Tucson is a large city located in the state of Arizona. The city has a population of 527,586 residents. At 73%, the majority of the Tucson population is White; this is followed by 5% Black and 3% Asian. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Tucson are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 29% of the population also speak Spanish. Tucson tends to attract a younger crowd, as the median age of 33 is far below the national average.
Are you trying to ascertain if living in Tucson is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before relocating to any new city in Arizona, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, weather, education, you can easily compare the best places to live in Tucson and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Tucson to Arizona and the national average.
Using data and statistics Tucson has received a livability score of 65/100. This score is ranked in the 39th percentile when compared to all other cities. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Tucson has higher than average scores for the following: amenities (A+), cost of living (B-) and weather (B+). On a less positive note, Tucson does not have favorable ranks for the following: crime (F), education (F) and employment (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., Tucson has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Tucson: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Sabino Canyon, and Pima Air & Space Museum.
Jobs are always a hot topic for anyone looking to relocate to a new area. Your chances of finding new employment in Tucson is actually far better than most areas. With a low unemployment rate of 0%, finding work should be much easier than the average city.
Assuming that Tucson meets all of your requirements, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Tucson. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Tucson are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Tucson come in at $132,200, which is 25.3% lower than the Arizona average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Tucson, the home price to income ratio is 3.5, which is 0% lower than the Arizona average. Knowing if your home will appreciate on a long term or even a short term basis should be factored into your decision making. An increase in your home’s value can be a good way to generate tax-free equity that can create long term financial security. In the past year, appreciation rates for homes in the Tucson area were 7.9% and 5 year appreciation rates were 6.4%.
| Statistic | Tucson | Arizona | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 73.8% | 76.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.7% | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 4.2% | 2.0% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 2.9% | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 3.3% | 2.0% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.4% | 5.7% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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