Enter Phoenix, and you quickly realize why the Arizona city has been given the nickname Valley of the Sun. Located in the middle of a desert climate, temperatures in the region easily reach triple digits throughout the summer months. But that hasn't hampered the development of one of the largest urban areas in the country. If you're looking to call Phoenix home, read this guide to help find the best places to live.
Adjacent to its popular and upscale suburban neighbor Scottsdale, Arcadia is a fairly affluent neighborhood of Phoenix. Whereas most of the top areas to live in the Phoenix region are outside the city, Arcadia is one of the few locations that is actually within the urban center, providing it easy access to many of downtown Phoenix's attractions and saving on long commute times that residents in other outlying communities experience. Residents of Arcadia don't have to sacrifice comfort for city living as homes tend to be large and lots provide ample space for family and pets to play. The area is also home to the Phoenix Zoo and multiple parks, and the regional airport is a short 15-minute drive.
Recognized as one of Phoenix's earliest suburbs, Willo is a small, historic community located near the central urban area of the city. The area is populated by more than 700 historic homes from the 1920s to the 1940s, ranging in eclectic styles from Spanish Colonial to Victorian. In fact, once a year residents of the neighborhood open their doors to one another as well as outside visitors to showcase their historic properties. In addition, the community is very tight-knit, with a variety of activities planned throughout the year, including an outdoor movie night.
Although technically a suburb of Phoenix, Gilbert is a perfect place for families looking to experience the big city without actually having to live in the middle of a large urban area. The community, which claims about 200,000 residents, is known for its outstanding schools and its public facilities, including the recently built Freestone Recreation Center. Life is a little pricey in Gilbert, with the median family income in 2009 around $90,000 and home prices just under $300,000. If you're a golf fan, the area is a virtual playground with more than 250 golf courses.