I was in flagstaff last week, and I saw a homeless person holding a sign with jibberish on it, and he stared at me and held up the sign, and as I sat there confused he flipped it and it said “bet you money you will read this” and I have not laughed that hard in a very long time.
My biggest problem is the cost of living. My god does it get expensive in a lot of places. The minimum wage is quite a bit above the national average which helps but unless you have a planned job already I wouldn't risk it. It's a tourist town which contributes to the traffic. A lot of people here hate phoenix people because they are fast and reckless in the snow, they are usually the ones casing accidents or backing up traffic. Lastly things seem... Unorganized. From the schools to the mayor it's a little bit worrying how little some things are planned out but I guess it's expected of a laid back town
Ambulance, Firetrucks, train sirens going off every morning at 4AM. Hardly anybody on the streets that early but Ambulance & Firetrucks will drive up & down the street with their sirens blasting. This town says they have a noise ordnance code but they don't enforce. If you do decide to get a place here just remember that the Flagstaff Mall & surrounding areas smell like dog food. I think rent or buying property might be cheaper because of it. Something to consider before moving here.
Most of those things you mention are positives for me, I love the cold & snow, hate the heat & humidity. I've lived on Long Island my whole life, and the homeless here are very aggressive, I doubt the homeless are as brazen and prolific as New York. We used to get winters here but lately we don't as much. We haven't even had any measurable snow for over 660 days, in fact, the last measurable snowfall in Central Park, the oldest weather observation site in our area, was Feb 13, 2022! Yes it is a record. Been a lot of cloudy days & rain here. Bad for my mental health. I love lots of Pines and blue skies. I would consider moving to Flagstaff but the problem is because I have a lifelong mental disability I cannot work and have to rely on supportive housing programs and Social Security. When I look at Flagstaff it looks so much like the Pine Barrens here but with much nicer weather. Ponderosa Pines look a lot like Pitch Pines. One day I would love to visit Flagstaff that's for sure. Seems to be one of the best places in this Country to get a proper winter experience. It's just getting way too tropical in the East for my taste. Oh & College students, we got plenty of them here, don't mind that at all. Only negative for me about a place like Flagstaff is there's no large bodies of water, and no ocean beaches. But then again, when you don't have all that water around, there's less moisture, less clouds. Wildlife, I love wildlife. I hate when people move to less developed parts of Long Island and then complain about the wildlife. Skunks are adorable.
I visited flagstaff once they all assumed i was from Phoenix 😆 I told them I was from Pennsylvania . I watched there face turn into a wave of relief. 😌 I really enjoy Flagstaff I stayed downtown ate at some awesome restaurants. It reminded so much of Pennsylvania all the trees and forests the mountains etc There's a certain point driving from Flagstaff to Sedona where I couldn't figure out if I was in Arizona or Pennsylvania. It's some much more beautiful out there. I loved it. Snow doesn't bother me we have lake erie lake effect in Pennsylvania so 3 feet is nothing to me.
It sounds like you were driving the 89a between Sedona and Flagstaff. Its one of the most beautiful drives in the state :) Watching the terrain change from the vegetation around the creek to the ponderosa pines is worth taking the "scenic route" to get to Flagstaff.
No, not really…..usually a storm will come in the afternoon and only last a couple of hours. Then the area cools down and it’s very nice. It can be tricky in a tent….but not impossible.
An important thing that you really missed. The cost of living/housing contributes to the homeless problems. Also being on Route 66 & that Flagstaff is very much a tourist town. Therefore it's quit expensive to visit or stay.. Key points that should of been addressed.
Cost of living in Flagstaff and Sedona is really high. I think we talk about it in the Pros and Cons of living in Flagstaff video , and cost of living in Flagstaff videos. That''s probalby the worst part of Flagstaff. Home prices and rents are extremely high.
@@part6133 Nutrioso, Camp Verde, Prescott Valley, Paulden - The other bad thing I forgot to mention about Flagstaff is the city government. They really exemplify the "you can't fight city hall" notion - Down right bureaucratic. Yeeeesh.... I like the people that live up there, though. Still make it up occasionally to see my sons and friends.
I love trains. Really sad that their horns were silenced. Miss that. I'm in Prescott Valley. Perfect amount of snow (not much) and although the temps are rising they're tolerable. When my partner was alive we really enjoyed visiting Flag. In fact he graduated from NAU. 😉
My family moved to Phoenix (actually Chandler) in 1970, and I spent most of my life in the Phoenix area except while at NAU, and then moved to Northern AZ full time again Feb 2019. It's been a good move, and every time I return to Phoenix I can't believe how crowded it has become.
Truckers and drivers passing through Flagstaff don't realize it's one of the snowiest cities in the country, and one of the highest elevated major cities, higher than Denver or Colorado Springs. I've seen lots of accidents on I-40 just past the I-17 interchange. Be careful when driving here people.
My goodness Flagstaff has had so much snow this winter! And the last couple of weeks the interestate has been closed almost every direction getting into Flagstaff!
I saw a scrawny homeless guy up in Ottawa, Ont. one year. He was quite creative and his sign said "Kiss for a dollar." I laughed so hard at that. I gave him $5 but didn't take the kiss, 😂
I would also mention the street lights. Flagg has a minimum of street lights. As I get older it’s hard enough to drive in the dark, let alone driving in Flagstaff at night.
My parents were born and raised in flagstaff AZ at the foot of devils chair i was born there myself but raised in California flagstaff is a beautiful place I'm preparing to retire there.
Just bought four lots in Park just west of Flagstaff. Moving from Hawaii and can't wait to do some snowboarding and possibly get a job up at Snowbowl. Wish me luck!
I'm a high school teacher who is thinking about moving to Flagstaff. How much is the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in central Flagstaff? I don't mind living in old buildings, so if that is cheaper, that would be fine with me. Also, it's a college town, but is it one of those kinds of college towns where everything in the city- the culture, the venues, the dating scene- is geared toward people in their 20s? I'm 55. Is it easy for middle-aged people to meet and make friends with other people in their 40s, 50s and 60s? Are older people a minority? I spent a week in Flagstaff, but it was Thanksgiving week, so I didn't notice there being lots of college kids there.
I don't work with rentals, so I can't really give you a good estimate on rental prices, especially for apartments. I can see rental listings on the MLS, but most of those will be condos or homess Usually apartments will have their own rental office and won't post vacancies the mls. Regarding the age of residents, although Flagstaff is a college town there are plenty of older people who live there. Espeically as you move away from the campus. I thought it was relevant to mention the younger residents in the video because of the University, but they don't make up a majority of the population. I just looked it up on bestplaces.net, 55 percent of Flagstaff population is over 35 years old.
Are there any greenhouse or indoor vertical hydroponic farming operations located in or servicing Flagstaff? My wife and I operate a seasonal Urban farmstead and indoor vertical hydroponic farm growing seasonal veggies, year round leafing greens, microgreens, and herbs for retail and restaurants. We've considered a move to Flagstaff and we're wondering what the opportunities would be for our operations.
I don't really know but I do see some small localized greenhouses in some backyards. Possibly more in Sedona, but that might be because I notice them when I'm out walking my dogs here in Sedona.
Flagstaff is OVERRUN with panhandlers. They hit me up several times a day, EVERY day. Thank the ACLU. You forgot to mention the train noise. It's actually not the train, it's the huge PA system they've installed at the crossings which goes through this obnoxious bell ringing and horn honking routine. The train doesn't need to sound it's own horn. Also, there's a broken equipment problem. Most laundromats have a bunch of broken machines. Gyms have broken equipment and showers. Apparently there aren't enough tradespeople in Flagstaff and they have to come all the way from Phoenix, so getting things repaired is extremely difficult.
Born and raised in Flag… bet you seen me around town with my mom a lot… 1994 was my freshman year in high school at FHS. Currently living in Gainesville Fl, but want to move back home.
During the 60s , my dad taught at Verde Valley School , but on weekends we'd go to our cabin in Fort Valley near Flagstaff. Back then we didn't have to put up with a lot of people and traffic. But we did have to put up with the cold and snow . That sometimes meant parking our car by the highway, and walking through the snow half a mile to the cabin, if the road hadn't been plowed. Many times, the water pipes would freeze. In spring the road turned to mud , so we'd still have to walk. And speaking of wild animals, our dog did get skunked !! Even with the hardships , I still miss that place. I now live in Oregon.
When I had my cabin at Mormon Lake, 30 miles east of Flagstaff, we had those same problems. The road in front of the cabin was private, so if the guy who plowed the road in front didn't make it, we'd have to park the car and drag our stuff up to road to get to the cabin. My pipes never froze because we winterized every time we left in winter, even if only for a few days. And sometimes the power would go out and we'd need the wood stove. And the dog got skunked once to..
Good list. I will add for you, because I realize people cannot talk about these things. But, Flagstaff has become a very liberal progressive town. It is essentially the Berkeley of Arizona. In the 70s Flagstaff was quite the opposite as there were sawmills and lots of ranchers, etc., but that has changed dramatically. If you are a die hard liberal progressive you will love Flagstaff. If you are a conservative, you will not be welcome.
@feedingtimefitness3742 No, it won't! It has become very California heavy, and that has caused the cost of living to skyrocket. People are miserable there.
Surrounding communities that are much less crazy left are Munds Park, Williams, Doney Park, Winona, Bellemont, Kachina Village (probably 50/50 mix, but not as bad as FLG), but they will all involve a long commute (relatively speaking).@@JustinBaine824
If you live on Fort Valley Rd ski traffic can be a real problem. There’s times I’ve sat for 15 minutes waiting for a break in traffic to turn onto the road - and it’s the only way out. 9:48 I’m also really surprised you didn’t mention the cost of living is high and decent jobs are hard to find
We talk about jobs in the "pros and cons of Flagstaff" video. And I have a cost of living video scheduled in a couple weeks. Sedona and Flagstaff are really expensive to live.
Originally from Northern Indiana and lots of snow there are lots of people who come to Flagstaff for college that don't know how to drive in snow and ice. I'm also a graduate of NAU College of Business. I live in Northern Arizona, but not in Flagstaff.
Awesome and informative video. My wife wants to move to Tennessee, but I want to move to flagstaff. The only two questions I have is school jobs out there, are they hard to get into and do they pay well? Last do you think the housing market will go up in the next three years or drop?
So hard to predict what will happen with the housing market! Some forecasters are thinking there will be a massive decline, I personally lean towards thinking a small drop in prices which will recover in the long term. But I often get it wrong so I hate to even say it! Throughout the last 50 years , though, the housing market trends upward despite the ups and downs that happen on a short term basis. Regarding jobs in the school system, I’ve known a few people who taught at NAU and a Couple who have taught at the public schools. I’ll have to ask some of my friends and see what they know.
Where are you moving from? My sister and her husband are from San Diego and she wanted TN (Knoxville) and he wanted Flagstaff. They ended up in Knoxville and after 1 year of living there decided they will move back to San Diego in June. My husband and I moved out to Knoxville to be near them and now that they are leaving, we want to leave too. I don’t like TN. We both would love to move to Flagstaff. I’m originally from the PNW.
@@bleulesyeux5416 it’s funny you say that because San Diego is the same way… but in flagstaff there not on top of you. My sister in-law lives there and where she lives it’s far enough away from stupid people, but close enough to get in to town.
Thinking of moving to Flagstaff. If drug problem with the "homeless" like in LA, San Francisco, Portland, etc develops, do you think the local government has the will to deal with it effectively before they start camping and smoking meth all night long right next to my new house driving down its value not to mention my enjoyment of the property?
Right now the homeless issue is nowhere close to that point. But it does seem like city officials keep abreast of other community issues. Sorry, I can’t say more than just “maybe”.
Ok. Let me give you the real low down on Flagstaff. No.1.Very expensive. No2.Alot of Drunk drivers, Car accidents, and Hit and runs. No.3. Trains,.Police and Ambulance Sirens Constantly. No.4. An incredibly Boring place to Live, not much to do here. No.5. Cell reception is Horrible, doesn't matter what carrier you have. No.6. Most of the people who Live here, are from California, and they are the people that the rest of the Californians were glad that they Left California.No.7. People have no idea how to drive in Snow here. And they are intoxicated as well. No.8. Auto repair shops charge way more than the AZ Hourly rate. And they are always booked up. You may have to wait 1to 3 months to get your car Repaired or Serviced. No.9. People are not the Sharpest tool in the toolbox around here. No.10.The Roads are in Horrible condition. And they stay that way.always. Be prepared to spend lots of money on replacing Struts,.Tires, Other Suspension parts, constantly. And you will need to repaint your car often here as the Sun oxidizes and eats the clear coat extremely fast.
Interesting video. Being a New Yorker all my life makes Flagstaff look like a cake walk. I would just avoid living in a flood zone area with absolutely no trees around the perimeter of the house.
I'd be happy to send you actual flooding video from where the flooding is happening here in Flagstaff. That would look more accurate then a lovely clear river.
I would love to have better video footage. My editors use stock footage if I don’t give them something to use, and I haven’t wanted to get close to film my own. Livinginnorthernarizona@gmail.com
Doesn't sound bad at all, especially not the homeless because I am a New Yorker! I have been curious about Flagstaff for sometime and I want to visit! 😊
I've been here a little over 3 weeks....up from Prescott. I got some housing through a VA program which is great....but that is all.... I really do not like it here. I am trying to like it.... I feel so alienated here. It's very liberal, people are not warm or welcoming in my experience. It's too much of a pass through town. Hollow.... The college kids have each other, the tourists are here for a few days and the hard core locals will just treat you like a tourist and I'm not interested in spending 10 years somewhere to make 2 friends...Arizona seems to be a lot like that....nothing truly sticks... I don't know how people meet here...even the college kids seem to not know each other. Just a million tiny circles of people passing each other by. Some say hi but that's it...nothing sticks and I'm a pretty friendly person. I haven't felt this alone or disconnected since I spent time in southern California which is what it feels like. It's exactly what it's become....eastern California. Overpriced, and very indifferent.... My neighbors do not say hello or acknowledge each other....I'm wondering wtf am I doing here!? I'm getting my cdl in the next month and then i think I'm booking the he'll out of here....
I think the unfriendly neighbors and people keeping to themselves, hard to make friends, etc, is now common all over Arizona. I grew up in the valley (Gilbert/Phoenix), and people have changed so much over the years. When I was young we knew all our neighbors, had outdoor/street parties for Halloween and Christmas. That seemed to change during the 1990s. Think it might be similar in Flagstaff in that regard.
@@livinginnorthernaz I agree, its just changed so much. I finally left flagstaff and it was a hard decision to make but i was miserable there. I came back to Prescott and the difference was instant! People smiling and glad to see me, etc etc....There's a soullessness thats slowly creeping in to so many areas in this state.
What the heck is that odor at the Flagstaff mall where Dillards and J.C. Penney's and Beal's Outlet and Home Depot etc. is near? Purina? Dog or Cat food operation or is it another? Whew! Very noticeable. Panhandlers near Cocos/Kohl's/Sizzler areas and also at the plaza in the downtown. One had a dog with a hat on and glasses. Really.
@@livinginnorthernazI went there in 94 just before they canceled the men's swim team for "equality". They respected the students back then, people always yielded to them. Seems since flag is more of a "second" home place w the wealth from Cali and phx now everything has changed since the "good ol" days
Wind can be bad certain times of year, spring is usually the worst. And the areas in the north part of Flagstaff more windy than others, Doney Park for example. I actually sold a bare lot in Doney Park once to a guy who wanted to set up a wind farm....
I grew up in Flagstaff and have lived all over the Verde Valley as well. I consider myself an expert on Flagstaff climate, weather, and history. Since I was a kid, I always said Flagstaff has two wind seasons (spring and fall) and winter and summer. As mentioned by the author above, the worst is probably spring and definitely worst in Doney Park and areas east and west of town. In the old days farmers tried to grow beans and other crops, but the wind destroyed so many crops the farmers finally gave up. The incidence of an eye condition called pterygium (I have them) is extraordinarily high in Flagstaff natives. They are caused from long term exposure to UV rays (Flagstaff is so high up in elevation, UV rays do significantly more damage than at lower elevations) AND WIND. The enormous temperature range from the extreme heights of the San Francisco Peaks (tundra) to the high desert only about 15 miles away creates a daily localized wind especially in spring and fall when air masses with extreme temp variation flow through on the jet stream. For me personally I thought Flagstaff weather in the summer was divine (the monsoons are epic) and when I was young I loved the snow in the winter with melt offs between storms. As a kid I hated spring and fall because of the incessant winds and as I got older the winds were too much. I moved to Sedona where I have found a hell of a lot less wing probably due to being closely tucked in on the Mogollon rim. Sedona also has much less temperature range than Flagstaff where in the winter somedays you can go from low 50s to zero fahrenheit in less than half a day. Further down in elevation, say in Camp Verde, another 12 miles from Sedona and you can get into a long thin pocket of Mediterranean climate. Grapes and all sorts of other fruits and veggies can be grown in this zone and the climate is perfect for humans most of the year as well. Many people that live along the Verde River think it is paradise- especially those with green thumbs.
@@ronaldlincoln2935 I was diagnosed with pterygium ( I think we are talking about the same thing) in both my eyes, yet it was much worse in one of them than the other. The ophthalmologist told me it was commonly caused by excessive wind exposure. I thought that seemed weird, but I figured it was because I was a cyclist when I was younger. About 10 years ago I had surgery on the eye and it has been better. I was told it was very rare, and I've never met another person who had it.
@@livinginnorthernaz I am sorry to hear that. The same thing happened in northern Virginia and now besides the incredible cost of living, they are fighting a real battle up there to get indoctrination out of their schools. Thank goodness I graduated when they taught important subjects and not political correctness and a woke agenda. I left that state because it was impossible to live around them and work with them. Now I'm in a red place and there is a huge difference. I pray that it stays this way. Liberals are not welcome here.
Flagstaff is very expensive and very beautiful. I have seen mountain lions, herds of deer, eagles, sheep...the night sky is the best! The homelss population is not large like it is in Phoenix or Tucson where they are on every corner and median strip. The train is adorable, Downtown is gorgeous. Poderosa pines and red rocks and Sacred San Francisco Peaks are fantastic and you can section hike the Arizona Trail running through Coconino Forest if you like backpacking.
Turn-offs: colleges, snow, varmints, vagrants and hippies. Have you been to any other city?😂 you might be able to escape the snow but not anything else on this list.
I've worked with a couple of people this year who've moved to Arizona from Florida. I haven't been to Florida since 1987, I barely remember how it was. Except it was humid and had a lot of flying bugs.
I don’t want anyone to move to an Arizona town and regret it over something that would have stopped them from moving if only they had known . On the other hand, some people hear the list of the worst things about Flagstaff and think “it’s not that bad, I can deal with that. And those kind of people we want to move to AZ
Just bought four lots in Park just west of Flagstaff. Moving from Hawaii and can't wait to do some snowboarding and possibly get a job up at Snowbowl. Wish me luck!
I am always suprised when people move to Nothern AZ from Hawaii because its so beautiful there, but I get inquiries from Hawaii a lot. Most people I've talked to cite the outrageous cost of living as primary reason they leave Hawaii.
I love Flagstaff Arizona, Arizona from 1975 to 1980. I was a bit younger, but I loved it.
I was in flagstaff last week, and I saw a homeless person holding a sign with jibberish on it, and he stared at me and held up the sign, and as I sat there confused he flipped it and it said “bet you money you will read this” and I have not laughed that hard in a very long time.
If this is the worst 10 things about a place, it sounds like paradise. I'll be moving there, God willing in 7.5 years
reconsider homie
@@uhhsomeonehelp may I ask why?
My biggest problem is the cost of living. My god does it get expensive in a lot of places. The minimum wage is quite a bit above the national average which helps but unless you have a planned job already I wouldn't risk it. It's a tourist town which contributes to the traffic. A lot of people here hate phoenix people because they are fast and reckless in the snow, they are usually the ones casing accidents or backing up traffic. Lastly things seem... Unorganized. From the schools to the mayor it's a little bit worrying how little some things are planned out but I guess it's expected of a laid back town
Please don't.
Ambulance, Firetrucks, train sirens going off every morning at 4AM.
Hardly anybody on the streets that early but Ambulance & Firetrucks will drive up & down the street with their sirens blasting.
This town says they have a noise ordnance code but they don't enforce.
If you do decide to get a place here just remember that the Flagstaff Mall & surrounding areas smell like dog food. I think rent or buying property might be cheaper because of it. Something to consider before moving here.
Most of those things you mention are positives for me, I love the cold & snow, hate the heat & humidity. I've lived on Long Island my whole life, and the homeless here are very aggressive, I doubt the homeless are as brazen and prolific as New York. We used to get winters here but lately we don't as much. We haven't even had any measurable snow for over 660 days, in fact, the last measurable snowfall in Central Park, the oldest weather observation site in our area, was Feb 13, 2022! Yes it is a record. Been a lot of cloudy days & rain here. Bad for my mental health. I love lots of Pines and blue skies. I would consider moving to Flagstaff but the problem is because I have a lifelong mental disability I cannot work and have to rely on supportive housing programs and Social Security. When I look at Flagstaff it looks so much like the Pine Barrens here but with much nicer weather. Ponderosa Pines look a lot like Pitch Pines. One day I would love to visit Flagstaff that's for sure. Seems to be one of the best places in this Country to get a proper winter experience. It's just getting way too tropical in the East for my taste. Oh & College students, we got plenty of them here, don't mind that at all. Only negative for me about a place like Flagstaff is there's no large bodies of water, and no ocean beaches. But then again, when you don't have all that water around, there's less moisture, less clouds. Wildlife, I love wildlife. I hate when people move to less developed parts of Long Island and then complain about the wildlife. Skunks are adorable.
The majority of cons for moving to Flagstaff are common in almost any town or city in the world you move to.
Still people complain that I missed some. Sigh.
I visited flagstaff once they all assumed i was from Phoenix 😆 I told them I was from Pennsylvania . I watched there face turn into a wave of relief. 😌 I really enjoy Flagstaff I stayed downtown ate at some awesome restaurants. It reminded so much of Pennsylvania all the trees and forests the mountains etc
There's a certain point driving from Flagstaff to Sedona where I couldn't figure out if I was in Arizona or Pennsylvania. It's some much more beautiful out there. I loved it. Snow doesn't bother me we have lake erie lake effect in Pennsylvania so 3 feet is nothing to me.
It sounds like you were driving the 89a between Sedona and Flagstaff. Its one of the most beautiful drives in the state :) Watching the terrain change from the vegetation around the creek to the ponderosa pines is worth taking the "scenic route" to get to Flagstaff.
Great video, very informative. Is camping impossible during the rainy season?
No, not really…..usually a storm will come in the afternoon and only last a couple of hours. Then the area cools down and it’s very nice. It can be tricky in a tent….but not impossible.
An important thing that you really missed. The cost of living/housing contributes to the homeless problems. Also being on Route 66 & that Flagstaff is very much a tourist town. Therefore it's quit expensive to visit or stay.. Key points that should of been addressed.
Cost of living in Flagstaff and Sedona is really high. I think we talk about it in the Pros and Cons of living in Flagstaff video , and cost of living in Flagstaff videos. That''s probalby the worst part of Flagstaff. Home prices and rents are extremely high.
Key points that should -of- HAVE been addressed.
Yes, Flagstaff is very costly😊
It is really a horrible college town nowadays. NAU is taking over and not in a good way.
Lived there for 30 years. Moved because it just got too expensive. Rent, food, gas etc...
Where d ya move to.
@@part6133 Nutrioso, Camp Verde, Prescott Valley, Paulden - The other bad thing I forgot to mention about Flagstaff is the city government. They really exemplify the "you can't fight city hall" notion - Down right bureaucratic. Yeeeesh.... I like the people that live up there, though. Still make it up occasionally to see my sons and friends.
Wonderful video. Thank you for being so honest and informational. Flagstaff sounds good to me.
I love trains. Really sad that their horns were silenced. Miss that. I'm in Prescott Valley. Perfect amount of snow (not much) and although the temps are rising they're tolerable. When my partner was alive we really enjoyed visiting Flag. In fact he graduated from NAU. 😉
I was born and raised in Phoenix, moved to my family’s property 25mi south east of winslow 2 years ago. Planning on moving to flagstaff in 2024.
My family moved to Phoenix (actually Chandler) in 1970, and I spent most of my life in the Phoenix area except while at NAU, and then moved to Northern AZ full time again Feb 2019. It's been a good move, and every time I return to Phoenix I can't believe how crowded it has become.
Sorry for the loss of your pup 😢
Truckers and drivers passing through Flagstaff don't realize it's one of the snowiest cities in the country, and one of the highest elevated major cities, higher than Denver or Colorado Springs. I've seen lots of accidents on I-40 just past the I-17 interchange. Be careful when driving here people.
My goodness Flagstaff has had so much snow this winter! And the last couple of weeks the interestate has been closed almost every direction getting into Flagstaff!
I saw a scrawny homeless guy up in Ottawa, Ont. one year. He was quite creative and his sign said "Kiss for a dollar." I laughed so hard at that. I gave him $5 but didn't take the kiss, 😂
I would also mention the street lights. Flagg has a minimum of street lights. As I get older it’s hard enough to drive in the dark, let alone driving in Flagstaff at night.
I have a hard time driving at night too. The embarrassing part is I rarely go out at night! It's pitch black in Sedona after dark too.
My parents were born and raised in flagstaff AZ at the foot of devils chair i was born there myself but raised in California flagstaff is a beautiful place I'm preparing to retire there.
Thank you for making this video! Great info I wasn't aware of.
Just bought four lots in Park just west of Flagstaff. Moving from Hawaii and can't wait to do some snowboarding and possibly get a job up at Snowbowl. Wish me luck!
I'm planning on visiting Flagstaff next year in mid April for a few days. Is there usually snow still around at that time of year?
It sometimes snows in April, but probably won't be on the ground unless you arrive right after a storm.
Interesting post, very well thought out and presented as a non-wanted but, definitely pro Flagstaff pitch…👍
I'm a high school teacher who is thinking about moving to Flagstaff. How much is the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in central Flagstaff? I don't mind living in old buildings, so if that is cheaper, that would be fine with me. Also, it's a college town, but is it one of those kinds of college towns where everything in the city- the culture, the venues, the dating scene- is geared toward people in their 20s? I'm 55. Is it easy for middle-aged people to meet and make friends with other people in their 40s, 50s and 60s? Are older people a minority? I spent a week in Flagstaff, but it was Thanksgiving week, so I didn't notice there being lots of college kids there.
I don't work with rentals, so I can't really give you a good estimate on rental prices, especially for apartments. I can see rental listings on the MLS, but most of those will be condos or homess Usually apartments will have their own rental office and won't post vacancies the mls. Regarding the age of residents, although Flagstaff is a college town there are plenty of older people who live there. Espeically as you move away from the campus. I thought it was relevant to mention the younger residents in the video because of the University, but they don't make up a majority of the population. I just looked it up on bestplaces.net, 55 percent of Flagstaff population is over 35 years old.
Are there any greenhouse or indoor vertical hydroponic farming operations located in or servicing Flagstaff? My wife and I operate a seasonal Urban farmstead and indoor vertical hydroponic farm growing seasonal veggies, year round leafing greens, microgreens, and herbs for retail and restaurants. We've considered a move to Flagstaff and we're wondering what the opportunities would be for our operations.
I don't really know but I do see some small localized greenhouses in some backyards. Possibly more in Sedona, but that might be because I notice them when I'm out walking my dogs here in Sedona.
You would definitely need a climate control indoor or greenhouse, the swings in temperature don't allow for anything of quality to grow
Flagstaff is OVERRUN with panhandlers. They hit me up several times a day, EVERY day. Thank the ACLU.
You forgot to mention the train noise. It's actually not the train, it's the huge PA system they've installed at the crossings which goes through this obnoxious bell ringing and horn honking routine. The train doesn't need to sound it's own horn.
Also, there's a broken equipment problem. Most laundromats have a bunch of broken machines. Gyms have broken equipment and showers. Apparently there aren't enough tradespeople in Flagstaff and they have to come all the way from Phoenix, so getting things repaired is extremely difficult.
Handle these things?! Man those are the things that make life worth livin... A bit of danger, and granola... how can you go wrong! lol
Born and raised in Flag… bet you seen me around town with my mom a lot… 1994 was my freshman year in high school at FHS. Currently living in Gainesville Fl, but want to move back home.
I graduated from NAU in 1994 :)
Awesome video thank you
thanks
aaand the #1 reason to avoid flag is...drum roll... extremely high cost of living, mainly housing.
During the 60s , my dad taught at Verde Valley School , but on weekends we'd go to our cabin in Fort Valley near Flagstaff. Back then we didn't have to put up with a lot of people and traffic. But we did have to put up with the cold and snow . That sometimes meant parking our car by the highway, and walking through the snow half a mile to the cabin, if the road hadn't been plowed. Many times, the water pipes would freeze. In spring the road turned to mud , so we'd still have to walk. And speaking of wild animals, our dog did get skunked !! Even with the hardships , I still miss that place. I now live in Oregon.
When I had my cabin at Mormon Lake, 30 miles east of Flagstaff, we had those same problems. The road in front of the cabin was private, so if the guy who plowed the road in front didn't make it, we'd have to park the car and drag our stuff up to road to get to the cabin. My pipes never froze because we winterized every time we left in winter, even if only for a few days. And sometimes the power would go out and we'd need the wood stove. And the dog got skunked once to..
Good list. I will add for you, because I realize people cannot talk about these things. But, Flagstaff has become a very liberal progressive town. It is essentially the Berkeley of Arizona. In the 70s Flagstaff was quite the opposite as there were sawmills and lots of ranchers, etc., but that has changed dramatically. If you are a die hard liberal progressive you will love Flagstaff. If you are a conservative, you will not be welcome.
I have also noticed the shift since the 90s.
Oh no! I'm not a liberal fan! Maybe it'll change by the time I get out there
@feedingtimefitness3742 No, it won't! It has become very California heavy, and that has caused the cost of living to skyrocket. People are miserable there.
Surrounding communities that are much less crazy left are Munds Park, Williams, Doney Park, Winona, Bellemont, Kachina Village (probably 50/50 mix, but not as bad as FLG), but they will all involve a long commute (relatively speaking).@@JustinBaine824
Was in Flagstaff in Feb 1974. Was a quiet and small and beautiful little town! And it was snowing!!!
If you live on Fort Valley Rd ski traffic can be a real problem. There’s times I’ve sat for 15 minutes waiting for a break in traffic to turn onto the road - and it’s the only way out. 9:48
I’m also really surprised you didn’t mention the cost of living is high and decent jobs are hard to find
We talk about jobs in the "pros and cons of Flagstaff" video. And I have a cost of living video scheduled in a couple weeks. Sedona and Flagstaff are really expensive to live.
Wow 15 minutes must be sooo hard...
@@Jarbeefus-jr2gu 🙄 15 minutes at one intersection? You go tell your boss that your 15 minutes late to work and let us know how that goes for you.
Originally from Northern Indiana and lots of snow there are lots of people who come to Flagstaff for college that don't know how to drive in snow and ice. I'm also a graduate of NAU College of Business. I live in Northern Arizona, but not in Flagstaff.
NAU College of Business 1994!!! Woo hoo!!
Awesome and informative video. My wife wants to move to Tennessee, but I want to move to flagstaff. The only two questions I have is school jobs out there, are they hard to get into and do they pay well? Last do you think the housing market will go up in the next three years or drop?
So hard to predict what will happen with the housing market! Some forecasters are thinking there will be a massive decline, I personally lean towards thinking a small drop in prices which will recover in the long term. But I often get it wrong so I hate to even say it! Throughout the last 50 years , though, the housing market trends upward despite the ups and downs that happen on a short term basis.
Regarding jobs in the school system, I’ve known a few people who taught at NAU and a Couple who have taught at the public schools. I’ll have to ask some of my friends and see what they know.
Flagstaff is "poverty with a view"
Where are you moving from? My sister and her husband are from San Diego and she wanted TN (Knoxville) and he wanted Flagstaff. They ended up in Knoxville and after 1 year of living there decided they will move back to San Diego in June. My husband and I moved out to Knoxville to be near them and now that they are leaving, we want to leave too. I don’t like TN. We both would love to move to Flagstaff. I’m originally from the PNW.
@@bleulesyeux5416 it’s funny you say that because San Diego is the same way… but in flagstaff there not on top of you. My sister in-law lives there and where she lives it’s far enough away from stupid people, but close enough to get in to town.
@@MichelleNovalee my sister in-law lives in Doney Park.
Thinking of moving to Flagstaff. If drug problem with the "homeless" like in LA, San Francisco, Portland, etc develops, do you think the local government has the will to deal with it effectively before they start camping and smoking meth all night long right next to my new house driving down its value not to mention my enjoyment of the property?
Right now the homeless issue is nowhere close to that point. But it does seem like city officials keep abreast of other community issues. Sorry, I can’t say more than just “maybe”.
That is a perfect winter . Lol . Try -50 northern Canada
Everything that you said makes me want to move there. Used to live in Sedona
Nice video, and you pretty much it the nail on the head. I think I would have made an honorable mention of the "Purina Smell."
Thank you! We talk about the Purina smell in the latest “pros and cons of Flagstaff “ video 😏
I am on my way to live at Flagstaff and I am sure I will love it.
Ok. Let me give you the real low down on Flagstaff. No.1.Very expensive. No2.Alot of Drunk drivers, Car accidents, and Hit and runs. No.3. Trains,.Police and Ambulance Sirens Constantly. No.4. An incredibly Boring place to Live, not much to do here. No.5. Cell reception is Horrible, doesn't matter what carrier you have. No.6. Most of the people who Live here, are from California, and they are the people that the rest of the Californians were glad that they Left California.No.7. People have no idea how to drive in Snow here. And they are intoxicated as well. No.8. Auto repair shops charge way more than the AZ Hourly rate. And they are always booked up. You may have to wait 1to 3 months to get your car Repaired or Serviced. No.9. People are not the Sharpest tool in the toolbox around here. No.10.The Roads are in Horrible condition. And they stay that way.always. Be prepared to spend lots of money on replacing Struts,.Tires, Other Suspension parts, constantly. And you will need to repaint your car often here as the Sun oxidizes and eats the clear coat extremely fast.
interstate 17 going south from Flagstaff is so bad it feels like the axel is going ot rip off my car
They are right. Them makes some very good points.
Interesting video. Being a New Yorker all my life makes Flagstaff look like a cake walk. I would just avoid living in a flood zone area with absolutely no trees around the perimeter of the house.
My family is originally from New York, so I can relate :)
NAU has gotten so bad, though, like they’ve taken over most of Flagstaff. And that’s not about college students 4:08
I'd be happy to send you actual flooding video from where the flooding is happening here in Flagstaff. That would look more accurate then a lovely clear river.
I would love to have better video footage. My editors use stock footage if I don’t give them something to use, and I haven’t wanted to get close to film my own. Livinginnorthernarizona@gmail.com
@@livinginnorthernaz You got it!
Doesn't sound bad at all, especially not the homeless because I am a New Yorker! I have been curious about Flagstaff for sometime and I want to visit! 😊
Sounds good until the homeless start to set the forest on fire.
I've been here a little over 3 weeks....up from Prescott. I got some housing through a VA program which is great....but that is all....
I really do not like it here. I am trying to like it....
I feel so alienated here. It's very liberal, people are not warm or welcoming in my experience. It's too much of a pass through town. Hollow....
The college kids have each other, the tourists are here for a few days and the hard core locals will just treat you like a tourist and I'm not interested in spending 10 years somewhere to make 2 friends...Arizona seems to be a lot like that....nothing truly sticks...
I don't know how people meet here...even the college kids seem to not know each other. Just a million tiny circles of people passing each other by. Some say hi but that's it...nothing sticks and I'm a pretty friendly person.
I haven't felt this alone or disconnected since I spent time in southern California which is what it feels like. It's exactly what it's become....eastern California. Overpriced, and very indifferent....
My neighbors do not say hello or acknowledge each other....I'm wondering wtf am I doing here!? I'm getting my cdl in the next month and then i think I'm booking the he'll out of here....
I think the unfriendly neighbors and people keeping to themselves, hard to make friends, etc, is now common all over Arizona. I grew up in the valley (Gilbert/Phoenix), and people have changed so much over the years. When I was young we knew all our neighbors, had outdoor/street parties for Halloween and Christmas. That seemed to change during the 1990s. Think it might be similar in Flagstaff in that regard.
@@livinginnorthernaz I agree, its just changed so much. I finally left flagstaff and it was a hard decision to make but i was miserable there. I came back to Prescott and the difference was instant! People smiling and glad to see me, etc etc....There's a soullessness thats slowly creeping in to so many areas in this state.
What the heck is that odor at the Flagstaff mall where Dillards and J.C. Penney's and Beal's Outlet and Home Depot etc. is near? Purina? Dog or Cat food operation or is it another? Whew! Very noticeable. Panhandlers near Cocos/Kohl's/Sizzler areas and also at the plaza in the downtown. One had a dog with a hat on and glasses. Really.
purina plant
@@livinginnorthernaz Thanks. Loved Flagstaff but can't move there $$$ + Snow
NAU class of '91 here...Flagstaff has sure grown since then!
NAU class oh ‘94 😊
@@livinginnorthernazI went there in 94 just before they canceled the men's swim team for "equality". They respected the students back then, people always yielded to them. Seems since flag is more of a "second" home place w the wealth from Cali and phx now everything has changed since the "good ol" days
How is the wind?
Wind can be bad certain times of year, spring is usually the worst. And the areas in the north part of Flagstaff more windy than others, Doney Park for example. I actually sold a bare lot in Doney Park once to a guy who wanted to set up a wind farm....
@@livinginnorthernaz is it worse than fort Mohave
I grew up in Flagstaff and have lived all over the Verde Valley as well. I consider myself an expert on Flagstaff climate, weather, and history. Since I was a kid, I always said Flagstaff has two wind seasons (spring and fall) and winter and summer. As mentioned by the author above, the worst is probably spring and definitely worst in Doney Park and areas east and west of town. In the old days farmers tried to grow beans and other crops, but the wind destroyed so many crops the farmers finally gave up. The incidence of an eye condition called pterygium (I have them) is extraordinarily high in Flagstaff natives. They are caused from long term exposure to UV rays (Flagstaff is so high up in elevation, UV rays do significantly more damage than at lower elevations) AND WIND. The enormous temperature range from the extreme heights of the San Francisco Peaks (tundra) to the high desert only about 15 miles away creates a daily localized wind especially in spring and fall when air masses with extreme temp variation flow through on the jet stream. For me personally I thought Flagstaff weather in the summer was divine (the monsoons are epic) and when I was young I loved the snow in the winter with melt offs between storms. As a kid I hated spring and fall because of the incessant winds and as I got older the winds were too much. I moved to Sedona where I have found a hell of a lot less wing probably due to being closely tucked in on the Mogollon rim. Sedona also has much less temperature range than Flagstaff where in the winter somedays you can go from low 50s to zero fahrenheit in less than half a day. Further down in elevation, say in Camp Verde, another 12 miles from Sedona and you can get into a long thin pocket of Mediterranean climate. Grapes and all sorts of other fruits and veggies can be grown in this zone and the climate is perfect for humans most of the year as well. Many people that live along the Verde River think it is paradise- especially those with green thumbs.
@@ronaldlincoln2935 I was diagnosed with pterygium ( I think we are talking about the same thing) in both my eyes, yet it was much worse in one of them than the other. The ophthalmologist told me it was commonly caused by excessive wind exposure. I thought that seemed weird, but I figured it was because I was a cyclist when I was younger. About 10 years ago I had surgery on the eye and it has been better. I was told it was very rare, and I've never met another person who had it.
Granolas...baby boomers...hippies! Sounds like my tribe!
Oh yeah I fit right in....
Flagstaff is incredible. End of story .
Yep, I think I like Sedona better than Flagstaff after those two videos 😂
I am coming to Arizona this December!!
December is a good time to visit. The weather is nice :)
not every real estate agent talks honestly :) thanx
You're welcome :)
You keep 'em away, baby
Also politically, unlike most of Arizona Flagstaff is a little like California as far as politics go.
Granola's? 😂😂 I've never heard that term used before.
Possibly because I'm old, not sure if younger people still use that term :)
Granolas in Boulder are Baby Boomer-X women with long grey/white hair, shoulder and below
We call them crunch granolas backeast
@@livinginnorthernaz
To many people 😢I’m from Colorado Arizona mountain are baby mountain not a fan
I've been through there a few times and it is a nice town but way too liberal for me. I couldn't live in a blue state.
Arizona was a red state for many years, but it has changed recently with influx of out of state people moving in.
@@livinginnorthernaz I am sorry to hear that. The same thing happened in northern Virginia and now besides the incredible cost of living, they are fighting a real battle up there to get indoctrination out of their schools. Thank goodness I graduated when they taught important subjects and not political correctness and a woke agenda. I left that state because it was impossible to live around them and work with them. Now I'm in a red place and there is a huge difference. I pray that it stays this way. Liberals are not welcome here.
Aloha there !
Hi!
Some people are just chronic complainers and pessimists.
“Granolas” - never heard that term. Pretty insulting. I live in Washington state. I don’t care how people dress.
I'm not sure why that would be insulting.
Flagstaff is very expensive and very beautiful. I have seen mountain lions, herds of deer, eagles, sheep...the night sky is the best! The homelss population is not large like it is in Phoenix or Tucson where they are on every corner and median strip. The train is adorable, Downtown is gorgeous. Poderosa pines and red rocks and Sacred San Francisco Peaks are fantastic and you can section hike the Arizona Trail running through Coconino Forest if you like backpacking.
Another college town, that is oddly laid out.
Turn-offs: colleges, snow, varmints, vagrants and hippies.
Have you been to any other city?😂 you might be able to escape the snow but not anything else on this list.
So what's all the big deal about everybody has there own opinion live in west side of Florida it's awful humid damp super crowded very expensive
I've worked with a couple of people this year who've moved to Arizona from Florida. I haven't been to Florida since 1987, I barely remember how it was. Except it was humid and had a lot of flying bugs.
@@livinginnorthernaz bad choice
You failed to mention the high elevation.
She did. She said the elevation.
Sounds like someone does not want people moving here, too bad for you.
OK,OK,OK',OK',OK. Too much commercials ....
Content creators have little if any control how many ads UA-cam inserts into the videos.
Flagstaff is not for beginners 😂
I am sorry your dog passed
:(
Thank you. I am a dog lover.
Are you trying to discourage people from moving there cause you don’t want newcomers?
I don’t want anyone to move to an Arizona town and regret it over something that would have stopped them from moving if only they had known . On the other hand, some people hear the list of the worst things about Flagstaff and think “it’s not that bad, I can deal with that. And those kind of people we want to move to AZ
Don’t move to Flagstaff, they have skunks there 😂😂
Really?
STEERING AGAINST LAW .
video needs more views of Flagstaff and less face time of you
😂😂
Flagstaff ain’t for everyone so stay out lol
Now for that I'm going to move in over there you get me tempted to see why you don't want us to move there. Must be the gold
Because of your statement I am deciding to move there too. Thanks buddy!!!
@@anastasiasanchez7852 stay out especially if your from Cali. We full here
@@brooKlynKiteflyer yeah bro stay out we full
@@chrisr8159 I just got my agent to look for houses there I sold my house. Here in California. I'm bringing my whole family and families
The shocker, the spocker and the Fist focker!
This video is lame, my back hurts just watching this.
You watch it with your back? Add it to your don’t watch list….,.
@@livinginnorthernazYeah I did, that's why it hurt. Here, let me just click on the thumbs down. There. My back feels slightly better.
@@livinginnorthernaz , very informative. I enjoyed the video 🎥
Just bought four lots in Park just west of Flagstaff. Moving from Hawaii and can't wait to do some snowboarding and possibly get a job up at Snowbowl. Wish me luck!
I am always suprised when people move to Nothern AZ from Hawaii because its so beautiful there, but I get inquiries from Hawaii a lot. Most people I've talked to cite the outrageous cost of living as primary reason they leave Hawaii.