Tucson, Arizona at Glance
With Titans of industry, towering cacti and mammoth mountain ranges, Tucson is a land of wonder and excitement. Cozied between the western and eastern halves of Saguaro National Park, this cosmopolitan city in the heart of the Sonoran Desert is home to nearly 550,000 residents, and the surrounding area of Pima County has more than 1 million.
Tucson is, in fact, the second-largest city in the state — and the city has grown steadily over the past decade. The population of Tucson is diverse and reflects its Mexican and Spanish roots — 45% of the city identifies as Hispanic or Latino, 42% as white, 16% as two or more races, 5% as Black or African American, 3% as Asian, and 3% as American Indian or Alaska Native.
The depth of this city’s cultural heritage makes the contemporary fabric a rich and inclusive one, from the museums to the annual festivals and the restaurants. It’s not hard to see why Tucson has earned international recognition like being named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Another benefit of living in Tucson is the warm climate. The city’s mild, dry winters make exploring the outdoors more fulfilling, and you can enjoy everything from hiking to horseback riding to skiing in and around the city. Tucson is also a bike-friendly town, so beginners and experienced riders will find this city to be an inviting one.
There are a few negatives about living in Tucson, though. Summers are intense and the extreme heat seems to start earlier and taper off later each year. And there isn’t a light rail system, so if you’re hoping to go car-free and live in the burbs, you’ll have to be amenable to biking and buses. There are express routes, though, on the city’s free public transit system, so it is doable.
If you are looking for an affordable city in an inspiring desert landscape, Tucson could be a great place for your family to call home. Learn more below in our moving guide about the pros and cons of living in Tucson, Arizona.
The Upsides of Moving to Tucson
Affordable Cost of Living
The city of Tucson has one of the lowest costs of living of all the major cities in Arizona. Even as real estate values have swelled across popular destinations like Mesa, Tempe, Chandler and Phoenix, Tucson’s housing prices have remained below the U.S. average. According to the U.S. Census, the median home value in Tucson averaged $218,200 between 2018 and 2022 — that’s $60,000 below the national average, more than $100,000 below the Phoenix average and $200,000 below the average in Chandler. Rental rates are astonishingly low in Tucson — the median gross rent was just $991/month during this same period.
But income levels are lower here, too. The median household income in Tucson is $52,049 — $20,000 below the national average — which may be one reason why home ownership levels in Tucson are only 51% when the national average is 64.8%. Income levels, home values and home ownership levels in Pima County are all higher than they are in the city of Tucson, but they are still below average for Arizona’s largest cities.
Annual household expenditures in the Western region do trend higher than the U.S. average. In addition to housing, you should expect to spend more on food, healthcare, miscellaneous items, and transportation unless you will be using Tucson’s public transit — Sun Tran is free!
Diverse Job Market
One of the best reasons to move to Tucson is the diverse job market. With three military bases in town and reliable, clear weather, the aerospace & defense industry is a powerful one. According to Sun Corridor Inc., more than 200 companies in the area are supported by this industry, which contributes $39 billion to the economy. The University of Arizona is the region’s other powerhouse, fueling both research and the workforce with its College of Engineering, along with Pima Community College’s Aviation Technology Center and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
The job market overall has been a bit of a mixed bag in 2024, with the unemployment rate fluctuating from 2.5% in April to 4.3% in July. But by the end of summer, rates had stabilized, holding at 3.8% in August and September.
The civilian workforce in the greater Tucson region has more than 400,000 workers, and no single industry dominates the market. The government employs 78,400 residents. Education and health services employs 73,800. And trade, transportation and utilities employs 70,600. But professional and business services and leisure and hospitality are also key players, supporting more than 90,000 jobs between them. Only a few industries suffered declines over the past year — including leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, information, and the government — but none shrunk by more than 2.9%.
Beautiful Natural Landscape
Majestic, otherworldly and ensconced by mountain ranges, the Sonoran Desert landscape is one of the most beautiful places to call home. One of the most unusual aspects of Tucson is that it’s bracketed by Saguaro National Park on two sides — making it an urban oasis in the sands. Hiking, cycling, and cactus-ogling are all popular outdoor activities in Saguaro, but don’t neglect the unneeded variety of native plants while you’re here. In addition to the enormous, cartoon-like saguaro cactus — which can grow up to 50 feet tall — wild zinnias, yellow brittlebush and pink fairy dusters are just some of the flora you’ll be treated to when Saguaro is in bloom. The native fauna is equally impressive — to survive out here takes guts and, well, a lot of natural defenses. Poisonous serpents like rattlers and coral snakes have got their safeguards down pat. But in the land of giants, it takes a real monster to get our attention. A gila monster, that is. The biggest lizard in the country.
To the north of the city lie the Santa Catalina Mountains, often noted as the southernmost place to ski in the U.S. The mountains were devastated by fire at the turn of the century, but there are plenty of signs of new life in the Coronado National Forest now. To get a taste of the slopes yourself, head to Mt. Lemmon and enroll the fam in ski school — a worthy investment that all but guarantees a full day of fun and a good night’s sleep.
Head south out of the city and you’ll find Chiricahua National Monument — the land of enormous cairns built by the gods. These gargantuan stacks of volcanic rocks are the province of the fox squirrel, the endangered ocelot and the adorable, white-nosed coati, which look like a cross between a ring-tailed lemur, an anteater and Pepé Le Pew. Hiking, camping and stargazing are all top-notch in this region, but horseback riding is one of the most fun ways to explore this rugged country.
Those seeking a deeper look at the clear night sky should visit the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, about an hour south of the city. No site within driving distance of Tucson gives off more mysterious, Southwestern vibes than this one — the VERITAS gamma-ray observatory here is designed to find “Earth-like” exoplanets. Truly, a more Mulder-and-Scully-approved apparatus could not possibly be imagined … for those who want to believe.
As many outdoor enthusiasts will already know, Tucson is a bike-friendly city, and whether you are a die-hard bike commuter, a serious mountain biker or a novice looking to rent some wheels on the weekend, this Arizona city is made for you. The Loop is a car-free pathway that can take you 131 miles around the region, but it’s easy to make a shorter out-and-back trip near where you live if you just want to enjoy the sunshine and an icy cold beer after your ride. Public art, restaurants and shops are easy to access from this popular trail.
Rich Cultural Scene
As a major college town less than two hours from the Mexican border, Tucson has a cultural vibrance many American cities envy. The historic sites, the museums and the festivals are just a few things that make this Southwestern gem stand out. But it’s the food scene in Tucson that put it on the global map. Tucson was the first city in the U.S. to be designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and the restaurants in this town do not disappoint. Whether you’re biting into a tasty breakfast burrito from El Taco Rustico or the steak frites at Augustín Kitchen, you can taste the best flavors from around the world here.
In between bites, there are plenty of museums and art galleries to check out around town. Learn about Tucson’s Mexican American heritage at the historic Sosa-Carrillo House or explore the city’s Spanish colonial history at the Tucson Presidio and the Mission San Xavier del Bac, the oldest intact European structure of its kind in the country.
The incredible collections of the Tucson Museum of Art and the University of Arizona Museum of Art will be a visual treat for art lovers, and music aficionados will flock to the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and annual events like the Tucson Jazz Festival and the Tucson Mariachi Conference. One of the biggest events of the year is the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. The largest and longest-running event of its kind, the 2025 edition promises an emerald city of sorts. Each year, the show displays rare, sparkling wonders, which have included the Star of Asia, a 330-carat star sapphire, and the Ausrox Gold Nugget, a 23.26-kg behemoth unearthed in Australia.
The Pima Air & Space Museum is a treat to visit, even if you’re not “aviationally” inclined. The museum boasts an impressive collection of aircraft, from the frightened airborne pufferfish that is the Aero Spacelines 377G “Super Guppy” to smaller fry, like the single-seat Bede BD-5. Exhibits also dig into newer technology, like drones, experimental airborne vehicles used by NASA and that queasy battle for intergalactic domination during the Cold War years — the space race.
For a closer look at one of the 54 high-alert sites during those terrible decades, plan a visit to the Titan Missile Museum. A short trip down 55 stairs will take you into the once top-secret silo where a nine-megaton thermonuclear warhead could be launched in less than 60 seconds and hit a target 6,000 miles away in less time than it would take you to stream an episode of The Americans.
If the very thought of nuclear trigger fingers drives you underground, then the ASARCO Mission Mine Complex will keep you sort of safely tucked away from radioactive fallout, but you’ll still need to wear a hard hat in case the material earth above you caves in. But what are the chances of that happening, right? We’re thinking almost as slim as the chance that you’ll uncover a load of gold in this copper-rich region.
Back above ground, you can visit one of the nation’s most unusual — and controversial — scientific complexes: Biosphere 2. When you approach this Valhallan compound, you may think to yourself, “Gee, what fun it would be to live here with my friends!” But take it from the residents who went crazy trying that in the 90s — no matter how enticing this self-contained climate research center may look, do not plan a 24-month sleepover here with your seven besties. The 2.0 version of Biosphere 2 supports cutting-edge climate research of the non-residential variety, seeking to uncover ways to revitalize fragile environments, from coral reefs to rainforests.
Mild Winters
Winter is one of the best times to be in Tucson. Temperatures average between the 50s and 60s between November and March, giving you months of opportunities to hike, bike and explore the city’s wonderous outdoors. Snow in Tucson is not unheard of — the city sometimes receives a countable number of flakes in January or February — but you’ll have to head up the slopes in Saguaro National Park if you’re looking for measurable quantities.
The Downside of Moving to Tucson
Extreme Summer Heat and Monsoon Season
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live on maybe the first or second rock from the sun, move to Tucson! The mean temperature on Mercury is around 333°F, but the mercury in Phoenix gets closer to hitting that temp every summer. In 2024, the mean maximum temperature in the city was over 100°F from May through October, and the city has seen highs of 115°F more than once over the last decade. Still, the annual mean temperature is in the low 70s F, so if you’re looking for a nearly frost-free environment, Tucson may suit your family well.
Tucson is an arid place, like many Western and Southwestern states. But unlike its neighbors, this sunny city usually receives measurable rainfall every month, and June-September is its monsoon season. During this period, two inches of rain a month can accumulate, which can cause hazardous conditions like flash floods.
One of the biggest concerns about living in this section of the Sonoran Desert is the air quality. Tucson narrowly escapes the American Lung Association’s “Most Polluted Cities” list, but it still ranks among the 50 worst in the United States for high ozone and particle pollution. Pima County overall receives an F on its ALA report card. Why is the air so bad? Valley regions, like the one between the mountains around the city of Tucson trap pollutants, everything from car emissions to smoke from forest fires. The dry desert sands often form massive dust storms — or haboobs — in the summer, a terrifying wall of allergens. So, if you suffer from any lung conditions, you should think carefully before moving to Tucson.
Limited Public Transportation
Tucson’s public transportation may not be as robust as some city-dwellers would like, but there are many things to love about the Sun Tran system.
First, it’s bike friendly. There are bike racks on every Sun Tran bus, and the city offers express bus routes between downtown, the airport and other popular destinations. Tucson’s 131-mile path known as The Loop is lauded as one of the best recreational pathways in America, but Pima County has more than 1,000 miles of designated bike lanes, shared-use trails and routes for cyclists and pedestrians.
Second, there’s a streetcar. While the routes aren’t nearly as extensive as full light rail service, the streetcar is easy to use and covers 4 miles and 23 stops, from the University of Arizona to Mercado San Agustín, Downtown, Fourth Avenue and the Main Gate Square. Seats on the streetcar flip up to accommodate bicycles, too.
Finally, it’s free. Yep. There is no cost to ride any of the Sun Tran vehicles, including the Sun Shuttle and on-demand ride services. Not many cities can compete with that.
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