Suggestion: Tucson, AZ, various neighborhoods
Tucson is a desert climate. Oct-May is amazing to be outside, the weather is why I moved here. There will be a few cold weeks tossed in there, but it’s generally going to be pleasant if the sun is out. Jun-Sep can be rough, with between 60-108 days over 100F. June will be hot and dry, then Jul-Sep is monsoon season, where showers will typically make it slightly cooler, but more humid. All year round there are big night/day temperature swings, making it possible to be outdoorsy even in the summertime, if you are willing to get up before the sun does at 5AM.
Politically, Arizona is considered a swing state in presidential elections. Locally, it’s more like Tucson is a blue island in a red state. Things feel more “polarized” than “moderate”, but it’s never been a problem for me since I don’t have (or voice) strong opinions. Outside election season I don’t see many signs–I think there are ordinances.
Tucson has developed in such a manner that it’s not a sprawling hell like Phoenix, but it’s not quite a dense, easily walkable city, either. If you are willing to walk 2 miles, sure, there will be a grocery store. The residential areas don’t always have sidewalks, and while the arterial streets do, they also have a lot of cars and pavement, making it loud, stinky, and hot. All the arterial streets do have bike lanes, though, making it possible to bike nearly anywhere, though with the same drawbacks as mentioned above. What’s better are the marked bike boulevards through residential areas and on minor roads. Lights let you cross major roads, and sometimes through traffic is blocked for cars, but not bikes. Speed bumps and roundabouts really try to slow traffic down and make the cars drive elsewhere.
Corbett neighborhood, pick this because one person is already here:
This is where we live. We picked our house because it was the only thing in our price range and distance to work radius that didn’t need a lot of work. It’s barely ERE affordable anymore, thanks to housing inflation. Overall the area fails our own “not looking run down” requirement, and probably the “not high crime” requirement as well, I’m not sure how to quantify it or objectify this. There is a Wal-Mart neighborhood market and a Harbor Freight tools. There are restaurants and one tiny park. The neighborhood is late 50s early 60s housing stock, formerly AFB housing. House by house and block by block can alternate between “nice” and “rough”.
One SFH under a quarter million in the entire neighborhood, little curb appeal:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5639 ... 0801_zpid/
More expensive new homes being built where the elementary school used to be:
https://www.zillow.com/community/corbet ... 3053_plid/
7 units sold together for maximum closeness:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5836 ... 2973_zpid/
Budget option just across the street from Corbett, if you can pay in cash and want to be part of a co-op:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1366 ... 8290_zpid/
Arroyo Chico, pick this for cheap produce and nice park nearby:
This neighborhood seems similar to Corbett as far as house types and prices, but it’s near
Food City, my favorite place for cheap produce, and by Reid Park, where I’ve done “ERE walk and talks”. It also puts you closer to downtown and the university, for closer access to cultural events. I don’t know much else about it. I did drive through recently to do a bit of reconnaissance for this write-up, and just like my neighborhood, upkeep levels vary widely house to house.
Couple SFH:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2246 ... 3660_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2925 ... 3579_zpid/
Rental:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2110 ... 3176_zpid/
Catalina Foothills, the choice for the outdoorsy minimalist:
Here you are in the foothills of the mountains, as the name suggests. Nice views, wealthy neighbors. You are not in the city so you avoid city-type stuff (like the county chases off panhandlers at intersections, whereas the city “allows” it). There’s a grocery store and a handful of restaurants, but not many other businesses. You are 1.5 miles from Ventana Canyon trailhead, and about the same distance from Sabino Canyon recreation area, with endless trails.
I used to live in these apartments turned condos:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5751 ... 9845_zpid/
West University/Dunbar Spring, for the loaded hipster (ERE budgets can stop right here)
Be right by the university and the hip 4th Ave District, as well as downtown. This is mostly to sass @Slevin, because this is what it costs to live by Brad Lancaster.
Communal living if you like old house charm and upkeep:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/35-E ... 2852_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/27-E ... 3587_zpid/
SFH:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/607- ... 3862_zpid/