The next east stop from the “Sin City”: Vegas, comes home to the Grand Canyon: Arizona. Located at the south-western part of the United States of America, Arizona shares its border with California and Nevada in the west, Utah on the north, New Mexico in the east and Mexico in the south.
The sixth-largest state in the US, Arizona has some of the fascinating features in the geographical and political history of the United States. Arizona has been the 48th state of the US since February 14, 1912. Major cities according to population are Phoenix; the capital, Flagstaff, Prescott, Tucson and Surprise.
The state is the leading state in the matter of copper production, so next time you see a coin in any part of the world there is a very high chance that piece of copper is from Arizona. However, whether it be the people from the state or travelling or even moving to Arizona, here are some pros and cons of living in Arizona.
Pros of Living in Arizona
1. Weather
Due to the geographical location of Arizona, the people of the state might immediately disagree “Weather” being an attractive feature of living in Arizona. But for many people, it might be bliss. Arizona is renowned for its hot and dry atmosphere in most of the cities. While summers might be considered hot, the winters in Arizona are pretty warm at about 47 degrees on the low. This makes Arizona perfect for winter homes as well as for travel in December. On average, you can enjoy 299 days of sunshine in the state.
2. Home Property
For people who might want to move in or change cities, there is a wide range of available options in Arizona. The median listing for homes in Arizona in 2018 was around $285,000 by $154 per sq ft. However, in the neighbouring state California, the median listing was around $544,000 by $354 per sq ft. This means you don’t have to settle or compromise for the type of housing you want!
3. Taxes
According to Kiplinger, Arizona is considered to be the most tax-friendly state. Even in the capital of the state, Phoenix, the property tax is 0.802% of the assessed value whereas the national average is about 1.211% of the assessed value. This means the amount of property tax you have been paying all along in any other state is significantly higher than the amount people are paying in Arizona.
4. Job Opportunities
There are abundant opportunities to start earning in Arizona. The pay rates are higher and the taxes are lower. The Greater Phoenix Economic Council has played a major role in attracting new companies and businesses to the Phoenix area in recent years. This means there are and going to newer major openings and startups for you to begin or work with.
5. Young Population
Arizona is a young state. According to Data USA, the median age of people living in Phoenix was 33 in 2016. For people born in the state, their average age was just 29.5. You can get major sunshine, warm winters, road trips and very easy access to Vegas! Many tourist destinations people only dream of becomes within a very close reach to you, living in Arizona sounds pretty fun.
Cons of Living in Arizona
1. Scorching Summers
The southern part of Arizona sometimes has unbearable summer days. The same bright days might be an eyesore to some people. Living in the northern part might somewhat feel better but still adapting to the conditions might take undoubtedly some time.
2. Transportation
Arizona has large cities. This means walking becomes a very hard option for transportation. There are long bus stops and heats eventually wear you down. You must use public transportation or have your own vehicle. Phoenix was ranked as one of the least walkable cities in the United States, coming in at 29th out of the 30 largest metro areas in the country.
3. Job Options
Within the barren areas of Arizona, the economy often struggles when there are no active real estate and construction activities happening. Up north, there are fewer shopping opportunities and less variety in restaurants. People are able to find a nice place to settle down since Arizona is a large state with diverse communities. However, competitive jobs can be difficult to find or the pay sometimes may not meet your expectations.
4. Storms
Arizona is a very active sport for hurricanes and dust storms. There are multiple events that are either life-threatening or very minor. The dust storm on July 9, 2018, blew from Phoenix to southeast California. The haboob at times towered about a mile high and travelled nearly 200 miles. Due to the vast open dry land, events like these are very likely to occur again.
5. There Might not be much to be excited about after all
Living in Arizona means you are going for a monotonous same routine and a simple life. According to your perception, this might be both good or tiresome. You might be economically stable or might even have a calming place for the rest of your life but longing for change is a basic human behaviour.
Cost of living
With all these Pros and cons in check, you might or maybe never consider Arizona as your destination to live. If you do or even maybe plan a visit; long or short, winter is your best time to aim for. Furthermore, here are some key points in the Cost of living in Arizona.
1. Housing
Houses anywhere in Arizona are comparatively very easy to afford than other states in the states. According to Business Insider, The median listing price around Phoenix is $295,000 and that is $161 per sq ft.
So, if the houses around the capital are that good, the other places might have more juicy deals. However, this amount is 13% more than the national average. The average apartment rent is anywhere from $929 in Tucson to $1,424 in Phoenix!
2. Utilities
If you’re living anywhere in Arizona, your energy bills are going to be high with constant showers and AC when there is 112 degrees outside. However, costs range from 14% lower than the national average in Bullhead City, to 63% higher in Lake Havasu City. Flagstaff reports 2% lower than the national average. Because utility costs vary so much, it’s necessary to research if you’re planning a settlement.
3. Groceries
Since Arizona is next to New Mexico, fried food and exquisite of Mexican flavour have influenced the basics in the state. Groceries bill in Phoenix is only 1% more than that of the national average. Flagstaff is 2% higher whereas Surprise is 7% lower.
4. Health Services
Arizona health care costs range from 14% lower than the national average in Surprise, to 10% higher in Flagstaff. Meanwhile, Lake Havasu City ranks in the middle range among Arizona cities, with health care costs nearly 4% lower than the national average.
5. Transportation
Arizona is Huge. The roads are wide and people like to drive fast. Roads between destinations are usually long. Metros and buses are common even if you live around the school area. A personal vehicle ultimately becomes a must.
Transportation costs like gas prices or car maintenance are about 8% higher compared to the rest of the U.S., ranging from just 1% lower than the national average in Bullhead City to 22% higher in Flagstaff. However, Tucson costs at just 1% above the national average. If you’re getting a vehicle on your own, keep the insurance on the check as well.