Best area to relocate to in MEM or DTW.

[ltl_mush]

I'm looking at relocating to either MEM or DTW. What is the best area to live in? Based on location to the airport, crime rate, living expenses. Thanks for your answers.

 

[DoinTime]

The best area is MSP but if you insist on living either one of those other dumps try Mud Island in MEM. Its about 15 minutes to the parking lot and there are lots "civilized" people living in the community.

 

[another cfii]

I would also try Southaven or Horn Lake down in MS, it's a little less dangerous than MEM.

Around DTW, if you don't mind the commute, Ann Arbor is a super nice town. Lots of college parties

 

[Lear70]

Don't think he was talking about commuting... As such, I wouldn't go near Memphis... MSP is the nicest area, and the women are really TALL, and I'm not short by definition. Kinda fun if you like legs... hips can be a bit wide being a corn-fed region... were we talking about something else? Oh yeah...

Ditto the Ann Arbor idea for DTW although it's kinda pricey (but oh my God those college girls are hot... AND friendly!) Also up in Canton off I-275, both about 30 minutes from your door to parking. Bad news is that it takes nearly the same amount of time to get from employee parking to ops (20 minute or so bus then a 5 minute or so walk).

Any farther north (Birmingham, Grosse Pointe) gets really pricey and downtown just isn't safe to even drive through with your windows down or doors unlocked, much less live.

If you're looking for cheaper rent, south of the airport about 45 minutes to an hour is safe, anywhere near the airport has cheap rent (this is where the crashpads are located) but you don't want to walk around at night, even with a group of friends as you might be misinterpreted as a rival gang...

As far as picking a base - DTW still has the best mix of good trips and relatively junior seniority to be able to hold them. MSP is predominantly high speeds, but has longer turns in the hubs than DTW which is why the day-off average in DTW is the highest.

"Be warned: two new gangs, the "Packs" and the "Bleeds" have been rumored to have started plans for new gang wars"

(inside joke)

 

[ltl_mush]

Thanks for the info everyone. I live in MSP right now but don't want to deal with commuting. What's so bad about Memphis? I always heard DTW was worse than MEM. How much time/hassle would I waste if I had to commute?

 

[cl-65link]

What's so bad about Memphis? Have you been through training yet, or ever been to Memphis? If not, you'll see.

 

[Lear70]

If you currently live in MSP, why would you want to move to DTW or MEM anyway? Sounds like you'd be better off just staying put in MSP and yes you'll be able to hold it out of initial training; moving to chase the flying and/or days off when they could shift next month is a bit of a fool's errand anyway.

To answer your question, commuting between the hubs is a b*tch. The only flights you can ever count on getting on are the earliest ones in the morning (0600), the rest are overbooked pretty regularly. Most of our crews have started resorting to riding our own CRJ's through our connecting stations, such as:

DTW-TYS-MEM
DTW-SDF-MEM
DTW-CWA-MSP
DTW-DLH-MSP
MSP-TUL-MEM
MSP-ICT-MEM

And even some of those get pretty booked and you end up fighting over the jumpseat of the RJ? Not much fun. Living in a city like BNA, CVG, TOL, ERI, CLT, etc has pretty decent one-leg commutes, but it all depends on what you are looking for in QOL.

Personally, I've been commuting from BNA the entire time I've been here, have to ride the jumpseat 2 or 3 times a month, get bumped about once a month and have to take my 2nd flight choice, have never (knock on wood) been bumped off two subsequent flights...

 

[another cfii]

What's so bad about Memphis? I always heard DTW was worse than MEM.

Need i say "Flak jacket"? During my training, there were at least more than a few instances where shots were fired near the vicinity of our corporate HQ, and the gas station just outside HQ got robbed once. So go figure....

But as i said before, once you cross the state border into MS, it's like day and night. I visited the Hooter's in Southaven MS once, and boy, i knew for sure those waitress ain't local product I guess before i know it, it's gonna turn into a thread about where to get hot chicks, so i'll shut up now.

 

[flyboy]

If you HAVE to move, I have to suggest Southhaven or Horn Lake. Very close to the airport and without a lot of the traffic (lots of ways to get to the airport). As a Mississippian, I can vouch for the communities of this area. You won't deal with the ridiculous traffic in Memphis and it is really a family community. BTW, stay away from Beale street at night. Nothing but trouble down there. It's a real shame b/c they've really done a lot of work to "beautify" the city but it's still not safe. Good luck.

 

[flap operator]

What if this guy/gal is an XJ pilot? The schedules in DTW won't matter at PNCL if he/she doesn't fly for PNCL. MSP is senior at XJ and unless this person plans on commuting for the rest of his/her career (slight exageration) then moving to DTW or MEM is a realistic option.

Ditto the mudisland comments regarding MEM. Cordova, Germantown and Collierville are good too. But those are northers and eastern suburbs and the traffic is a perilous experience in MEM.



FO

 

[TonyC]

Cordova ... [is] good too.

Caution: Cordova is unincorporated Shelby County, and is a prime target for annexation by Memphis - - bad news. Some portions of what used to be called Cordova have already been annexed.

Memphis Annexation = plummeting real estate values



Add Bartlett to the list of good parts of the Memphis area - - like Germantown and Collierville, they're incorporated towns, and are part of the Shelby County school system - - MUCH better than Memphis City Schools, and better than DeSoto County (MS) schools. Drive times vary greatly based on time of day. Income taxes are ZERO.

If there are no school-aged kids to consider, there are some very nice areas in Memphis proper to consider.

 

[BUPilot]

Best area to relocate to in MEM or DTW

I have lived in MEM for 13 yrs now...Just got hired at PNCL. The previous posters are right...Go for the burbs. I own a house in unincorporated Collierville (So if Collierville annexes, we are a part of Collierville, not MEM...helps property values greatly), and the drive from right off of F.H.I. and I-385 to Airways is about 20 minutes. Going into the city is not bad, I just carry my .45ACP with me anytime I'm not on a plane or airport (with TN permit, of course). The crime is not really that bad here...I used to live in L.A. The problem is that the crime is more random here. I agree with the previous posts...definitely go with Germantown, Collierville, or Barttlet. I can't speak for MS...haven't been too impressed with the people there, but hey, whatever works for you.

 

[sf3boy]

If you have a lot of money, live in DTW. The same crap neighborhoods in Yipsi, Canton, Belleville will run you about 20 to 30 percent more than Cordova, Bartlett, South Haven, and Horn Lake. If you like to really spend money, stay in MSP or move to Ann Arbor, MI or Germantown or Collierville, TN.

Now I grew up in the south so I am biased, but if I am going to spend X on shelter, it is going to be somewhere it isn't cloudy or snowing 6 months a year.

 

[dogman]

I lived in the DTW area for five years before moving to MEM. In DTW I was in the Ypsi area, but very close to Ann Arbor. Ypsi and the Belleville area is very white trash, except for all the airline employees with crash pads. However, there are some very nice places not too far away. The Metro DTW area is by far better than the MEM area. I've been in MEM for three years now and can't wait to move back up North.

I had a very open mind when I moved into the DTW area. At first I didn't care for it that much, but the place did grow on me. I met a lot of people, and found all kinds of different things to do. When I moved to MEM, I approached it with the same positve attitude. My attitude has changed to a bad one.

Call me a carpet bagger.

 

[Simon Says]

Caution: Cordova is unincorporated Shelby County, and is a prime target for annexation by Memphis - - bad news. Some portions of what used to be called Cordova have already been annexed.

Memphis Annexation = plummeting real estate values

Boy, isn't that the truth. We got annexed two years ago and our taxes doubled, and city services went into the a nose dive. Stay out of reach of any annexation is a smart move.

PS, Have you seen the new street lights on Houston Levee by HYW 64. Wooden telephone poles with wires stringing everywhere! Geez, I gotta move to the country.

 

[scabseeker]

I too lived in Ann Arbor for 5 years before moving to Collierville. I have to say I do not regret leaving DTW. You are wasting your life living in the snow. Not to mention it was more expensive up north. I bought a brand new 4 bedroom house for cheaper than 5 year old condos in the DTW area. I'll never understand...worse weather = higher prices.

 

[405]

Bartlett

I had to jump in and post on this subject. I "own" a house in Bartlett and our property values are going up. Germantown and Collierville are the same I'm sure. I would also avoid anything near a mall (Wolf Chase/Cordova) because these areas seem to attract more crime than normal in this city. Explore areas around the Hickory Ridge Mall, the ex-Mall of Memphis, etc. and you'll see what I mean. Malls kill neighborhoods in Memphis. Any area that could possibly be annexed by Memphis should be avoided also. Definitely look in Collierville, Germantown and Bartlett. I don't know much about Desoto County, MS but I would look there too. I have family in Southaven and Olive Branch and they love where they live. Low crime rates, good schools, etc. Good luck.

My edit is to add that I grew up here. I was away from Memphis from 1990 to 1998. I was in the military for that time and didn't get back here that much. A lot changed in eight years.