Moving to Needles. Bad idea? (August: 2014, schools, living in)

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by Winter_Sucks

I'm a teacher and so is my wife, out southeast, and we are thinking about moving to Needles. We love hot weather and the desert. We want to be in California because it is a state that actually values education and teachers.

I'm just assuming, but the cost of living in Needles has to be a lot less than living on the cost in or next to urban areas? My dream is to build a new home and have it completely powered by solar. I figured I wouldn't have a problem doing that in Needles.

I would forget about Needles. There is nothing there and the town is a little run down. Shopping amounts to a supermarket and a Rite Aid drugstore. The best place to eat in town is at Dennys. I was there last weekend while driving back from Arizona. BTW, gas was $4.69 in Needles, but across the border in AZ, gas was $3.41! I wonder why!!

Check out Bullhead City, Arizona which is just as hot as Needles. The cost of living is lower as are the taxes. It's a bigger town with more to do. It's on the Colorado River so there are water activities. Across the river is Laughlin, Nevada with casinos and some nightlife. Laughlin Nevada | Laughlin Hotels, Entertainment, Events & Things To Do

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Check out Bullhead City, Arizona which is just as hot as Needles. The cost of living is lower as are the taxes. It's a bigger town with more to do. It's on the Colorado River so there are water activities. Across the river is Laughlin, Nevada with casinos and some nightlife. Laughlin Nevada | Laughlin Hotels, Entertainment, Events & Things To Do

Yes, AZ is cheaper even if you're not interested in "more to do". I'm partial to Parker
BUT ... the poster specifically asked about California.

Originally Posted by Winter_Sucks
We want to be in California

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by Gandalara

Yes, AZ is cheaper even if you're not interested in "more to do". I'm partial to Parker
BUT ... the poster specifically asked about California.

Not after he sees Needles! Maybe Blythe would be a better option if the OP is firm about living in CA.
www.blytheareachamberofcommerce.com

[Winter_Sucks]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

I would forget about Needles. There is nothing there and the town is a little run down. Shopping amounts to a supermarket and a Rite Aid drugstore. The best place to eat in town is at Dennys. I was there last weekend while driving back from Arizona. BTW, gas was $4.69 in Needles, but across the border in AZ, gas was $3.41! I wonder why!!

Check out Bullhead City, Arizona which is just as hot as Needles. The cost of living is lower as are the taxes. It's a bigger town with more to do. It's on the Colorado River so there are water activities. Across the river is Laughlin, Nevada with casinos and some nightlife. Laughlin Nevada | Laughlin Hotels, Entertainment, Events & Things To Do

That's funny you mention those areas. After I wrote about Needles I was checking google maps and came across Bullhead/Laughlin. I was also looking at Lake Havasu City.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Snort

Where did you get that silly notion?

I've lived in, and had kids attend schools in three states. CA schools are way better/more challenging than the schools where I live now.

Originally Posted by Winter_Sucks

That's funny you mention those areas. After I wrote about Needles I was checking google maps and came across Bullhead/Laughlin. I was also looking at Lake Havasu City.

You should probably spend a week in that area, during the summer. You have to really (I mean really {no, really <seriously>}, really) like heat.

I could only handle two days in LHC in July. Cut my trip short because the heat was making me go insane. However, I've spent time in Laughlin in March, and the weather is fabulous then.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

You should probably spend a week in that area, during the summer. You have to really (I mean really {no, really <seriously>}, really) like heat.

Also, expect high electric bills during the summer for running the A/C 24/7!

[Count David]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Also, expect high electric bills during the summer for running the A/C 24/7!

+1

Winter Sucks, how do you feel about overnight lows around 95F?

[Winter_Sucks]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

+1

Winter Sucks, how do you feel about overnight lows around 95F?

I grew up in Michigan. That sounds good to me.

[Chelito23]

Winterhaven is also a small town on the Colorado River in Southeast California, across the river from Yuma. The advantage there is that Yuma is right there for shopping, hospitals and other basic services and San Diego is about 3 hours in one direction and PHX maybe 4 in the other. Some places like Blythe and Needles are just depressing and so desolate, that most people would go stir crazy. Not to mention there probably are few teaching jobs due to no population growth.

In Imperial County (El Centro, the largest city and county seat) they laid off quite a few teachers recently. I think it is like this throughout the state, and Imperial County is basically an undesireable, poor and polluted county, one of the "worst" by most people's standard, so that will tell you something.

Barstow, although not a nice place in general, might have opportunities? Maybe the cities and towns in the Central Valley...and they would all be reasonably priced compared to coastal Cali.

Good luck and visit Needles first before you get too excited.

[Winter_Sucks]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Also, expect high electric bills during the summer for running the A/C 24/7!

That's why I plan on building a new house that conserves energy and running it off solar. It's a large down payment, but will pay for itself over time.