Your opinion...Phoenix or Los Angeles?

Travel Info
So I have the option of attending graduate school in Phoenix or LA county. It is a really hard decision to make. I currently live in Las Vegas, which I do not like at all, and was born and raised in Southern California. I love California, but the prices might kill me. If I moved back to Cali I would be living somewhere in the San Fernando Valley.

I would like to experience a new town. Some people have told me that Phoenix reminds them of Los Angeles. I have been to Tempe and it seems better than Las Vegas.

Just looking for some honest, helpful opinions.

Cheers.

Travel Tips

Phoenix and LA are both sprawling, car-driven cities. LA has the advantage of having an ocean (though it take an hour and a half to drive to it) and much better summer weather than Phoenix. Phoenix is also a lot drier than the more green Los Angeles, and as you said, a bit cheaper to live in.

I agree that Tempe is probably more interesting than Las Vegas, but there's a lot of people who will tell you - with a fair amount of justification - that LA is more interesting than Phoenix. They are similar enough in scope that I would probably base my decision mostly on which is the better graduate school.
Others

L.A. But maybe not the valley. Go south.
Phoenix is quite hot and very fast-growing, like Vegas, so if that is what you don't like about it, you might not be happy there. Culturally, L.A. has more to offer than Phoenix. Both have a lot of traffic and urban sprawl. It depends on what your priorities are. I don't think Phoenix will be much of a new experience for you, but it will be less expensive than L.A.
L.A all the way
LA sucks i lived there and its over crowded and smoggy i love phoenix plus you wont get mugged or shot here
i will pick LA bcuz of more jobs and it has the beach and its just more live while phoenix is like living in a desert but there is some really nice spots out there and its way more safer than LA..
You did not say what kind of graduate school. Which city has a better graduate school? I will base my decision on that.