Crime or crummy neighbors are where ever you happen to find them, but you might also check Litchfield Park, our extended family lives there. Goodyear has had a good reputation in the past, I don't know anyone who lives there right now. I would avoid El Mirage--newer homes are placed right next to very old and run down and the prices have left many repossessions street after street. I personally didn't worry about accidents but the jets are loud at times and we noticed it in their El Mirage home (Grand/Thunderbird) but not the Litchfield home (Bethany Home area). Surprise was "up and coming" before the housing bust, very nice homes, well planned neighborhoods per my co workers, but the commute if you work in Phoenix is pretty rough. Anthem is further north and central on I 17 but it's won lots of awards, with commute issues too.
Also, check out the HOA issues. Somje are useless, some are tyrants, some reasonable and some terribly expensive, somewhat justified if you get a community pool in the bargain.
You said you didn't have kids, but you have to remember, good schools build good neighborhoods, and vice versa, so if you ever plan to sell your house, or if kids could be in the future, you have to keep that in mind.
