Relocating: New Commute / W Buckeye Rd and S 51st Ave to North Glendale / North Peoria / Goodyear / Laveen???? (Phoenix: best cities, salon)

[mtc81usa]

Hello Everyone,
My wife and I will be relocating to Phoenix soon, and we need a little advice on where to live. I will be commuting during off-rush hour times at 11:00a and 10:00p from W Buckeye Rd and S 51st Ave to our new residence, wherever that may be.
Now, I've read a lot of good things about North Glendale(Loop 101 and N 75th Ave) and North Peoria(Loop 101 and W Union Hills Rd) areas,
AND some hit-and-miss things about Goodyear/Litchfield Park and the Laveen areas. We are looking to rent a condo or home, and would obviously lean toward the N Glendale and N Peoria areas, but from what I read, I don't know if my commute West on I-10 and then North on Loop 101 would be reasonable or not. On paper, it looks quite reasonable, since I'm used to a 45 minute commute, but something is holding up the show on these freeways, whether it's construction, population density, or other.

Can I commute due North on 51st Ave to Loop 101 in the same or less time that it would take to travel the freeway system, whether I take I-10 to the West then North on Loop 101, OR I take I-10 to the East then North on I-17? Who would get there first? The guy taking 51st due North, OR the freeway commuter?
And would this N 51st Ave commute be a good idea at 10:00p, as you would travel through Maryvale?

Also, what's the REAL skinny on Goodyear/Litchfield Park and the Laveen areas. Are they safe enough? Are there enough employment opportunities for the wife? Too much industry, ie. Fuel tanks, airports, etc?
It sure would make it easier and cheaper to commute to one of these versus the North Glendale / North Peoria options,
but, you tell me...

THANKS!!!
MTC

[Ponderosa]

Goodyear/Litchfield Park are among the highest income areas in the west valley and among the best cities to live in IMO. Laveen is a transitional area and I would not live there though it does have it nicer spots. It'll take you about 10-15 minutes from Goodyear to Buckeye/51st Ave off peak from most places in Goodyear and about 5-10 minutes more (you can go the back way) from Estrella - a Goodyear master planned community in the foothills/mountains off the beaten path. Goodyear is all spanking new, booming. The crime rate is nil. The schools are struggling with growth but otherwise OK. It's a great place to live.

[sablebaby]

Your freeway commute wouldn't be bad traffic wise at those times, but it's still far miles wise. There's no way you would be able to commute using surface streets. First of all, it's WAY TOO FAR. The other reason is that you wouldn't have to because the freeway will be a complete BREEZE.

On a different note, you may want to look elsewhere to live than N. Glendale/Peoria. There are other areas closer to your work. I do hear good things about Goodyear and Litchfield Park. Estrella Mtn Ranch sounds nice and it's much closer.

[Great Joy]

N. Glendale and N. Peoria are very nice areas, but so are Estrella (Goodyear) and Litchfield Park. Commuting from any of them is a breeze due to the great highway and grid street system here. From what we've experienced, 10 and 17 have the same amount of traffic, but 10 often gets worse than the 17 during rush hour. Traffic on 101 is always lighter than 10 and 17, rush hr or non-rush hr. We looked at all four of these desired locations when we were house hunting a few years ago, and all are very nice. We chose Peoria and love it. Since Estrella and Litchfield Park are closer to your work, I recommend starting your search there and maybe looking at N. Glendale and N. Peoria for comparison to make your final decision. Best wishes in your search!

[Hamancheez]

I'll second (or third? fourth?) Goodyear. We are closing on our home in Estrella this week and obviously love it. What does your wife do? There are plenty of retail jobs coming (the big mall to be opened soon?), a Macy's warehouse coming soon, plenty of restaurants, plus hospital, medical offices, Lockheed Martin are all found in Goodyear.

[Finger Laker]

It would also depend on where your wife works or what she is seeking

when I moved out i rented in the arrowhead area off 79th & bell and then bought in goodyear

highway would be fine from both areas at those times - a bit quicker from goodyear (maybe 15 mile commute) or if the highway is a mess you could run MC 85/buckeye road if living south of the 10

I think goodyear has had some smart growth - when I moved out a little over 3 years ago it was a stop sign off the highway - now there is so much so close and with the spring training venue set to open this fall, the regional mall within a couple years (and city center breaking ground in that time frame) i'm really encouraged about the direction

large police presence and typical crime - love access to the I-10 and being close to Estrella Mountain Ranch, Verrado, Estrella Mountain Park, White Tanks Park and a lot of fun areas

[mtc81usa]

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies!!
I'm gonna take another look at the Goodyear/Estrella/Litchfield Park areas.
I can see there are some believers out there:

"...Estrella - a Goodyear master planned community in the foothills/mountains off the beaten path. Goodyear is all spanking new, booming. The crime rate is nil. The schools are struggling with growth but otherwise OK. It's a great place to live."

"I do hear good things about Goodyear and Litchfield Park. Estrella Mtn Ranch sounds nice and it's much closer."

" N. Glendale and N. Peoria are very nice areas, but so are Estrella (Goodyear) and Litchfield Park."

"I'll second (or third? fourth?) Goodyear. We are closing on our home in Estrella this week and obviously love it. What does your wife do? There are plenty of retail jobs coming (the big mall to be opened soon?), a Macy's warehouse coming soon, plenty of restaurants, plus hospital, medical offices, Lockheed Martin are all found in Goodyear."

"When I moved out i rented in the Arrowhead area off 79th & Bell and then bought in Goodyear... I think Goodyear has had some smart growth - when I moved out a little over 3 years ago it was a stop sign off the highway - now there is so much so close and with the spring training venue set to open this fall, the regional mall within a couple years (and city center breaking ground in that time frame) i'm really encouraged about the direction. Large police presence and typical crime - love access to the I-10 and being close to Estrella Mountain Ranch, Verrado, Estrella Mountain Park, White Tanks Park and a lot of fun areas."

Yeah Buddy, it's worth a look! With the price of gas, etc. I think I'm gonna need a pair of those blu-blockers though. LOL!

Thanks again!
Go Diamondbacks?!
Peace.
MTC

[military spouse]

Another vote for Goodyear or Litchfield Park. We moved here 7 months ago and live in Palm Valley Phase 5 (Indian School/Falcon) and couldn't be happier with the area. We seriously considered Arrowhead, but couldn't find what we were looking for in our price range. The houses we looked at were just old enough to feel a bit dated and we weren't willing to put out the money to upgrade. However, it is a fantastic area. We spent a bit over $300,000 in Palm Valley and got a single-story with a 3 car garage and a 10,000 plus square foot lot. We like our church (Palm Valley Church) and we like Lifetime Fitness. So, I vote for this area

Of course, I do realize that everyone will vote for their own area!!!!!!!

[CheckM8]

Taking the 101 would definetly be faster than the 51st Ave any time of the day. Goodyear and Laveen are nice areas and are more established communities because of how long they have been there. I would choose Laveen just for the short commute time. Goodyear and Litchfield Park are still about 30 min away from 51st and Buckeye in the best of traffic. What type of job is your wife looking for and is something she will be commuting for as well.

Laveen doesn't offer much in the way of jobs, other than the few stores and casino around there, but is close to downtown. Depending upon what industry your wife is I guess would be a big factor. But that commute would be really awesome.

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by CheckM8

Taking the 101 would definetly be faster than the 51st Ave any time of the day. Goodyear and Laveen are nice areas and are more established communities because of how long they have been there. I would choose Laveen just for the short commute time. Goodyear and Litchfield Park are still about 30 min away from 51st and Buckeye in the best of traffic. What type of job is your wife looking for and is something she will be commuting for as well.

Laveen doesn't offer much in the way of jobs, other than the few stores and casino around there, but is close to downtown. Depending upon what industry your wife is I guess would be a big factor. But that commute would be really awesome.

Thanks for all the great info!
My wife has been a receptionist/bookkeeper/salon manager for the last 12 years. I'm guessing that she will do the retail thing or receptionist/manager thing again. She's pretty adaptable. We'd really like to keep her commute to the surface streets, that's for sure.
We're looking for a nice, big, safe suburb of say 100,000 people, that would offer some job opportunities within a 5 mile drive.
Is that Goodyear, Litchfield Park, North Peoria(W Greenway and 101) or
North Glendale(Arrowhead Ranch Sub, W Union Hills and N 75th Ave)?

What are the major crime and quality of life issues when considering the above areas?
Goodyear - Is it far enough away from the W Van Buren/W Buckeye Rd corridor?

Litchfield Park - Is it far enough away from Maryvale and Luke Air Force Base?

North Peoria - Is it too much trouble to negotiate 101 past both the I-10 corridor and the 101 Loop past the Univ of Phoenix Stadium area as well?

North Glendale - Too close to Midtown Glendale and the I-17/101 interchange?

Looking for a nice condo in the $900. - 1,000./mo. range.
We've got one of those "foo-foo" dogs. I thinks it's called a Pomeranian or something like that. LOL!

Thanks!