Quality of Life
Employment
Chandler is one of the fastest growing high-technology manufacturing cities in the west, which has helped it earn the nickname “The Silicon Desert.” The increasing presence of quality employers has added to this oasis of opportunity. Chandler also boasts fine dining and numerous upscale shopping opportunities.
Chandler's pro-business character makes it one of the most desirable cities to live and do business. The work force is well educated and technologically skilled. More than 75% of the 30,000 manufacturing-sector workers are employed in high technology fields, the national average is 15%. Chandler is located in one of the fastest growing urban centers in the country.
Existing business and industry can utilize the many advantages Chandler has to offer. An expansive work force of young, well-educated individuals is available to current and future employers. More than 64 percent of Chandler's population is between the ages of 18 and 54, with 75% of the adult population possessing some level of college education.
Businesses have 26 large industrial parks to choose from to acquire existing facilities or construct their own site with minimal delays. Retail space is more than eight million square feet and the annual disposable income in Chandler is more than $3 billion. Read more about Chandler's Major Employers.
Education
Excellence is more than just a motto in Chandler schools, - it is a daily pursuit. The outstanding educational programs offered throughout the district have resulted in nearly all of its schools being awarded citations for excellence by outside organizations, including the Arizona Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. Chandler students consistently have test scores higher than state and national averages. The Chandler schools are becoming some of the most technologically advanced schools in the entire country. Read more about Education.
Health and Well-Being
Chandler's Parks and Recreation system was named tops in the country in 1998 for its programs (National Recreation and Parks Associate Gold Medal Award), facilities and philosophy toward the importance of offering a wide variety of amenities to the community. Chandler's planning includes developing one neighborhood park in each square mile of the City. Recreation facilities include:
- Chandler's fourth major aquatics complex, with a fifth in the design stage
- A skate park, built with input from Chandler's youth
- 6.5-mile system of parks and trails along the Consolidated Canal
- A Jack Nicklaus-designed municipal golf complex, featuring 36 holes of golf
- A second major library branch
- A new club house at Chandler's Regional Tennis Center
Public Safety and Welfare
Chandler is a very safe community. Recently named the safest city in the state and the 72nd safest city in the country by a national research firm, Chandler's crime rate dropped more than 10 percent last year. Chandler is also one of just a handful of agencies in the U.S. to boast a nationally accredited police and fire departments.