6 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Prescott
In the middle of Arizona, surrounded by the “Quad-City”
you will find the city of Prescott. Prescott is a beacon for retirees, former
California residents, and fans of warm weather in general. Each year, Prescott
attracts new families, students, or anyone looking for a change of pace. And
new residents are welcomed into “Everybody’s Hometown” with characteristic
earthy good cheer.
Before any big move, however, there are bound to be tons
of questions about housing, education, jobs, livability, and just what there is
to do in your new city of choice. From the practical logistics to the local
cultural specifics, let’s take a look at six things you need to know before
moving to Prescott, Arizona.
1. Housing
Costs
Plenty of California and New York residents choose to
relocate to Arizona for its lower housing prices. A spacious two-bedroom family
home in the clean Arizona mountain air in Prescott can cost about 30% less on
average than a house of the same size in California. The cost of rent is also
significantly higher in California or New York than in Arizona in general, and
Prescott in particular.
To buy a 2500 square foot home in Prescott will cost you
about $600,000; a great deal when compared to the steep $800,000 price tags of the home of the same size in California. The average home value in Prescott,
meanwhile, is a cool $257,000, meaning you can live like a king at a fraction
of the cost.
2. Tax Breaks
For many former East Coast or West Coast residents,
Arizona is a financial safe haven due to its generous tax policies. People who
live in California are required to pay nearly
double the amount of state income tax as Arizona residents. Individual
income tax in Arizona runs at about 4.5%, as opposed to the hefty 9.3% individual income tax rate for Californians. The difference
between Arizona and New York tax rates is nearly as high. Residents of New
York is required to pay 8.82% income tax.
Property tax is also lower in Arizona, by almost $500, as
Arizona property tax runs at $1043 while California’s property tax rate is
$1449. And even state sales tax is lower in Arizona, although the difference is
not quite as staggering: Californians have to pay 7.25% versus Arizona’s 6.60%.
For recent retirees in particular, these lighter tax rates
can make relocating to Arizona an attractive choice, especially given that
there is no Arizona state income tax on Social Security benefits.
3. Small
Town Community Feel, Modern Amenities
With a population of under 41,000, Prescott is no sprawling
metropolis. But for those who want to live in a local community where everyone
knows your name, your barista already knows your coffee order when you walk in
the local coffee shop in the morning, and you go for regular bicycle rides with
your friend, who also happens to be the local physician, then Prescott might be
the right place for you.
Living in a small town community doesn’t mean you will be
cut off from the rest of the world, however. In addition to all the benefits of
a homey, conservative, local downtown, you can still remain well connected to
the big, broad world via reliable local
high-speed internet providers. So for remote workers and digital nomads
seeking a change of pace, Prescott serves as a viable option.
4. Great
Education
For families considering a move to Prescott, Arizona,
there is no more important factor than the quality of the local schools.
Luckily, you have your choice of top-notch schools to choose from in the
Prescott area. Skull Valley, Congress Elementary District, and Owens-Whitney
all garnered a perfect ten rating from Zillow, while the nearby Ash Fork Joint
Unified District received a highly impressive rating of eight.
Prescott is also a college town that hosts students from
around the world. Prescott College
attracts alternative, dedicated students interested in pursuing a unique course
of study that often combines a broad liberal arts education approach with a
focus on environmental concerns. The college campus offers events that bring in
the local community, so residents of Prescott can also participate and benefit
from the unique cultural programs on offer.
5. The
Climate
Arizona is known for being hot, and if you are planning to
move to Prescott, you will want to reckon with this fact beforehand. Summertime
heat in Arizona can regularly top out at triple-digit temperatures, and drivers
in Arizona know to avoid purchasing a car with plastic or leather seats-
otherwise, you might actually melt into your car. Luckily, however, Prescott’s
high altitude means that the temperature is somewhat cooler than other parts of
the state.
The city is located at 5400 feet above sea level and is
surrounded by mountains, so the air up here doesn’t feel as oppressively hot as
in nearby Phoenix, which is only one hour’s drive away. In fact, the difference
in temperature from Phoenix to Prescott can shift by as much as twenty degrees!
So while you can still drive to Phoenix to enjoy all the
attractions and amenities the big city has to offer, your return home will
typically be a nice soothing relief from Phoenix’s relentless dry desert heat.
You should be prepared to experience the temperature changes of all four seasons
in Prescott, however. Since Prescott is high up in the mountains, most winters
here you will see some snow.
6.
Local Activities, History, and Culture
Prescott offers plenty of local activities for residents
and visitors alike to enjoy. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fun activities like
bicycle riding, golfing, and hiking in the local mountains and deserts. The
Prescott National Forest offers visitors a chance to experience what the local
area was like way back when pioneers were panning for gold in Lynx Creek. The
Sonoran desert, meanwhile, presents hikers with the possibility of encountering
unique desert plants and creatures. Just remember to take care and don’t poke
the rattlesnakes!
For a taste of local culture, residents can visit the
Sharlot Hall Museum or the Phippen Art Museum in Downtown Prescott. For a
respectful educational experience, residents can visit the nearby Yavapai-Prescott tribe reservation,
to learn about this local Native American tribe’s ongoing lifestyle and
traditions. And Prescott residents can always look forward to the popular
annual events like Territorial Days, Frontier Days, the folk arts festival, and
the World’s Oldest Rodeo.
Everybody’s
Hometown
Whether you are drawn to the financial benefits of living
in Prescott or attracted to the natural beauty in the area, Prescott truly has
something to offer every resident. Walk down the streets of downtown Prescott,
past red brick buildings, local businesses, elm trees, and friendly faces, and
chances are that you, like most Prescott residents, will once again think about
how lucky you are to call Prescott home.
To learn more about the Prescott, Arizona real estate market contact Mike Eastwood Author-CEO of Bello Sol Inc/ West USA Realty of Prescott at 928-636-1500 or visit us at www.westusaofprescott.com
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