Moving to AZ from MS...mesa or gilbert? (Phoenix, Scottsdale: apartment, crime rates)

['MisSippiChick']

I need a little help on this! I'm a black 24yr female moving to AZ next year. I'm unsure of just where to move. I would really like to move to an area that mirrors where I live now; clean, safe, great shopping and eating. I currently live in Rankin County in MS. However, I do want a very diverse mixed crowd. No im not a racist by any means but I checked the stats and know the ratio of blacks to whites and all that other stuff: only 2.5% black. Can anybody help? Even if its not Gilbert or Mesa.

[observer53]

Tempe is the most racially/ethnically diverse city in the Valley, and offers a lot of what you are looking for. Scottsdale is a little less diverse, but would also be a good choice in terms of the amenities you want. I'm not sure why you are focusing on Mesa or Gilbert as a place to live, but they are less racially/ethnically diverse; Gilbert, in particular, is largely a bedroom community - most don't live AND work in Gilbert. The Valley is really spread out, and commute times can be long, so choices as to where to live are best made once you know where you will be working. Long commutes can get very old very fast.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by 'MisSippiChick'

I need a little help on this! I'm a black 24yr female moving to AZ next year. I'm unsure of just where to move. I would really like to move to an area that mirrors where I live now; clean, safe, great shopping and eating. I currently live in Rankin County in MS. However, I do want a very diverse mixed crowd. No im not a racist by any means but I checked the stats and know the ratio of blacks to whites and all that other stuff: only 2.5% black. Can anybody help? Even if its not Gilbert or Mesa.

Remember that Black folks can live anywhere they want here in the Phx area...........it pretty much depends on how much $$$ you have

Too; outside of parts of South Phx (not Ahwatukee, the stereotypical 'south' Phx AKA the area N of South Mountain) which is basically ghetto; there are NO majority Black enclaves here.

[azriverfan.]

Chandler is the most ethnically diverse city in the Valley overall. The closest thing to a little Asia is located in Chandler (Warner and Dobson) and it has Lee Lee's market and several Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants and shopping in that area. There is a huge Hindu temple on Chandler Blvd and I-10 behind the Red Roof Inn. They were trying to build a second Hindu temple in east Chandler which shows the diversity that exists there. Tempe is the most liberal of all the cities in the Valley. Either one is a good choice. I live in Chandler in an upscale area and I have African American neighbors on my street and they are well received and there is no issue or stigma as there shouldn't be. It's just that I've spent some time in Memphis, Oklahoma City and Dallas and I know the stigma that often faces African Americans (and minorities in general) in upscale neighborhoods.

If I were you, I would most definitely avoid Mesa particularly east Mesa. I would also avoid Gilbert as well since they have almost zero diversity. I like Gilbert but call a spade a spade, go to San Tan Village, check out the area, you will not see any minorities there including Asians and Hispanics. Go to Chandler Mall and walk around and you will see the vastly different demographic. Everyone will now tell you I'm wrong. Someone will post a statistic showing how diverse Gilbert is....whatever...like I said, go to San Tan Village and examine the crowds there and then go to Chandler Mall. I guarantee you will notice the difference.

[sidrah]

Tempe or Chandler....Nah on Mesa

[demog]

I live in the Ahwatukee area, which I find to be safe and close to shopping. My community is pretty diverse with a good number of Blacks and people get along.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

I would also avoid Gilbert as well since they have almost zero diversity. I like Gilbert but call a spade a spade, go to San Tan Village, check out the area, you will not see any minorities there including Asians and Hispanics.

As a Realtor it is risky for me to discuss ethnic diversity. We are not allowed to steer anyone to or from an area based on ethnicity or religion.

However, I believe it is safe for me to correct what appears to be an incorrect generalization of Gilbert, and point the OP to where the statistics can be found.

Below are statistic that are copied and pasted from the cited source.

I would advise anyone moving to any new area who is interested in learning the ethnic or religious statistics, to research the facts from the sources. Crime statistics for each city can also be found online.

Below is the ethnic diversity for Gilbert and Chandler from the sources cited:

[LEFT]Races in Gilbert:

• White Non-Hispanic (79.9%)
• Hispanic (11.9%)
• Other race (4.8%)
• Two or more races (2.8%)
• Black (2.4%)
• American Indian (1.1%)
• Chinese (0.9%)
• Filipino (0.7%)
• Asian Indian (0.6%)

[SIZE=2](Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
[/SIZE][/LEFT]

SOURCE: https://www.city-data.com/city/Gilbert-Arizona.html#ixzz0lYej5d44


[LEFT]Races in Chandler:

• White Non-Hispanic (68.6%)
• Hispanic (21.0%)
• Other race (10.8%)
• Black (3.5%)
• Two or more races (3.0%)
• American Indian (1.8%)
• Chinese (1.1%)
• Asian Indian (0.9%)
• Filipino (0.7%)
• Vietnamese (0.5%)

[SIZE=2](Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races) [/SIZE][/LEFT]

SOURCE: https://www.city-data.com/city/Chandler-Arizona.html#ixzz0lYfCWbRH

Below is the ethnic diversity of the Chandler Gilbert Community College:

American Indian/Alaskan Native
2%
Asian/Pacific Islander5% Black/Non-Hispanic4% Hispanic15% White/Non-Hispanic64% Non-Resident Alien1% Race/ethnicity unknown8% :Source is the CGCC web site

[observer53]

I appreciate those numbers, Captain Bill, but they still bear out that the percentages of non-Caucasians, both racially and ethnically, are much lower in Gilbert than in Chandler (and I suspect the same would be true compared to Tempe and some other cities, including probably Phoenix itself).

[Bob's Burgers]

Why does race make a difference? Shouldn't your questions be about crime rates, driving time, school districts and economics?

[grinanbearit]

I try to live around where I'll be working- Mesa is closer to downtown Phoenix than Gilbert, so if your employment would be in the city, I'd pick Mesa over Gilbert hands down. Gilbert is newer, but on the outskirts of the valley. Both have their ups and downs, like any other place in the valley. Whe my husband and I first moved into the valley, we were 24, and we LOVED living in an apartment in south Scottsdale, near old town- tons of bars, sight-seeing, parks, and stores within walking distance. Great area to live in, I still miss it!!