Need Advice: Family Friendly AZ towns not in the valley

[northAZarcher]

I've been in cottonwood area for a year now. Very small with great restaurants.  Flagstaff,  Phoenix and Prescott are all 1 hour away for any big shopping needs. Lots to do in the area. Fishing, hunting, hiking. Not sure on schools.  Past that phase in life. 

Also a fan of the Prescott area. 

[idgaf]

I commute from showlow a couple times a month to Scottsdale.  A couple times a week Is rough.  I would suggest Heber, it would cut an hour from a daily trip. 

[bhuntin]

plus one for Paulden😂

[Sky Island junkie]

So Az getting pretty congested. Better stay north!

[Rharris]

How do you expect to ride one of my mules and follow my hounds with me way over by Prescott?

[catclaw]

I lived in Prescott for  3 years. Not a fan of the traffic congestion. 

I would have to live in an outlying area and come to town very rarely. 

I also didn't think it was a good place to raise a family.  Too much of the population is elderly and they don't support the schools.  The schools were run down and poorly funded.  My kids hated Prescott.  

Ended up moving back to Mesa.  

[Boarman03]

I don't know about the schools, but look at Coolidge and Eloy. They are probably about the cheapest land wise and in your path.

[HighschoolHunter]

Grew up in the valley but am in construction and have been hunting all over the state for the last 10 years. East of Prescott/Mayer area sounds the most like what you are describing and I know some people that have done that exact thing, buy an acre outside of Prescott to homeschool the kids and the dad drives an hour into the valley once every couple weeks. Even if it’s as much as twice a week, Mayer is less than an hour from north phoenix so I have considered that before. Only problem is I think those areas are pretty expensive especially as you get closer to Prescott/higher elevation. 
 

wickenburg and buckeye kinda fit your description but they are crazy expensive and will only get more crowded as development moves out that way. Also just hot dry desert.
 

Payson is awesome and truly the gateway to the best fishing and hunting in the state of AZ, also while only 45 minutes from fountain hills/the valley. And will probably never get crowded/overdeveloped cause it basically sits on a rock pile that’s impossible to build on. If you can afford it that’s where I would go.

Oracle is a small town north of Tuscon that could work if you are mostly between Tuscon and the valley, and sits at 4500’ so cooler than both, and has amazing Coues hunting in every direction. But I don’t know anything about schools/reputation/cost of living. 
 

Let us know where you land and God Bless.

[CatfishKev]

If you liked safford cottonwood and camp Verde are similar in climate.  We considered camp Verde.

[wildwoody]

You need to move up this way Kev.

[gonhunting247]

Good luck on your move back. I hope you find a great spot!

[trphyhntr]

6 hours ago, Boarman03 said:

I don't know about the schools, but look at Coolidge and Eloy. 

Little dark out there 

[CatfishKev]

49 minutes ago, wildwoody said:

You need to move up this way Kev.

After the most recent discussion it's looking more like safford.  I don't think momma will be wanting to be away from the babies. My kid loves working his morenci job and the next boy will be guaranteed to end up with his big bro.  But it's at least 2 hours closer then SV.  

[wildwoody]

Heck ya..

[catclaw]

Good luck