1. Phoenix Is A City College Grads Can Actually Afford
College grads usually don’t have the problem of having too much cash and nowhere to spend it. When money is tight and loan payments are due, finding an affordable city can be challenging. But the cost of living in
Phoenix is more than 5 percent lower than the national average. Compared to somewhere like
New York City, which has a cost of living that is 67 percent higher than the national average, that’s a pretty sweet price tag.
2. Thanks To Changes, There Is A Job To Be Found In Phoenix
Things were looking pretty bleak in Phoenix around October of 2009 when the Bureau of Labor and Statistics announced that the unemployment rate had climbed to 10 percent. But the city decided to act and in the past five years, the rate has dropped nearly 5 percent, with the latest numbers coming in at 5.3 percent, which is now officially under the national average of 6 percent. Compare them to other numbers and you’ll feel pretty good about a decision to move here.
3. The Jobs Offer A Ton Of Growth Potential
When you do find a job in Phoenix or the metro area, there’s a good chance that’s it going to be a good one. As the capital of Arizona, two of the top three employers are in city and state government, according to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
And financial institutions such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America are in the top six, as well. Other Fortune 1000 companies are located here, including Intel, GoDaddy, and PetSmart.
4. Phoenix Is A Great City For Buying A Home When You’re Young
The cost of living being cheap already gives you an advantage to saving. But why not take that money that you’re saving and invest it in a home instead of dumping it into a rental? It’s a lot easier to do in Phoenix than a lot of other cities. The median home value is around $174,000 which brings it in around four percent cheaper than the national average.
It’s not just cheaper to buy here, it’s also an investment. Forbes listed Phoenix as number 19 on its list of Top 20 Real Estate Markets in the country in 2014, with a growth of 41 percent over the past three years.
5. Downtown Phoenix Gives You The Best Of Everything In Walking Distance
Not having a car is not a good thing in Phoenix overall. The city and metro are huge and pretty wide spread out. Traffic can get pretty congested, too, especially in the winter when the snowbirds fly home to defrost. But you can get away with not having one if you live Downtown, which is really the only walkable community.
With so many great things to do, places to eat, and easy access to everything, living downtown is just what the post-grad ordered. And the GRID bike share program has made getting around to those things easier than ever.
If you do drive, though, don’t fret. The traffic might drive you nuts but at least navigation is simple. The city is laid out in one mile grids, so as long as you can memorize a few east/west and north/south patterns, you’ll always know where you are.
6. The Nightlife Is Calling Your Name
Phoenix nightlife is great for the grad who likes to enjoy one or two nights out each week but left their hardcore partying streak behind in their college years. There are some great lounges, clubs, bars, and music venues scattered around downtown.
There’s the Gypsy Bar where you can drink some great Arizona wine with friends while dancing and playing games. Lucky Strikes allows you to grab a bite to eat and share a pitcher with friends over a few games of bowling. Stand Up Live brings the laughs to Phoenix as the comedy club in town. And Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen is another great meetup with friends that also offers free live music most nights and includes over 60 beers on tap.
And not that you’ll need it, but if you’re occasionally looking for a little more, you can always take a drive on over to Scottsdale which is known for its nightlife.
7. The Phoenix Foodie Scene Is Exploding
So, you think Phoenix must have some great Mexican food, eh? Well, my friend, you are absolutely correct. The border food here is known as Sonoran food, with old-school and traditional menu options like chimichangas, refried beans, and enchilada-style burritos—and they’re amazing.
But don’t worry, the whole foodie scene in Phoenix is growing, especially downtown. You’ll be able to find a little bit of everything, from classic Italian restaurants to trendy gastropubs, and it’s only growing bigger all the time.
8. If You Want To Get Social, Get Off The Couch
Some people complain that Phoenix isn’t the easiest place to make new friends but the younger you are in Phoenix, the easier it is.
Working out and fitness is a big deal in and around the Greater Phoenix area, so whether you join a gym or decide to get in shape by using the great Arizona outdoors, it’s always a great way to meet people. Groups like the Phoenix Frontrunners is a great way for runners to get together and bond over what they do best—drinking lots of water!
9. Sports Fans Rejoice, Phoenix Is At Bat
Sports buffs will love the Phoenix lineup. It isn’t exactly a four-for-four city, but there is still plenty to get excited about. The Phoenix Suns have gotten a lot better and the games have become increasingly more fun to attend. But for the real fun, Arizona is a diamond state—a baseball diamond, that is.
You have the Arizona Diamondbacks with their stadium located downtown, easy to get to from anywhere in the city. And then there’s also MLB spring training which brings 10 training stadiums to the Phoenix Metro area, filling up your spring schedule fast.
College football fans will love attending the annual Fiesta Bowl every January, including an accompanying parade and block party at Tempe Town Lake every New Year’s Eve.
Then there’s the NASCAR series that comes around twice a year, with The Profit on CNBC 500 in February and the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 in November at the Phoenix International Raceway.
10. Hit The Road On Foot To Discover Phoenix
If you’re hoping to get out with the community while exploring the best of the city, there’s no worries there, either. Art Link First Fridays takes you and thousands of other locals and visitors around the growing art district of Phoenix through over 70 galleries, venues, and more. There is a free shutting that starts at the Phoenix Art Museum and along major points along the route.
Events like the Downtown Urban Ale Trail will take you around an assortment of Downtown restaurants and bars that have become known for their great selection of craft beers.
11. When You Live In Phoenix, Adventure Always Awaits
It should go without saying that Phoenix’s great outdoors is one of the city’s best selling points. Whether it’s hiking, biking, rock climbing, exploring the desert, or just catching a new view, the scenery here truly never gets old. But when you’re looking for an adventure, all you have to do is buckle up.
Mexico is only 170 miles away. The real city that never sleeps—
Las Vegas—is only a five hour drive from your front door. You can find snow in the winter if you drive 2.5 hours to the Snow Bowl. And don’t forget, one of the Seven Wonders of the World is right in your own state—the Grand Canyon is about 230 miles from you at any given time.
12. It’s Hard To Complain When January Is Still Bikini Weather
It’s true that summers in Arizona get brutally hot. But, if you don’t mind the heat, the lack of humidity makes it bearable. Just remember to keep drinking fluids, keep a hat and shades with you, and learn how to park your car away from those rays.
But while the rest of the country is shivering to death and shoveling all that February snow, you’ll still be lounging by the pool in 85 degree temperatures.
13. The Single Life Never Felt So Good
You’re fresh out of school, you score a great job, you’ve got no kids tying you down, and you live in the desert of Phoenix. What are you going to do this weekend? Well, the options are limitless, really. But if you don’t spend at least a few of them at one of the many destination spas and luxury wellness centers, then you’re wasting your Phoenix experience.
There are also plenty of bars and places to grab a cocktail for happy hour with your friends if a quick trip out is in order.
14. Acting Like A Kid Never Felt So Good, Either
Museums and amusement parks might seem like places you’d go as a kid. But, they also cater to the crazy kid in adults, too.
Bring your friends for the slip n’ slide of your adult life at Slide Across America. The Wet N’ Wild Park has special night hours where you can have fun in the wave pool after hours. And check out the Arizona Science Center during their super-fun Adults’ Night Out, for an alternative to the traditional nightlife scene.
15. Phoenix Lets You Get Your Beauty Sleep
Tired of losing an hour of sleep every spring thanks to Daylight Savings? When you move to Phoenix, you’ll never have to put up with that nonsense ever again. Arizona doesn’t observe that Daylight Savings rules, so 9 o’clock is always 9 o’clock here. And after a long weekend of Art Walks, ale trails, swimming, rock climbing, and exploring, you’ll need as much beauty sleep as you can get to help fuel you up for the coming week of adventure.
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