AZ Peeps: Where's the best climate in No. Az?

[FirstLight]

I'm looking to get out of the snow in Tahoe, but not into the 100+ desert areas.

First I was eyeing closer to Flagstaff, but I realize they really do get some significant snow there, so maybe further south, near Sedona is a better bet?
I've been looking at places all over...Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Mayer...

I don't need to be close to everything, driving 20-30 mins for WalMart etc is fine. I'd like to be close to park/national forest land so I can take off into the wild

I took a trip through Kingman, Williams, and Flagstaff last summer during monsoon season and it was amazing. I fell in love with that area...especially Sunset Crater and Volcano.

Any advice or info about those areas and the climate/seasons is appreciated!

(Basically ok with a double wide on an acre ...enough space to make a little oasis of our own)

[AZSkiffyGeek]

1. Flagstaff is gorgeous

It's been ages since I've been up there - but the weather is gorgeous during the summer. They do get snow during the winter, usually not too much, although this year it seemed like there was a blizzard every other day. But it's an hour from Sedona, two from Phoenix, and three from the Grand Canyon. I'd avoid places like Cottonwood, Kingman and Prescott - they're full of crazy right-wingers.
I'll leave others to sing the praises of Tucson, but it's pretty cool as well, cooler than Phoenix with snow occcasionally.

[caballojm]

2. You might want to check out Prescott.

Mid to High-80s highs in the summer, and while they do get snow in the winter, it's not at Flagstaff levels.

[marybourg]

3. See comment of Prescott above.

I second it.

[FirstLight]

4. ISn't Prescott more "richy-rich"...?

I don't wanna live in the ghetto, but I am wary of the higher income areas lol

[kimbutgar]

12. Prescott is really right wing

I have a niece who lives there and it’s a magaloon area. But it is beautiful also!

[marybourg]

5. AZ is a very urbanized state.

Outside of the Phx metro, and to a lesser extent Tucson, you are really on your own. Think about needing repairs, installations and - especially - medical care. Maybe look at Black Rock City, north of Phx, higher in elevation, therefore cooler, double wide on a acre type of country, but still close to goods and services. (This is not a recommendation. I live in, and am happy with, the metro area)

[FirstLight]

6. Yeah, one of the reasons I was thunking south of sedona/prescott was location to Phoenix

I figure it was easier to access medical care there...and right now living in Tahoe, I have to drive to sacramento sometimes. The road is treacherous even in good weather. It looks like it's an easier drive to phoenix.

I'm ok with some "off grid" stuff... solar especially. I want that sense of "escape". After living so rurally here in Tahoe, I can't do infrastructure and too many people. But it's ok that carson city is only 30 mins away.

[brush]

7. Look at Bisbee in southern Az. Don't let the word southern throw you off.

It's in a high elevation and so doesn't get extremely hot. It's 45 minutes or so from Tucson, close to the Mexican border, and is/was an artist colony back when I owned a home there. There's also an inactive, open pit copper mine there...the reason the town is there.

Stay at the Victorian-era Copper Queen hotel when visiting.

Tucson is also nice if you want more urban, and it's always been blue politically.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. Payson is a pretty good balance, it can get hot in the summer but generally not super-hot

like the Valley gets. It snows a bit, but not that often/much. My ex-wife's family has a vacation house there, and they love it.

Another cool place with similar credentials to what you're looking for is the Sonora/Groveland area in California. Though that still has CA taxes, maybe not what you're looking for.

But my fam has had a house up there at Pine Mountain Lake (Groveland) for just over 30 years. 45 min drive to the gate at Yosemite. It's pretty killer up there. A bit right-leaning but not horrible.

PML is worth checking out at least, huge gated community, quiet, very rustic, no fences allowed, lots of wildlife, and National Forest land about. Groveland has a great grocery store, and the little, historic downtown is very cute

[MLAA]

9. I love Tucson, but it's above your temperature range.

A possibility is Sierra Vista which is smaller and cooler, but since it hosts a large military base, I assume services abound. Check out the weather by month below.

https://weatherspark.com/y/2837/Average-Weather-in-Sierra-Vista-Arizona-United-States-Year-Round

[Doc Sportello]

10. Lived in Payson, Prescott and Flagstaff

Flagstaff gets a lot of snow, into May even. Payson and Prescott have lots of national forests nearby. There is little else to do in Payson, but it's a quick drive to the Valley. Prescott does get into the 90s in the summer but the monsoons usually hit and bring the temps down. It has the most moderate weather. It is also home to Gosar (even though his main home is in Flag) and RWNJ but they did elect a Democratic mayor and council members last time. PV is more of the RW type. Cottonwood is hotter and for average income people who can't afford Sedona. My takes anyway.

[Susan Calvin]

11. Thank you for this very informative thread.

It's got me thinking that maybe instead of moving to Southern California, my dream except that the house I sold back in the 90s is way out of my reach now, I could move to Arizona and visit Southern California.

What is the water situation in various parts of the state?

[FirstLight]

13. yea, water is a good point...

I definitely want to be hooked up to some kind of water company, but also will invest in a good rain/catchment system.