Good Cheap Neighborhoods - Living in AZ

We live in Southern California and are originally from NYC. It is just too expensive to maitain a quality life here, while needing to raise a child; being new Buddhists we are also looking for a better sense of peace in life. We are willing to give up the rat race of materialism. We want to live in house...possibly buy a house, but can't afford it in CA.

1. What are some good neighborhoods in general and near a university? within 10-30 miles.

2. How diverse are the communities? European decent, African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native-American, ect.? What are the communities which are most diverse?

3. Is there a problem with traffic like CA and is there anything negative that I really need to know about Pheonix or AZ; such as, is unemployment a major problem.

I am ok with the heat - I lived in Vegas for a few years.

Thanks for your help! Peace and Blessings

Diverse? How 'bout cowboys, bikers, miners, construction workers, irrigation people, truckers 'n a healthy mix of Rebels, Mexicans 'n Indians?

delasol,

Arizona is a great place to live. It is much more affordable than Southern Cal or NYC. But, it is not nearly as liberal or PC as Southern Cal or NYC. Arizona is more conservative because most of us that live here, myself included, are from somewhere else where things are more politically moderate (I'm from the midwest). As far as diversity goes, well Phoenix is now the fifth largest metro area (just taking spot #5 from Philadelphia). So, it has the wonderous diversity of all walks of life. Traffic can definately be a problem here. It's not as bad as LA or San Diego, but mass transit here is a bus load of people on the way to the casino. We have a very large part time population of retirees who live here in the winter... and they make traffic worse. Traffic is much better in the hotter months. The best way to see if you would like it is to visit. And now is the best time of year to do so. I hope you find Arizona as wonderful and wide open with possibility as I did nearly a decad ago. Peace be with you.