountain to escape the heat in the summer for a weekend.
Lake Pleasant and several others places to boat.
Salt River Tubing fun to drink and tube for an afternoon.
Obviously I could go on and on.
Where are you coming from? What are you into? How old? etc... I can answer anything you'd like about the area.
I worked in Chandler 4 years ago. When I moved to California I made twice as much as I did in Chandler.
I recently sent my resume' to an employment agency and they said a similar job was open at the place where I worked in Chandler. It pays almost as much as I make in California so I'll be moving if I get the job. For the work I do, AZ wages have gone up while California wages have stayed the same. Housing prices in AZ have gone down so you would be sure to get a good deal.
Like BROMOx said, a lot of that area is new and that's what I like about it. It's a little bit outside of the main city of Phoenix but it's easy to get to anywhere because of the freeway system there.
I recently sent my resume' to an employment agency and they said a similar job was open at the place where I worked in Chandler. It pays almost as much as I make in California so I'll be moving if I get the job. For the work I do, AZ wages have gone up while California wages have stayed the same. Housing prices in AZ have gone down so you would be sure to get a good deal.
Like BROMOx said, a lot of that area is new and that's what I like about it. It's a little bit outside of the main city of Phoenix but it's easy to get to anywhere because of the freeway system there.
wilmington is old school south, kind of industrial town not a big city. mike jordan's home town. i would recommend the beach towns north and south of wilmington as they are all really nice. no traffic, mild climate, but strong possibility of hurricanes, housing will be much less expensive than your other choices
