Why is Arizona attractive to all?
Arizona is an amazing place, mostly associated with tourism and leisure time. You can spend time while hiking, playing golf, and visiting the Grand Canyon. But there are many other activities in Arizona and its capital Phoenix!
Economics
Arizona has a growing economy, with a GDP of about US$320.66 billion for 2020. Healthcare, transportation, and government have the highest number of employees, but the economy is actually a diverse one.
In recent years, Phoenix has won the reputation of “the city of entrepreneurs’ dreams” with many shared workspaces, business incubators, start-ups. Small business is becoming vital for the city’s economics.
The largest employers are Banner Health, Wal-Mart and Kroger.
Education
The Arizona State University is one of the largest universities in Arizona. ASU is a member of the University Research Association and is classified as “R1: Doctoral University-Advanced Research Activities”. There are nearly 150,000 students at Arizona State University!
High school education is also on a decent level. High School District has 16 schools with more than 3,000 students. There are also several unified school districts serving grades K-12, and there are more and more charter schools.
Culture
Phoenix is an artsy city, with many performance venues and parks. It is the home of nationally-regarded institutions such as Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera House and Arizona Ballet. The scenery of the museum is very rich, including the Phoenix Art Museum, the Arizona State Capitol Museum, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the Arizona Military Museum and many newly opened art galleries.
Nature parks are what sets Arizona ahead of the rest. The Grand Canyon, Sedona, Monument Valley, Hoover Dam and Canyon Cheli National Monument are just some of the natural wonders that can be seen in this sunny state!
Disadvantages
Like everywhere else, Arizona and Phoenix have some shortcomings that you must keep in mind.
-The desert is really beautiful, but it is the source of allergies and sandstorms. Not to mention all the heat.
-The economy may be rising, but wages are still low.
-The whole state is more conservative. The laws on spending, immigration, law enforcement, and gun ownership are very strict.
Leaving Indiana for good! What will stay behind?
A medium-sized Midwestern state, Indiana is famous for its industry, culture, and sports teams. Indiana is bordered on the north by Michigan, on the east by Ohio, and on the west by Illinois, partially separated by the Wabash River.
Urban Landscape
The capital and largest city is Indianapolis with just under 900.000 inhabitants. It forms the Greater Indianapolis metropolitan area with Carmel, Fishers, and Anderson. Together, they have a population of over 2 million inhabitants.
Economics and Education
Indiana’s GDP nears $400 billion. Indianapolis contributes to it with around $140. Traditional industries include finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing. They, along with Fortune 500 companies Anthem, Eli Lilly and Company, and Simon Property Group form the backbone of local economics and make Indiana (and Indianapolis) a place of high interest.
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis is the top educational institutions of the state. It offers more than 200 degree programs, with the most prestigious one being in medicine, dentistry and law. It currently has nearly 30.000 students.
Culture and Sports
Indianapolis is a city of rich culture, most prominent in visual, performing arts, and literature. Massachusetts Avenue has a huge concentration of theaters, shops, and restaurants. Don’t miss the Indianapolis Art Center, the Indiana Theatre, the Old National Centre, and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Indiana takes serious pride in its elite sports teams. Indiana has produced more National Basketball Association (NBA) players per capita than any other state, thus the love for the Indiana Pacers. But the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League rival them in popularity.
Motorsports are a thing, too. After all, we are in the Midwest! INDYCAR and United States Auto Club are both based in Indianapolis, and the state is the home of Indianapolis 500, too!
There are a few cons of living in this calm, yet lively place:
– Crime is rather high.
– Wages are lower than in the neighboring states.
– The state is very, very conservative.
– Winters are colder than in most of the country.
Phoenix and Indianapolis head to head
Phoenix is twice as large as Indianapolis. The median income of the Arizona capital is slightly larger, but the average home price is higher by nearly $100.000. Indianapolis has cheaper groceries, healthcare, housing, utilities and transportation.