The Town FilesTucson, Arizona
City in Pima County · population 542,629 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,200
- Household income
- $57,073
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 100°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 34.6
Tucson is a city of 542,629 people in Pima County, Arizona. The median home is worth $266,200, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Arizona towns, better transit than 97% of Arizona towns, more vibrant than 96% of Arizona towns.
How Tucson ranks
Percentile among Arizona towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arizona towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Tucson is worth $266,200, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $57,073, which is more affordable than 32% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,145 a month. 51.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tucson | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,200 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,145 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $57,073 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 51.8% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Tucson
| People | Tucson | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.9% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 88.0% |
Weather in Tucson
July highs average 100.2°F and January lows 40.8°F. About 10.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 158 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 12 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tucson since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 27, 1964 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 28, 2002.
Severe weather in Pima County since 1996
Pima County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 11, 2020 | Fire | FM-5312: Big Horn Fire |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1660: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 12, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3241: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Pima County
Pima County had 386,312 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,936 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Tucson itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Tucson
268 public schools with 100,114 students, about 19.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Magnet High School | 8-12 | 3,039 | 17.8 |
| Sunnyside High School | 9-12 | 2,221 | 22.7 |
| Desert View High School | 9-12 | 2,157 | 21.6 |
| Pima County Schools Superintendent's Diploma Program | 9-12 | 1,897 | — |
| Catalina Foothills High School | 9-12 | 1,868 | 20.3 |
| Pueblo High School | 8-12 | 1,806 | 17.4 |
| Flowing Wells High School | 9-12 | 1,708 | 21.1 |
| Cholla High School | 8-12 | 1,668 | 16.8 |
| Sahuaro High School | 8-12 | 1,386 | 19.3 |
| Mica Mountain High | 9-12 | 1,306 | — |
| Rincon High School | 8-12 | 1,217 | 18.2 |
| Leman Academy of Excellence East Tucson (charter) | K-8 | 1,118 | — |
Towns near Tucson
- South Tucson, AZ6.5 mi · 4,613 people · home $167,000
- Summit, AZ7.8 mi · 4,724 people · home $150,400
- Catalina Foothills, AZ10.3 mi · 52,401 people · home $652,000
- Drexel Heights, AZ10.4 mi · 27,523 people · home $250,100
- Tanque Verde, AZ10.9 mi · 16,250 people · home $607,900
- Rincon Valley, AZ11.0 mi · 5,612 people · home $547,300
- Flowing Wells, AZ12.7 mi · 15,657 people · home $41,100
- Vail, AZ13.8 mi · 13,604 people · home $414,600
Tucson questions
Is Tucson, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tucson scores better for retirees than 18% of Arizona towns and quieter than 4%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Tucson?
The median owner-occupied home in Tucson is valued at $266,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,073, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,145 a month.
What is the weather like in Tucson?
July highs average 100.2°F and January lows 40.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Tucson get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tucson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 27, 1964. The typical Arizona town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)