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 Good, The Bad, The Ugly

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.

Here's a local with a strong pov on Tucson: 
*- The U of A is in the center of town and is central to many in town. 40,000 students keep the kitchy area around the campus interesting. There are bars and clubs and such.*
*- The food is incredible. If you like Mexican food you can find it in any part of town. We have all other styles, as well. People here like to eat.*
*- We are not really impressed by celebrities. Many come here to escape, seek treatment, or have a home by the mountains with incredible views and a bit of privacy. Things here are a little slower and more casual. Shorts and flip-flops are acceptable attire most of the year.*

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

Nighttime

The Best Thing About Tucson?

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.

**Here's a transplant with a 4-yr history of dealing with the heat:** 
*I’ve only lived here for four years, but this has also been my perception. June f*ing sucks, and June 2020 had me wanting to pack up and leave. But this summer? Downright tolerable, with some mornings even being pretty comfortable*

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

June

The Worst Thing About 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 Of Tucson

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 Of Tucson

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?

**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

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

Monsoon season and generally the seasons here. You get more seasonal shifts than in CA where I am from. The sunset is otherworldly almost every day for 1-2 months.

The winter is perfect weather and makes up for the heat in the summer. Would much rather have extreme heat than extreme cold (and snow…)

Quirky and laidback people, and pretty cultured town. People appreciate art and crafts, and you see that in the murals everywhere. You get fewer big events but they’re there.

The perfect size, IMO - big enough town to be interesting (and have the occasional big event), small enough to feel like a member of a community.

Mountains everywhere you drive, and they are always changing - snow, turning green, fogged, pink lit…and lots of great hiking trails!

Speaking of which, Mt Lemmon, for when you want to escape the dry brown. Beautiful lush and cool area.

Cost of living is very good, even if it’s not as much of a steal as before.

Now the bad…

I agree with what someone else said about one giant suburb. It’s a lot of strip malls esp down Oracle. You do have to drive everywhere and I wish there were better public transportation.

Stone and the East/west streets look trashy and sketchy. Chain link fence and dilapidated houses. You do have crime here, like cars getting broken into.

Snowbirds!!! Clogging up the place just as the weather gets nice. Something very annoying about that. You are commuting to work and these rich retired folk make the drive much longer.

And yeah the heat is brutal, compared to CA which has mild weather all year. But the natural beauty, wildlife, sky and blooming cacti etc make up for it.

**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.

**What is it like to live in Tucson, Arizona?**

Tucson…. The little town that got big, but refused to admit it. But we are working on it.

The clouds generally move in one direction, not in circles, and the ground doesn't shake. The weather is very predictable, and for much of the year outdoor activities are ample and enjoyable, unless you are into ice skating.

There are mountains and lakes within a couple hours by car. Hunting and fishing are popular and there are plenty of places nearby to do both.

Tucson runs 25 miles from East to west, and about 20 miles north to south. There are bike paths everywhere, and public transportation to get you most places. There are mountains on all sides. Some are more like hills, some are actually mountainous. We are 62 miles from the Mexican border.

Summer starts in May with hot and dry, turns to hot and humid in July with afternoon storms that blow in from the southeast and cool things down many evenings through August. September gets hot and dry again and fades into October's cooler evenings. Winters are very mild, with only a handful of days below freezing, and a rare snowstorm that makes for great photos.

Traffic is fair. If you are from a big city, you will never complain about the traffic. People can be stupid anywhere, and we have our share of stupid drivers, particularly during the winter months when the snowbirds flock into town until April.

The U of A is in the center of town and is central to many in town. 40,000 students keep the kitchy area around the campus interesting. There are bars and clubs and such.

The food is incredible. If you like Mexican food you can find it in any part of town. We have all other styles, as well. People here like to eat.

Work is sometimes a struggle. Tucson is primarily a service industry town. Call centers have a huge presence here thanks to a stable infrastructure, and hospitality professionals can find a wide array of offerings. Raytheon builds missles here, and they employ thousands.

We are not really impressed by celebrities. Many come here to escape, seek treatment, or have a home by the mountains with incredible views and a bit of privacy. Things here are a little slower and more casual. Shorts and flip-flops are acceptable attire most of the year.

It is Tucson. It is NOT Phoenix.

**What is it like to live in Tucson, AZ?**

I went to school at the University of Arizona lived in Tucson and have been visiting since I was 7. I’m 60. Tucson is the only place of all of those that I truly love.
I live in Southern California. I’ve lived in the Washington DC suburbs and New York City.

I could write pages, but I’m trying to do us all a favor and make my response shorter ;-)

Tucson is a medium sized town. Services, housing, schools and shopping are all excellent. Desert southwest culture is incredible. Typical big city culture? Mediocre at best. So if you’re living in New York City and spend your weekends at art museums? You would never move to Tucson.

It gets hot. Not as hot as Phoenix, but it gets hot in the summer. But I lived in Washington DC and in neither place would you go out in the middle of summer and hang out. The difference? You can walk around the block in Tucson and you won’t sweat. In DC? Your afternoon and your clothes are ruined. Desert temperatures are cool at night and hot in the summer. But it’s sunny almost every day of the year.

Tucson has some beautiful neighborhoods; both old and new. If you like the outdoors? It’s a “bowl“ surrounded by mountains. You can hike and mountain bike to your hearts content. You can hunt. And… The southernmost ski resort is in the mountains overlooking Tucson. Mt. Lemmon.

If you want the big city? Phoenix. Sports teams and arts/theater culture. It’s 90 minutes away.

Mexico? An hour away. While Mexico is currently unpopular due to danger, that doesn’t mean there aren’t safe places to enjoy. San Diego? Six hours. Los Angeles? Eight hours. And the great ski areas of the west or a day’s drive away.

If you like Southwest and Mexican culture? Tucson is truly a “western town“. More so than any other larger town outside of Texas. Arts, rodeos, Mexican celebrations and exceptional southwestern food.

The University of Arizona brings another level of culture, education and diversity. Some major corporations have installations around town That contribute to the economy.

Every town has its mix of people, but any Tucsonan will tell you it’s a nice town. People are friendly. It’s not a pretentious place to live and the cost of living is extremely reasonable.

I think you’ll find Tucsonans relate to the town, the history, culture and the natural setting. People have that in common and it creates a bond.

Saving the best for last. The Sonoran desert is widely considered the most beautiful on the planet. Saguaro cacti loom over the landscape like ancient giants. People like myself fall in love with it and that never leaves you. Tucson is the only city in the country surrounded by the Sonoran desert. It’s spectacular

Tucson, Arizona

Keep Tucson Podunk!

Looklyloo Score: 71