Daughter is grad of ASU 3 years ago; so needless to say the wife and I researched and explored a lot of areas to put our daughter alone. We originally had her in an apartment in Chandler. It was a nice area close to Old town Chandler. Her 3rd year of school she moved with her then boyfriend to a apartment in Scottsdale. Really nice town but very pricey. Years ago it was dubbed the Beverly Hills of the Desert; I was corrected by a Scottsdale Karen a year ago that it has changed to the Newport of the Desert, yeah whatever !! The princess and her fiancé now live in North Glendale, North of Happy Valley off the 17 freeway; which works for her since her VA satellite office is in Prescott. She commutes an hour 3 to 4 days a week to Prescott to work but traffic is nothing, rest of the days she's in Phoenix. It is really nice; most everything nearby as far as amenities are fairly new and everything you could need or want. There is a small piece of Phoenix up there that is nice also before you enter the Scottsdale area. Trying to remember the town north of them that is really growing, Anthem & Green River ??
IMO stay away from anywhere near the 10 fwy north or south, also east of 110 in Glendale near the Cardinals Stadium, surprisingly was one of the highest crime areas of Phoenix. No to Guadalupe, Mesa/Gilbert is ok if you are out far enough. Tempe would be a no or any part of downtown Phoenix. Future son in laws sister and her husband bought a place in Goodyear that is new construction, nice and affordable; he's a cop in Phoenix, she's a Guard in the prison out there.
Wife and are relocating to Prescott/ Payson area to retire.
Good luck and I recommend a house with a pool !! LOL !!