If you are thinking about moving to Tucson, Arizona, there are a few things you should know!
The city has a culture all of its own, from the landscape to the food, activities, weather, wildlife, and more.
Living in “The Old Pueblo”, as it is fondly called, is an experience you will not forget.
Here is everything you need to know about living in Tucson!
Contents
Pros of Living in Tucson
1. The Scenery is Breathtaking
Wherever you look in Tucson, the scenery is bound to take your breath away.
The city is surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, which features mountains on all sides.
The state’s official symbol is the enormous Saguaro cactus, which you can find growing in literal forests.
In addition to the beauty of the desert, the pristine air quality and low light pollution mean crystal-clear skies all year long.
2. The Weather is Sunny Year-Round
Tucson is one of the sunniest cities in the country, with about 350 days of sunshine on average.
June through September is the official “monsoon season”, but you will still find little cloud cover during this time.
The city averages 10.61 inches of precipitation a year.
You can depend on the weather to be nice for outdoor activities at any time of the year.
3. The Population is Diverse
Diversity is a fact of life in Tucson.
Being so close to the Mexico border means that the city has a sizable Hispanic population, at about 43.6 percent.
While the majority of the rest of the population is Caucasian (also at about 43 percent), Tucson residents also tend to be open to other cultures and welcoming to people of all ethnicities.
4. The Air Quality is Some of the Best in the Country
If you are looking for clean air, you almost can’t do any better than Tucson.
The city has some of the cleanest air in the United States — and even beats out most other cities across the world!
This makes it an excellent place for people with chronic respiratory issues such as asthma.
It has consistently ranked as the city with the cleanest air in the country by the American Lung Association.
5. Cost of Living is Affordable
The cost of living is stunningly affordable in Tucson, especially when you consider the size of the city.
Costs here are roughly 10 percent lower than the national average.
Studies show that a family of four can live comfortably on roughly $3,000 a month in Tucson.
Rental prices range from $800-$1,300 a month for an apartment.
This is particularly remarkable when you consider that the rest of Arizona has a higher cost of living than the national average.
6. There Are Plenty of Jobs
The job market in Tucson has plenty to offer.
The University of Arizona is the single biggest employer in the city, and there are many other jobs in sectors such as defense, hospitality, tech, and more.
The average hourly wage in the city is $22.18 with a citywide unemployment rate of 2.8 percent.
7. There is a lot to do
With more than 350 days of sunshine every year, there is plenty to do in Tucson!
From outdoor activities to museums, art galleries, music venues, and much more, this is a city that knows how to have fun.
The entertainment does not stop when the sun sets, either.
You can depend on most bars and clubs to close as late as 2 a.m., making it a perfect place for night owls!
8. Education is Excellent
Tucson is home to the University of Arizona, but it rates highly in terms of education at every level.
This is especially significant considering that Arizona as a state ranks low in education.
So if you are looking for a place in Arizona to educate your child, Tucson is the place to be!
The city has small classes and a wide variety of schooling options, including public, private, and charter schools.
9. The Food is Top-Notch
Southwestern cuisine is amazing, but Tucson takes it to another level.
The city has been named a World Heritage Site of Gastronomy by UNESCO, which means you can find something delicious to eat wherever you go.
In addition to plenty of Mexican cuisine (some people say that the city is the best place to find Mexican food north of the border), you will find plenty of dishes that are totally unique to Tucson.
Cons of Living in Tucson
1. Valley Fever is a Thing
When you live in Tucson, getting Valley Fever might be a when not an if.
This illness attacks both humans and pets and is carried by a fungus found in desert soil.
Arizona is home to two-thirds of the nation’s Valley Fever cases every year.
Most people get better within a few weeks, though some need long-term antifungal treatment.
In some high-risk people, the fungus can cause pneumonia or even meningitis, which can be fatal.
2. It’s Hot — Really Hot
It should come as no surprise that Tucson’s climate can be fiery.
The city lies in the Sonoran Desert, which means it enjoys hot, dry weather for most of the year.
During the winter, this means that temperatures are mild and pleasant.
But during the summer, the heat is often described as “unbearable”, with temperatures rarely falling below 90 degrees between July and August and often rising as high as 105.
3. There Are Creepy Crawlies
Despite what you might think, there aren’t as many common insects in Tucson as you might think.
The extremely dry climate makes it a poor habitat for gnats, flies, and mosquitos.
However, there are some unusual insects that might be hard to get used to.
Black widows, scorpions, and tarantulas are all common, as are reptiles of all kinds.
Do not be surprised to see lizards and snakes, including some which can be extremely dangerous.
4. Commuting Can be a Bear
Commuting in Tucson is famously inefficient.
Although it is a major metropolitan area, the city only has one major highway (and a half, if you want to be technical).
That means that most heavy traffic, such as freight trucks, is forced to keep to I-10 and I-19.
For locals, it is much easier to use surface streets unless they want to fight a lot of traffic and much bigger vehicles.
5. The Job Market Isn’t Diverse
Wait, didn’t we just say that the Tucson job market is robust?
Well, yes — but there are some caveats.
While there are plenty of jobs available in Tucson, they tend to be in a few specific industries.
Tucson’s biggest employers are the university and military, with a growing tech industry on the rise.
If you do not have experience in a relevant field, you might not find it easy to get a job here.
6. Crime Rates Are Higher Than Average
Like any city, Tucson has safer and more dangerous areas.
However, as a whole, the city’s crime rate is significantly higher than most of the rest of the country, including the national average.
In fact, Tucson scores worse than 94 percent of cities in the United States.
Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Tucson are 1 in 141, putting the crime rate at 121.57 percent higher than the national average.
7. Flying Can be a Hassle
It might seem strange, but even as a major city, Tucson is not easy to navigate air travel.
The airport itself is nice, and generally not terribly crowded.
But if you are trying to get to another major city outside of Arizona, expect to have to make a connecting flight.
Tucson is not considered a major hub like Phoenix, so if you travel a lot, you might find yourself hopping on a lot of connections.
8. You’ll Have to Deal With Snowbirds
Tucson has a famously mild climate during the winter, which means that it is a hotspot for tourists between November and March.
These seasonal residents are known as snowbirds.
They are often retirees who have unlimited free time to spend months in new spots.
This influx of tourism can cause bigger crowds and more traffic, irritating locals.
Pros and Cons of Living in Tucson, AZ – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Tucson | Cons of Living in Tucson |
|---|---|
| 1. The Scenery is Breathtaking | 1. Valley Fever is a Thing |
| 2. The Weather is Sunny Year-Round | 2. It’s Hot — Really Hot |
| 3. The Population is Diverse | 3. There Are Creepy Crawlies |
| 4. The Air Quality is Some of the Best in the Country | 4. Commuting Can be a Bear |
| 5. Cost of Living is Affordable | 5. The Job Market Isn’t Diverse |
| 6. There Are Plenty of Jobs | 6. Crime Rates Are Higher Than Average |
| 7. There is a lot to do | 7. Flying Can be a Hassle |
| 8. Education is Excellent | 8. You’ll Have to Deal With Snowbirds |
| 9. The Food is Top-Notch |
Moving to Tucson
Tucson certainly has a unique way of life, one that is not for everyone.
But there are also countless people who love living here!
If you are looking for a place with beautiful views, clean air, and sunshine, Tucson is the city for you.
Tucson Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Tucson Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Tucson Called “The Dirty T”?
You might hear Tucson referred to as “The Dirty T”, but the nickname is not a reference to the city’s culture.
It has to do with the fact that Tucson sits on the edge of the desert and experiences a higher-than-average amount of grit and dust.
However, some people find it offensive to refer to the city as “dirty”.
It is more commonly called “The Old Pueblo”.
What Are Tucson Locals Called?
You might think that Tucson natives are called Tucsonians, but calling them that is a sure way to show that you are not from around there.
People from Tucscon are actually called Tucsonans, so you will want to be sure to get it right while visiting!
What is Tucson Known For?
Tucson is known for many things!
It has a reputation for its stunning scenery and unique desert climate, vibrant culture, and pristine air quality.
Nature photographers, astronomers, and outdoor enthusiasts also love its spot on the edge of the Sonoran Desert, where air pollution is low and the night sky is amazingly clear.
What Salary do You Need to Live in Tucson?
The cost of living is surprisingly low in Tucson, so you do not need to make a huge salary.
In fact, a salary of about $36,760 a year will comfortably afford a one-bedroom apartment in the city.
To buy a home in Tucson, you would need to make about $48,635 a year.
The average salary in Tucson is just above $71,000.
What is The Coolest Month in Tucson?
Winter in Tucson is famously mild, with temperatures averaging between the mid-fifties and low sixties between late November and late February.
December is the coolest month on average, with an average low of 43 degrees and an average high of 66 degrees.
Because of its higher elevation, Tucson does usually get a couple of inches of snow.
I think there’s an a lot of outright errors as a seasonal winter snowbird from Michigan. We leave Tucson in late April to return to our house in Ann Arbor Michigan!
Between November and April Tucson is about as perfect a place in the continental United States as you can get! We live in the foothills, the near to town foothills off Swan and River Road. We are five minutes from Sabino Canyon and And less than half an hour from some of the best hiking birdwatching and natural history that you can find in the continental United States especially since the Florida climate has been pretty well destroyed by snowbirds.
There is no hiking in Florida and abundant hiking in Arizona! And if you are a blue state voter well you will be happy in Tucson since it is well known to be the blue corner in an otherwise red state.
I looked at houses in Phoenix which is just like LA without the ocean.
The traffic in Tucson is NOTHING like that of PHX!!!! all kinds of other world-class And natural history. Tucson has the largest cactus and succulent society in the world and the second largest city Audubon society in the United States after Portland Oregon.
For retirees who are academics there are a few play better places you could live in the winter than Tucson. Adult education opportunities are abundant and Tucson has one of the most vibrant artist colonies in the United States.
Many many famous painters live in this metropolitan area and work out of their homes Painting and sculpting the surrounding landscape. Yes all you other folks move to Phoenix and deal with all the traffic and the redneck voters. Tucson is nothing like that.
When I was looking for a house I left Phoenix after a morning of dealing with the traffic and the congestion and smog and immediately drove south through the fog enveloping the desert, with the Catalina‘s rising up above the fog like so much magic.
I dare say you will not find any magic in Phoenix, but around Tucson well (you will……)
I agree with much of your observations about the beauty and culture of the ” Old Pueblo”, however, I might suggest that for an educated individual you leave you political blue/red and redneck comments silenced. Rather hypocritical and prejudiced don’t you think? As a “deplorable” God loving man, there are more of us “right” sided thinkers around than you might wish to believe. I have listened and heard our abundant Hispanic community which is recognizing this as well. Are you in touch with the community in any way outside of your Foothills bubble? Guess I’m on the other side of the tracks, lol, Sabino and Cloud. Foothills east is it?
This “Blue corner” as you call it, has the highest drug and child trafficking problem in the entire nation. Not a very good stat for problems that lay directly at our City and County officials feet.
Popular saying amongst us “rednecks”…don’t California our Arizona!
Local restaurateur for 30+ years, with numerous successful entrepreneurs and business people of the same mindset.
Be sure to visit the largest and most wonderful nursery in the Old Pueblo sometime. Mesquite Valley Growers.
Blessings to all
IGY6
1VETERAN Foundation.org
Thanks
My family of six is relocating to Tucson in January. Born and raised in Wisconsin this is going to be a major change for us.
However, due to health issues contributing to my service in the Marine Corps it was recommended by the VA that I move to the better climate.
We have visited Tucson three times now house hunting and live everything about it so far.
Two of my four sons have tried out for the Junior Coyotes hockey team and made the roster and everyone we have met has been great.
We found a home in Continental Reserve and the neighborhood is fantastic.
I’m happy to announce my wife and I vote conservative and our soon to be 17 year old son does as well.
I hope we can help turn the so called blue corner red and that should help with the crime I see mentioned.
I am reaching out to you for a few reasons.
Not sure when you posted this or if you’ll even see it, but my husband has been offered a very good job on the airforce base that we are highly considering taking. We would be making the move from Oregon (born and raised and now raising our *also 6-person family—mom, dad and 4 boys!* there). NOT an easy decision by by any means, so if you’ve now moved and want to offer me/us any advice as to where to look for a home, what schools to aim for, etc—I’d GREATLY appreciate connecting with you!
Thanks and have a great day-
Hayley
OMG! Stop already! Can’t we just be Americans? Better yet, can’t we just be “humans” and stop with the ridiculous red and blue labels? I swear, both of you are only further contributing to the divisons in this land we share. It’s horrible. If AZ is going to end up being close minded and elitist, I don’t want any part of it. I especially don’t want to expose my children to a bunch of people who may be prejudiced or try to take away our civil rights. Ugh. I’m so disappointed now based on the comments on this site. Here I was trying to genuinely consider props and cons of moving to AZ with my family, and thought I was gong to find comments on landscape, climate, cost of living, etc. Instead, I found this crap. Pathetic.
Uh, duh…17 year olds can’t vote. Where did you say you were educated?
Notice how David made sure to include “MD”, as if this credential lends any weight to his smug review. You see, David is NOT a redneck but a doctor. (Only boomers think that garners automatic respect these days.) David also seems to count himself among the “blue” population of enlightened sophisticates–so typical in the Catalina foothills. Stay in (Michigan!), David.
I grew up in Tucson, moved away for 6 years and came back….I’m 34 years old now. Tucson in general is behind the times…
-The crime has risen and the police force cannot keep up. I genuinely don’t feel safe
-there’s a huge drug problem here and it’s getting worse. There are so many drug addicts on streets
-there is a lack of sense of pride people take in their homes
-the job market is painstakingly limited
– local government is sleepy
-it’s NOT a good place for night owls. Most restaurants close by 9 pm
-there’s a huge stray dog issue. Never have seen anything like it.
-if you have big ideas and dreams then run the other way!! It’s a very slow, limited lifestyle and mindset.
You grew up in Tucson but are not from Tucson.
I was born and raised in Tucson and also spent some
time in Nogales, Arizona. I left Tucson to do military service.
I spent some time in San Diego, Mare Island ( San Francisco area)
and I did see other cities of the world…like Manila, Hong Kong, Yokosuka,
Tokyo….I never thought that I would miss Tucson..but once I was gone for a
good amount of time, I missed seeing the Catalina Mountains….even “A” mountain
and the sunrises and sunsets that I took for granted.
Sounds like you really hate Tucson….you can always find your way to Phoenix.
Tucson, like MANY other cities May have it’s negatives, but overall I find it has a hell of
a lot more positives that you think.
Born and raised In tucson. Moved out once came back due to my entire family is there. Tucson has changed ALOT. Drug problem was already here it’s just got worse as the population has grown like wise. Our air quality is going down notice the hue of the sky wheb you drive down the Catalina highway from mt.lemon. vail school district is good for k-12 tusd sucks. Arizona is behind in education. So whatever. Homelessness is becoming and issues pacc is always over crowded. Yes most of us hate snowbirds. We hate their driving we also hate the ones that honk. We love our locals and try to support locals. I hate how big tucson is getting but I guess that’s what happens. There isn’t much more to anywhere else. Sure we have hiking you can find hiking or some sort of exploring in any state.
Summary- tucson is hot. Most of us like the small town everyone knows everyone but it’s a bugger town. Please pick up your trash don’t pee right on the side of hiking trails. Not every animal you see you need to be killed please don’t chop up out cactus. It’s hot in the summer(I personally sit outside all summer love the heat) wear sunscreen always carry water don’t leave your dogs in cars people will break your windows to get them out. Please go back home after visiting.
I love this!! 😂 Tucson is ranked one of the most animal friendly places in the US they say we take pride in our animals at least the responsible ones. Smile! But you are spot on!! Speaking from a New Yorker who moved here in 2004 and I hated it I said what in the hell am I doing in the middle of the desert but I have grown to absolutely appreciate it and love Tucson through trials and tribulations and even losing my oldest son in 2021. I learned a lot about Tucson. I have seen wayyy worse!!
I understand your frustration Allison. The City needs a change in leadership. 30 years overdue.
Well. Just gotta read that first comment above regarding redneck and red state voters. Tucson is 30 years into being a democrat led city and it’s starting to see all the problems one would expect to see in single party democrat run cities. Might not like it but it is repeatable and expected.
Maybe, just maybe, Red cities are such sh*tholes that homeless people don’t want anything to do with them, ever think about that?
Homeless people are still human beings with an instinct to live and survive with as little suffering as possible, same as you and I, if they’re less likely to be able to live and survive and more likely to suffer in a red city, why on god’s green given EARTH would they stick around those areas?
Homelessness is a problem that needs to be solved.
Democratic leadership has absolutely nothing to do with the problems we see, conservative ideals have led to this hate towards homeless people, most people just don’t have the resources. Many struggle with addiction and yet we see no action being taken, police and government clear out camps for absolutely no reason, where are they supposed to go? If you hate homeless folks so much why not provide them with housing?? You talk about an excess of “drug addicts” and homeless folks, but don’t do anything about it except complain. Expensive housing and gentrification of poor neighborhoods has led to an increase in homelessness. How about stopping and/or helping gentrification? People in richer neighborhoods never stop to think about other parts of the city. As a person who lives on the South Side of Tucson I can safely say that yes, people use drugs, yes there are homeless people, lots of my friends use drugs and I have homeless friends. I can’t help to house them due to a lower income, yet never in my life have I reduced these people to a statistic and make them seem less than human. I guess it would be hard to put yourself in a place where you don’t have access to almost any resources.
As one considering of retiring to Tucson, I’m curious if illegal aliens have impacted the crime in the area? Some have commented on the rise in crime and I was wondering if this was at the root of the problem. Drugs seem to be everywhere but are home invasions on the rise also? How about personal safety when out after dark? I don’t want to live in fear but want a peaceful, calm retirement.
Actually, a lack of funding and lower wages for “illegal aliens”, as you call us, has led to poor neighborhoods and a lack of resources and proper education. Gentrification and conservative ideals has led to an increase in homelessness. If you’re looking to retire you don’t have to worry, stay on the rich side of town, where everyone refuses to acknowledge that they aren’t doing anything to help low income neighborhoods.
I moved to Tucson from Montana in 1985, raised my family here and been here ever since. There is a lot of work in the trades year around. TUSD is a failing SD. Vail SD and others are pretty good. Housing is catching up, but all the developments are the same as L.A.
You can choose a a 45 min. commute and live out of town. The crime is bad, but very seldom do I feel unsafe. ( But I take precautions). The Tucson Trap and Skeet Club is rated in the top 10 in the World, Olympic selection matches and World Cup competitions are held here.
Star gazers love our night sky! The desert has its own beauty that rivals Montana. The sunrise and sunsets are spectacular!
thank you !
Saying , “While the majority of the population is white, they also are accepting of other cultures!” Implies most predominantly white areas are not accepting. Racist! And, it should be noted that Tucson is in the highest 94% of crime rates on the national average, BECAUSE the hispanic population is 44%, which is also much higher than most citites. So maybe if u dont wanna get murdered or raped, find somewhere whiter to live with less Mexicans.
Now THAT comment is indeed racist. Being Mexican does NOT mean one is a murderer or rapist; race or ethnicity has nothing to do with having a criminal mentality. Neither does political views. Many other factors do, such as mental health challenges and the lack of adequate parenting. Those things happen to people of ALL races, ethnicities, and political beliefs.
Many people seem to not have car insurance, I’ve had 2 hit and run accidents within in 4 weeks.
My young family moved to Tucson in 1980. We lived here for 10 years and LOVED it. Due to my husband’s company closing down, we were forced to move. We moved to Louisville, KY and then to Denver, CO. In the early 2000’s I told my husband that I was moving back to Tucson; he asked if he could move with me. LOL I am grateful that we left Denver when we did. Our children are still there and all they complain about is the hypodermics discarded on the streets, the smell of urine and other human waste downtown. My son has been mugged a few times, but can’t afford to move due to the crazy cost of housing. Both of our younger kids have talked about moving to Tucson.
I thank God everyday that I get to live in Tucson. The criticisms I have read are mostly laughable. Yes there are drugs, I don’t use, so the likelihood of me being involved in a crime is way low. My husband is a Republican and I am a Democrat, we are surrounded by both and that is fine by us.
Yes it is hot, but I never have to: shovel snow, worry about spending 3 days on a highway due to closure (I grew up in Chicago), ask neighbors for a jump, call into work due to snow, worry bout driving in blizzard conditions or black ice. In general, Tucson is a beautiful place, with low cost of living, and no crime if you are not a user. It just doesn’t get better than this!
If you enjoy warm and dry weather, Tucson is perfect and known for it. It is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes as well. I traveled here once and I am planning to go back this year with my friends.
Compared to many other cities in the US, Tucson has a relatively low cost of living, including affordable housing and reasonable prices for goods and services. My family and I have lived here for almost a decade now.