Gilbert Getting too Crowded-What's Snowflake like? (Phoenix, Tucson: living in, prices, military)

[Macinpup]

Gilbert and Queen Creek are becoming over the top too crowded with people. I worry about water, congestion, as I've already seen how insane the roads are, and I would like to move to a smaller town with less people, but not be so far away as I am an older Pensioner. What are some places in AZ that would be close to Amenities, but not so close as to be in the thick of it like Gilbert, Queen Creek, Chandler. That small town feel is gone. All those stories in magazines and online of Gilbert and Chandler being printed over the last 10 years as a great place to live has bitten these places in the proverbial bum.

I was thinking of Snowflake. My concern is wherever in AZ i go, I have to think about flood zones and wildfire issues. Being in Gilbert, they can contain pretty quickly any brush fires, as they did the other day in Chandler, I believe.

I thought of Snowflake, Show Low, Pine Top (too expensive probably), and ruled out Prescott and northern areas because of water issues...having to truck in water in some of those places. Prescott looked pretty good, but the place is crowded now too and the roads have not been expanded.

I won't move towards Tucson, but did like the idea of living near Mt. Lemon, but again, too expensive for a meager pension.

New Mexico was another option, but AZ beats them in so many ways. I did think about Ruidoso area, but heck, they had wildfires just recently and it is kind of in the middle of nowhere. As an older person, I need to be somewhat close to Amenities, doctors, hospitals.

There must be some AZ experts here who can help me out and give me some clues about areas that would be safer from flood zones, wildfires and urban sprawl.

Thanks in advance AZ peeps.

[Ponderosa]

Maybe Sierra Vista? Climate is near ideal. They have good amenities because of the military base and its an pretty easy drive to Tucson. Benson, near there, is another option.

[Caladan]

I would 2nd the Sierra Vista suggestion, and add Sonoita and Patagonia as well. Very "laid back" kinds of places, and cooler than Tucson too. And on average a lot cooler than Gilbert. Not a whole lot in the way of amenities there, but Nogales and S.V. aren't very far away at all.

A little closer to amenities in Tucson and Nogales, but still far enough away to not feel crowded is Rio Rico, Tubac, and Green Valley. These essentially sit on I-19, so it is very easy to get to Nogales or Tucson. But very little traffic as compared to a city like Tucson or Phoenix, even at work-traffic times.

I have not lived in Snowflake, but have driven through there a number of times. It seems like a decent place. But it is a very long way to big-city amenities. As long as you don't mind a Walmart for the vast majority of your needs, you might do fine there.

[belgirl]

What about Coolidge? Have a friend who just moved there from Gilbert. It's affordable, rural and only 29 miles from Chandler.

[TheYO]

Maybe Maricopa or Casa Grande? I have no idea about housing prices, but they're both around 50,000 people with plenty of amenities on their own. You'd only be 30-60 minutes from most places in the valley when you need to come back for specialist appointments or anything else. The Gila River Reservation will limit the sprawl between the valley and those towns

[popwar]

Nothing like Gilbert

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by belgirl

What about Coolidge? Have a friend who just moved there from Gilbert. It's affordable, rural and only 29 miles from Chandler.

Coolidge is a wasteland and it's just a matter of time before it is just as populated as Gilbert.

[infocyde]

I think if you are on a pension and older you would want a) cheap b) hospital access as your two primary concerns. Flood planes and lack of water are concerns but generally if you are in areas that are built up a little bit some thought has already been put into that (probably not enough, but enough so that you don't have to worry about it in the near future). Good call on avoiding Prescott...10 years ago it was probably ideal, not so much now for the reasons you the op mentioned. If you can pull off living in Pinetop or Strawberry or Snowflake, anywhere forested up north, I'd do it. Areas around Flagstaff and Payson are expensive, but once you get away from the centers a bit prices drop and good deals can be had. Hauling in water too if you are looking for your own plot of land I don't think is that big of a deal, though fires are somewhat. I think in the forested areas fires are just always going to be a risk unless you live in town where most of the growth is cut down or managed. The main draw back again would be access to hospitals. So without looking myself I'd start by figuring out your medical needs and then looking at Northern AZ hospitals. I know Williams just built a hospital of some sort, so maybe that region wouldn't be too bad though I'd prefer White Mountain towns. Good luck.

PS the reason I put medical so high is I lived up North for a good while and I was in an area where the closest real medical was 1.5 hours away! If you fell and broke your arm that isn't so good. As you get older more stuff and go amiss so I'd prioritize being near the medical facilities you might need.