The Pros And Cons Of Where You Live

[Ergel]

do people really move places based on a Wal Mart atm machine??

Do people on the internet not understand jokes?

[etech0]

Do people on the internet not understand jokes?

all the time

[avrumy22]

all the time

  especially when you cant hear the tone of voice used..

[username]

do people really move places based on a Wal Mart atm machine??

all the time

[caliheat]

I decided in 2011 to move to Phoenix, after some back and forth to LA,
in May 2014 I made the final move after purchasing a house - Phoenix is now my official home

Pros:
- Housing is very cheap (~$120 SQFT) with big lots attached.
- Parking is abundant, everybody has driveways.
- Not much traffic, when there is, you can drive on local streets.
- People are friendly.
- Pretty good hospital, doctors etc. (Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson sister hospital, Phoenix Children's)
- Major sports teams and venues - Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Suns, Coyotes.
- Baseball spring training, 1/2 major league teams spend their spring training in greater Phoenix area.
- Driving distance to several major cities: LA 5.5 hours LAS 4.5 hours TUS 1.5 hours.
- PHX is hub for UA and SW.
- Winter weather doesn't go below freezing, rains only several times a year in the summer.
- Lots of great shopping and Walmart's, CVS (1.5 hour drive to TUS for Prepaid REDcard)
- 125K+ Jews live in the metro area, many options for meat/dairy food.
- All Trader Joe's carry empire chicken, turkey and glatt beef. Sprouts carries empire chickens and turkey.
- Gas is cheaper than NY and LA

Cons:
- 100+ degrees on 100+ days a year, dry heat but still pretty hot (most people have swimming pools)
- Job opportunities not abundant like in other major cities, but there are several headquarters for major Co's. like US

[TimT]

I decided in 2011 to move to Phoenix, after some back and forth to LA,
in May 2014 I made the final move after purchasing a house - Phoenix is now my official home

Pros:
- Housing is very cheap (~$120 SQFT) with big lots attached.
- Parking is abundant, everybody has driveways.
- Not much traffic, when there is, you can drive on local streets.
- People are friendly.
- Pretty good hospital, doctors etc. (Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson sister hospital, Phoenix Children's)
- Major sports teams and venues - Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Suns, Coyotes.
- Baseball spring training, 1/2 major league teams spend their spring training in greater Phoenix area.
- Driving distance to several major cities: LA 5.5 hours LAS 4.5 hours TUS 1.5 hours.
- PHX is hub for UA and SW.
- Winter weather doesn't go below freezing, rains only several times a year in the summer.
- Lots of great shopping and Walmart's, CVS (1.5 hour drive to TUS for Prepaid REDcard)
- 125K+ Jews live in the metro area, many options for meat/dairy food.
- All Trader Joe's carry empire chicken, turkey and glatt beef. Sprouts carries empire chickens and turkey.
- Gas is cheaper than NY and LA

Cons:
- 100+ degrees on 100+ days a year, dry heat but still pretty hot (most people have swimming pools)
- Job opportunities not abundant like in other major cities, but there are several headquarters for major Co's. like US

What about schools ?

[Dan]

-125K+ Jews live in the metro area

{{Citation needed}}

Otherwise nice post.  But are the meat and dairy restaurants really considered a pro? Anything that can compare to LA style food?

[caliheat]

What about schools ?

My kid is not school age.
I know there is the Hebrew Academy and Torah Day School and a few more.

[caliheat]

{{Citation needed}}

Otherwise nice post.  But are the meat and dairy restaurants really considered a pro? Anything that can compare to LA style food?

1) nothing compares to food in LA or NY
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Federations_of_North_America#Historical_highlights and several other sources

[Yaalili]

- PHX is hub for US and SW.

FTFY.

Saw a cookbook that recently came out, featured two recipes from Segal's, and wrote a nice review of that place.

[TimT]

My kid is not school age.

I'm sure you looked into it before making the decision.

[Dan]

1) nothing compares to food in LA or NY
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Federations_of_North_America#Historical_highlights and several other sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_urban_areas
21    Phoenix[49]     United States    82,900

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html

[caliheat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_urban_areas
21    Phoenix[49]     United States    82,900

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html

Several articles (including Mishpacha) have quoted at 100k+
Others say between 83K-100K
YMMV?

[Dan]

Fair enough.
Was just shocked to see 125K, that's nearing what YYZ has and they have wayyyy more infrastructure that PHX does.

[Ergel]

I thought the YYZ community was bigger than that

[Dan]

I thought the YYZ community was bigger than that

It is.
But 125K is in the rough ballpark.

[Ergel]

Are there numbers somewhere about the orthodox community

[caliheat]

Fair enough.
Was just shocked to see 125K, that's nearing what YYZ has and they have wayyyy more infrastructure that PHX does.

The Frum infrastructure isn't very robust due to lack of orthodox / observant Jews.

[Dan]

I know. But still 125K seems like a massive exaggeration...

[caliheat]

I know. But still 125K seems like a massive exaggeration...

I agree, but I can say I know of at least 10 Chabad Houses in:
Phoenix
Scottsdale
Paradise Valley
Glendale
Fountain Valley
Chandler
Mesa
Tempe
Goodyear
& Gilbert

In addition there is a Kollel and several orthodox shuls in Phoenix and Scottsdale.