Tucson is great for outdoorsy people. It’s a biking city but there’s also hiking, climbing, and running -- lots of fresh air and wide open space and, of course, mountains in every direction, the Sonoran Desert, and the classic Saguaro Cactus. You can be in the city but feel far away at the same time. And, the downtown has undergone a pretty great revival recently (Rio Nuevo District -- which includes a streetcar). Hope you like ghost peppers! You get four seasons-ish plus a bonus monsoon season -- think thunderstorms. If all that is not enough, if you’re a college sports fan, you’re in heaven and you will be a wildcat.

Tucson comes alive in the evenings. It’s got some legit gastronomical cred and the blazing sun keeps most people indoors during the day so the city blooms at night. An obvious downside: the summer temps are off the charts. Don’t buy the swamp cooler thing. And if you don’t like critters -- Gila monsters, tarantulas, black widows, scorpions you might have a hard time.


LookyLOO Review of Tucson

Tucson is one of these warmer climate cities with a crazy blend of college students and empty nesters/retirees. Both communities love the warm weather and low costs. The University of Arizona hoops teams are universally popular. Expect both students and locals in attendance. Pretty much everyone goes downtown. The Rio Nuevo District draws everyone looking for an arts scene, bars and restaurants, 2nd Saturdays concerts, food trucks and all sorts of music festivals. The Old Town Artisans district is another hot spot, loaded with boutique vintage clothing, healthy eats, and an artists mecca. 

If you want to see what locals do for fun check out the Tucson [**calendar of events**](https://www.visittucson.org/events/). 

Lifestyle 

Tucson has several major industries: 
- Education: The University of Arizona is the city's largest employer. 
- Defense: Raytheon Missile Systems, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S. Army Intelligence are all steady employers although of course the Defense industry is generally not something you just jump into upon moving to a new city. 
- Health: UofA Health Network, Carondelet, and Tucson Medical Center are also big employers that reflect the needs of a growing population, one with a large share of boomers.  

Like many relatively inexpensive southern cities, Tucson also gets its fair share of people who are in service industries and make the numbers work because of the lower cost of living. Finally, there are also a large number of work-from-homers already here, on their way, or thinking about making the move. 


Worklife 

[**Tucson Public Schools**](tusd1.org) rates a [**"B-" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/tucson-unified-school-district-az/). While its scores are lower in areas like Teachers and Administration, it gets "A's" for College Prep and high "B's" for Academics, so there's goodness amidst the different schools. We found a review from a parent of Tucson area schools and districts we think does a decent job summarizing some of the obvious choices. 

I can't speak for all of the districts, but here are the ones I've had experience with from a professional standpoint:

[**Catalina Foothills**](https://www.cfsd16.org/) is probably the best school district I have experience with. The teachers are paid somewhat well, the students have feature rich learning environments (aka the schools aren't old and crumbling - for the most part.) But the students can be absolute asses - bullying is rampant (and hilariously stupid - the 'rich' kids like to bully the 'poor' kids, but a lot of the 'poor' kids I dealt with had parents making 2x-8x what the 'rich' families made, but didn't throw money around the same way.) If your kids have interests in particular activities, clubs, or sports, I'd say check out the Foothills schools for the programs they have available.

TUSD is pretty middle of the road as far as public schools go. It serves a very broad segment of the city, including extremely poor and fairly well-off areas. School quality varies pretty wildly, but the school governance isn't terrible (it's improved over the past few years, but the school board has struggled with absences by its members or downright idiots (see the late Micheal Hicks's Daily Show interview...) There are quite a few programs for gifted learners - University High School is one of the stand-out schools in Tucson.

The flip side of the good districts is Sunnyside. Sunnyside is a challenged district and is the butt-end of education policy in the state. It covers an extremely poor and underserved area of the city/county, has extremely poor facilities (out of date and lacking amenities) and is universally Title 1. Sunnyside generally turns away no-one - their budget is so small (and perpetually being cut by the county and state) that they take anybody (for 100 days at least.) The leadership (especially over the past year) has been pretty stellar in terms of getting education (and food) into the hands of the students and keeping students and staff safe, but every state policy that adversely affects schools devastates Sunnyside. Sunnyside teachers deal with the worst effects, but are consequently paid a bit more (because of Title 1 regulations requiring certification) - teachers from Sunnyside frequently transfer to other schools for a pay cut to get away from the horrible systematic issues.

[**Vail**](https://www.vailschooldistrict.org/) is rich, but pays their teachers terribly and it shows (leadership is pretty abusive towards staff in my experience as well.) They have a mass hiring event every year, boast about their schools performances, but has a lot issues with parent, staff, and leadership communication. Some schools are better than others. Vail has very feature rich schools (pretty new facilities.) It's decent district considering the middle and upper-middle class demographic of it's area. If I lived in Vail, I would have few qualms about sending kids to Vail's schools - but it is a trek if you don't live in Vail.

Schools

Tucson is a growth city. But you should get while the getting is good. Relative to California, Colorado, Washington or Oregon or anywhere colder and/or more expensive, Tucson among other Arizona cities are increasingly popular and “filling up” fast. 


It’s on the upswing.

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**Due-Office7750**
Living in Tucson
3mo ago
✭✭✭

It will take awhile to adjust to the hot summers and different culture. But it is well worth it. We don't have 9 months of cold, wet, and dark here. Instead, we have 5-6 months of brutal heat, broken up by a couple months of rain July-Sep, followed by a lovely late Fall, Winter, and early Spring. As you can probably guess, solar panels do amazingly well here.

Housing costs are much lower than the PNW, though we all wish they were lower still. You should check out some of the apartment rental sites, also realty sites.

It is a year round outdoor city, though you really need to do your outdoor activities in the early morning during the summer.

Job market--depends on the industry you're in. Lots of tech jobs, lots of construction, lots of health care, lots of food service jobs available. The market is much tighter now than it was a year ago, though. Again, check out some job sites.

I love that Tucson is open and welcoming. I love the Mexican fusion food we have here. I love the different kinds of people you will see in the area--everything from multi-generational ranchers to new immigrants to highly educated tech types. It's fun to have opportunities to learn and use Spanish. I love Saguaro National Forest and Mt. Lemmon, which is a wonderful break from the summer heat. There is plenty of hiking and mountain biking here, though it's very different from the PNW.I love the rugged beauty of the desert and the lovely flowers in the Spring. Don't expect the lush greenery you came from though. Nobody has lawns here, they're too costly to water. But most people grow shade trees and native shrubbery/cactus. Just don't touch any of it until you know which varieties have thorns! The Southwest architecture is beautiful. You'll notice the tile roofs and floors of most houses. They're cooler in the summer and easy to maintain. You'll notice many homes have citrus trees in their backyards--we have an orange, a grapefruit, and a clementine tree. They do have to be watered.

For more reviews of what living in Tucson is like from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/tucson/reviews)

Nighttime = Goodness

Reviews of Tucson by Locals

**The Good, The Bad, The Ugly**

Tuscon is great for outdoorsy people. It’s a biking city but there’s also hiking, climbing, running -- lots of fresh air and wide open space and, of course, mountains in every direction, the Sonoran Desert and the classic Saguaro Cactus. You can be in the city but feel far away at the same time. And, the downtown has undergone a pretty great revival recently (Rio Nuevo District -- which includes a streetcar). Hope you like ghost peppers! You get four seasons plus a bonus monsoon season -- think thunderstorms. If all that is not enough, if you’re a college sports fan, you’re in heaven and you will be a wildcat.

**The Best Thing About Tucson?**

Tucson comes alive in the evenings. It’s got some legit gastronomical cred and the blazing sun keeps most people indoors during the day so the city blooms at night.

**The Worst Thing About Tucson?**  June

The summer temps are off the charts. Don’t buy the swamp cooler thing. And if you don’t like critters -- gila monsters, tarantulas, black widows, scorpions you might have a hard time.


**How You Living?**

Unless you opt for the modern, loft-inspired condominiums in the downtown area, (or, older neighborhoods like Sam Hughes, and scattered throughout neighborhoods in North Tucson) you’ll probably live in some kind of house. MidCentury Modern mixes with Pueblo (Sonoran) style (Barrio Anita, Barrio Santa Rosa, and El Presidio) and Spanish Colonial (Historic neighborhoods Aldea Lindman and Blenman) including Modern Ranch. Miramonte (just outside downtown) features newer homes in the Spanish/ Mediterranean Revival style. Tucson is a retiree’s dream and you’ll see plenty of sprawling, new construction.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?**

It’s on the upswing. Tucson is a growth city. But you should get while the getting is good. 


West University actually borders the University of Arizona so for convenience it is hard to beat. There is plenty of shopping and cheap, good grub and the streetcar runs through the neighborhood making it easy to getting downtown or into the University. Sam Hughes is another popular choice, centrally located between Downtown and the UofA, it’s a popular choice for the youngsters who want convenient access to the Downtown scene as much as school. 
- West University
- Sam Hughes
- Hedrick Acres
- Starr Pass
- Downtown


College Students

West University

Most young professionals will start their search in the City Center area. It’s a bit pricier than some of the more college-heavy neighborhoods but for those who want a walk/bike to work, tons of restaurants/bars and coffee shops, and a cool boutique shopping and arts scene this is going to be on your list. The aforementioned Sam Hughes is also popular. It’s kind of at the nexus of all sorts of different communities: plenty of college kids, young professionals, but also families drawn to the beautiful old homes. 
- Downtown
- Sam Hughes
- Armory Park
- El Presidio


Young Professionals

Downtown

One of the most interesting neighborhoods in Tucson is El Presidio. Multi-culturally diverse, and one of the few neighborhoods in America in which Native American languages are spoken, it has an interesting mix of long-time residents, new young professionals drawn to the art galleries and arts scene, and young families who appreciate the inexpensive housing and are looking for an interesting cultural experience. Another interesting option is Marana, a small town on the edge of the city. It has inexpensive but newly built, bigger homes. It also has a high percentage of college-educated residents, and tons of people who work in the burgeoning tech season. Commuting to downtown is an issue but you get easier access to the great outdoor scene. 
- El Presidio
- Manana
- Sam Hughes


Young Families

El Presidio 

Catalina Foothills is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Tucson and with good reason. In addition to have the largest footprint homes in the city it also has some of the best schools, upscale shopping and arts scene, and an excellent safety score for parents who worry about their kiddos biking around the blocks. 
Catalina Foothills
- Sam Hughes
- Civano
- Dove Mountain


Established Families

 Sam Hughes

Dove Mountain has become a hot destination for retirees due to the building of a beautiful new golf course and club at the base of the Tortolito Mountains. It’s just north of the city so access to downtown requires hitting the freeway but it is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Tucson being at the base of the mountains and plenty of hiking and biking trails in the neighborhood and easily accessible beyond. It also has mix of affordable and expensive homes, accommodating to whatever income, fixed or otherwise, people are depending on. 
- Dove Mountain


Empty Nesters/Retirees

Dove Mountain 

Tucson

**NalaKolchev**
Living in Tucson
1y ago
✭✭✭

Having lived around the state in various places for the last decade or so, I have to say Tucson is easily my favorite.

The valley tastes like cardboard and Flagstaff costs more than anyone can reasonably afford (and has a one-college one-mountain economy)

Tucson actually feels like Arizona to me. The architecture and crowd for better or worse all feel much more characteristic of the kind of charm I'd rather imagine when thinking about this state.

Local food options really aren't bad, no shortage of entertainment, and the deserts hardly 15 minutes away no matter where you are. Naturally the roads are terrible, TEP is the eye of sauron, and the average lifespan of a bicycle is on minutes - but it's home for sure!

**scrubhiker**
Living in Tucson
2y ago
✭✭✭



**What are 5 things you love and 5 things you dislike about living in Tucson?**

These are some personal reasons that likely won't apply to everyone, but hey, I value them.

The good:

It's so inexpensive.

I lack the terminology to describe it, but basically I really like the architecture of the homes in the neighborhoods around downtown and the University. It definitely doesn't feel like anywhere else I've lived or visited.

You can hike into so many different gorgeous mountain environments straight from three of the four edges of town. On a similar note you can almost always see a clear night sky as you're walking down the street, even in the middle of town.

Protected green left-turn arrows at the end of the cycle.

With the exception of the worst summer heatwaves or the odd high-in-the-40s winter day, you can almost always find a time of day or night where it's very pleasant to be outdoors. Sometimes that's 4am but hey.

The bad:

Hot weather is definitely mentally and physically draining, as Dragonbard stated well. If you have a job that involves being outdoors or being indoors but with poor climate control ... it's just a constant stressor for like half the year, i.e. half your life.

Broadly speaking, education isn't culturally valued the same way it is in other places I've lived (the Upper Midwest, East Coast suburbs).

Almost no free public tennis courts, inexplicably.

Way too many people think it's wonderful to gun their shitty car or truck's engine in underpasses or parking garages. I disagree.

I miss greenery and naturally occurring surface water just being a normal thing in the middle of a city, rather than something you have to go seek out on a trek into the mountains.

**Due-Office7750**
Living in Tucson
3mo ago
✭✭✭

It will take awhile to adjust to the hot summers and different culture. But it is well worth it. We don't have 9 months of cold, wet, and dark here. Instead, we have 5-6 months of brutal heat, broken up by a couple months of rain July-Sep, followed by a lovely late Fall, Winter, and early Spring. As you can probably guess, solar panels do amazingly well here.

Housing costs are much lower than the PNW, though we all wish they were lower still. You should check out some of the apartment rental sites, also realty sites.

It is a year round outdoor city, though you really need to do your outdoor activities in the early morning during the summer.

Job market--depends on the industry you're in. Lots of tech jobs, lots of construction, lots of health care, lots of food service jobs available. The market is much tighter now than it was a year ago, though. Again, check out some job sites.

I love that Tucson is open and welcoming. I love the Mexican fusion food we have here. I love the different kinds of people you will see in the area--everything from multi-generational ranchers to new immigrants to highly educated tech types. It's fun to have opportunities to learn and use Spanish. I love Saguaro National Forest and Mt. Lemmon, which is a wonderful break from the summer heat. There is plenty of hiking and mountain biking here, though it's very different from the PNW.I love the rugged beauty of the desert and the lovely flowers in the Spring. Don't expect the lush greenery you came from though. Nobody has lawns here, they're too costly to water. But most people grow shade trees and native shrubbery/cactus. Just don't touch any of it until you know which varieties have thorns! The Southwest architecture is beautiful. You'll notice the tile roofs and floors of most houses. They're cooler in the summer and easy to maintain. You'll notice many homes have citrus trees in their backyards--we have an orange, a grapefruit, and a clementine tree. They do have to be watered.



**Due-Office7750**
Living in Tucson
3mo ago
✭✭✭

It will take awhile to adjust to the hot summers and different culture. But it is well worth it. We don't have 9 months of cold, wet, and dark here. Instead, we have 5-6 months of brutal heat, broken up by a couple months of rain July-Sep, followed by a lovely late Fall, Winter, and early Spring. As you can probably guess, solar panels do amazingly well here.

Housing costs are much lower than the PNW, though we all wish they were lower still. You should check out some of the apartment rental sites, also realty sites.

It is a year-round outdoor city, though you need to do your outdoor activities in the early morning during the summer.

Job market--depends on the industry you're in. Lots of tech jobs, lots of construction, lots of health care, lots of food service jobs available. The market is much tighter now than it was a year ago, though. Again, check out some job sites.

I love that Tucson is open and welcoming. I love the Mexican fusion food we have here. I love the different kinds of people you will see in the area--everything from multi-generational ranchers to new immigrants to highly educated tech types. It's fun to have opportunities to learn and use Spanish. I love Saguaro National Forest and Mt. Lemmon, which is a wonderful break from the summer heat. There is plenty of hiking and mountain biking here, though it's very different from the PNW.I love the rugged beauty of the desert and the lovely flowers in the Spring. Don't expect the lush greenery you came from though. Nobody has lawns here, they're too costly to water. But most people grow shade trees and native shrubbery/cactus. Just don't touch any of it until you know which varieties have thorns! The Southwest architecture is beautiful. You'll notice the tile roofs and floors of most houses. They're cooler in the summer and easy to maintain. You'll notice many homes have citrus trees in their backyards--we have an orange, a grapefruit, and a clementine tree. They do have to be watered.


Tucson, Arizona

Keep Tucson Podunk!

Looklyloo Score: 80