East Side or West Side, these are the best places to live in the Phoenix Metro Area

Arizona, specifically the Phoenix Metro area, has been one of the fastest growing places in America. Any list created in the last few years has Phoenix suburbs listed as some of the best places to live in the US. A big part of this boom is the migration of California based businesses. These companies are opening large offices, and even moving their headquarters here all together. For more on that, check out one of our recent posts here.

Today, we're going to talk about two suburbs that are becoming standouts, Peoria on the west side, and Chandler on the east side of Phoenix.

Peoria

Located approximately 25 minutes from Phoenix's city center, Peoria is a suburb perfect for families. Niche.com gives Peoria an A with high marks for public schools, diversity, and family life. Median home values in Peoria are consistent with the national average at $250,000, while the median yearly household income is about $75,000.

Peoria has some of the best public parks in the city. Well-maintained and with activities to suit a variety of interests, Peoria Parks and Rec does a great job of creating spaces for families to meet and play. One standout is the Rio Vista Community Park. At 52 acres, this park has everything... multi-purpose fields used for local sports teams, sand volleyball, a skate park, and even an Urban Fishing Program complete with a 2.5 acre lake. (Note: click here for fishing rules and licensing)

Rio Vista Recreation Center is a beautiful building across the parking lot from the skate park. For around $60 per month (family monthly pricing) your family can exercise and enjoy a variety of group classes from yoga to warrior workouts.

In addition to recreational activities, Peoria's art scene is starting to get some real traction. There are theaters, art galleries, and you can see commissioned sculptures at parks and outside of libraries. TheaterWorks is the resident theater company at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. TheaterWorks has been in the valley more than 30 years and showcases some of the best talent in the city.

The freeway access in Peoria is also something to consider. Easy access to the 303 and the 101 connect you to the rest of valley.

Chandler

Chandler is a bit farther from the city center at about a 35-minute drive, however, Chandler really has everything you need. Niche.com also gave Chandler an A with high marks for public schools, diversity, and family life. Median home values in Chandler are in the $300,000 range, while the median yearly household income is about $80,000.

One of the major factors that has made Chandler such a great suburb is the growing number of businesses with their headquarters located there.

Microchip Technology Inc provides components to Apple, among other tech companies. Bashas, Arizona Nutritional Supplements, and Kett Engineering are also located in Chandler. If you're in the

tech industry, Chandler has a lot to offer.

Chandler is also home to a few very interesting museums and galleries. The Arizona Raiway Museum is dedicated to the preservation of Arizona railway history. The Museum of Science and Sustainability (MoSS) is a portable museum whose mission is to promote STEM and sustainable living. At the Chandler Center for the Arts, you can see national and local performers from well-known comedians to the symphony, and from Weird Al to the ballet. They also have an art gallery and an array of youth programs.

When it comes to choosing the right suburb for you, there are a lot of factors to consider. A great realtor can help you along the way!

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