There's valleys and desert with over 350 days of sunshine coupled with historic neighborhoods and upscale shopping malls. Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona based on population, and variety of opportunities for a new resident.
If you're considering heading out to the Wild West, take a look at this guide for important information and facts about Tucson to make your transition as easy as possible.
Tucson Climate
If you like warm weather, you'll get plenty of it in this desert city. It is typical for Tucson to have very hot summers exceeding 100 degrees during the day, and drop during the night, somewhere between 65 and 85 degrees.
The monsoon, a minor season in the city, can begin between mid-June and late-July through August. The other two minor seasons, fall and spring, are similar to each other in that they are dry with warm to hot days and cool nights.
Winter here is mild, with temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees during the day, and between 30 and 45 degrees at night. You won't see too many hard freezes in the area - the last one was recorded in 2011.
Tucson Neighborhoods
Whether you want to be right in the middle of the bustling city, or if you want to be somewhere more quiet and residential, Tucson has the best of both worlds. El Presidio is the city's oldest neighborhood, named for its Spanish-built Presidio de San Augustin del Tucson in 1775. The neighborhood is residential with adobe and brick buildings with a Spanish-Mexican architectural influence. The city has many other notable historic neighborhoods near the downtown area, including Feldman's, Menlo Park, Iron Horse and West University.
The rich downtown area of Tucson includes a blend of commercial and residential parts. It is divided into the Presidio District, the Barrio Viejo, and the Congress Street Arts and Entertainment District. Here you'll find the Art Deco Fox Theater, the National Register of Historic Places, and the El Con Mall in midtown.
Registering Your Car
The state of Arizona requires you to register your vehicle as soon as you become a resident. If you purchase a car in Arizona, you will have 15 days to apply for a title. Vehicles may register for one or two years at a time. An important tip to remember is vehicle owners in Arizona pay a Vehicle License Tax (VLT).
You must obtain an Arizona state driver's license immediately upon residence in Arizona. To be a resident, you work in the state, are registered to vote, have children in school (and do not pay non-resident rates), have a business in an office in the state, have a business that operates vehicles to transport goods to the state or live in Arizona for more than 7 months during any calendar year.
To obtain a license, you will need to fill out an application and provide proof of identification, age and authorized presence in the United States. You may also need to pass a vision test.
Tucson Schools
The Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) serves most of the city for public schools. Right behind Mesa, TUSD has the second highest enrollment than any other Arizona school district. As of mid-2013, the district has over 50,000 students enrolled in various schools in Pima County.
Some notable colleges and higher education institutes in the city are: University of Arizona, Pima Community College, Arizona State University (College of Public Programs, School of Social Work, Master's of Social Work), Tucson College, Brown Mackie College, University of Phoenix, The Art Institute at Tucson, Prescott College, Northern Arizona University and The Art Center Design College.
Tucson Employment
If you're starting out fresh in Tucson, you'll need to know what type of employment is out there. The second largest employer in the city is the University of Arizona, which is responsible for almost 12,000 jobs, just behind Raytheon Missile Systems. The technology sector has recently flourished with businesses like Texas Instruments, IBM, Intuit Inc., Universal Avionics and Sunquest Information Systems. Optics design and manufacturing comprises about 150 other companies in the area, giving the city the nickname “Optics Valley.” The unemployment rate for Tucson is approximately 7.6 percent as of December 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Living Costs in the City
Generally speaking, the cost of living in Tucson is lower than the national average, so depending on where you're moving from, you may see a drop in your bills. The average home value in the city is approximately $120,000, but many homes sell for much cheaper, and some much higher than that price. One-bedroom apartments can start at $400 per month and go up to about $1,000 per month.
Your utility and water bill may cost you a bit more if you run the air conditioning a lot in the high heat, and water is harder to come by. However, gas is cheaper on average, and the outside elements will not damage your personal vehicle as it would in a state with high humidity, rain, snow, road salt, etc. Some locals who relocated from other northern states say they don't see much of a difference in food costs, but are particularly pleased with housing costs and property taxes.
Tucson Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Tucson, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Arizona. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Tucson Transportation
As far as a means for public transportation in the city, Sun Tran operates all major and minor bus routes. There's also the Old Pueblo Trolley that operates its heritage streetcar service between the University of Arizona and the business district. The Tucson Modern Streetcar is still in the works, slated to begin service in late 2013.
For those who own and operate personal vehicles, interstates 10 and 19 are the two that service the area. State highway 210 links the downtown part of the city with the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Tucson is cyclist friendly! Commuter bike routes, off-road mountain trails and biking facilities are common throughout the city, as Tucson's weather allows for plenty of outdoor activity.
Culture & Contemporary Life
A center for cultural arts and entertainment, this city has plenty of museums, festivals, parks and sporting events to keep you busy. The University of Arizona's Art Museum contains the work of contemporary pioneers like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, while redeemed landscape photographer Ansel Adams founded the university's Center for Creative Photography. His photographs hang in the museum as well.
For a multi-cultural experience, the city hosts an annual Tucson Meet Yourself event, where over 30 different ethnicities showcase dancing, food, singing and artwork for an entire weekend. The city also has a rodeo, the TAWN Fall Festival, the Tucson Festival of Books and the Tucson Gem and Mineral show.
There's a strong local pull towards the University of Arizona Wildcats, especially with men's basketball - the team has made numerous NCAA tournaments and won the national title in 1997. The Arizona Diamondbacks are the area's MLB team, and the Arizona Cardinals are its NFL team.
Tucson Relocation Tips
- Since the area is a hot desert, the rate of skin cancer is over three times higher than regions higher north. Be sure to keep your skin protected (buying an aloe vera plant can help, too) when partaking it outdoor activities, and see your dermatologist regularly.
- Get your golf clubs ready, because Tucson is rated one of the best golfing destinations in the west. You may also want to invest in a bicycle since the area is cyclist-friendly and has many biking paths and trails.
- The state is hot, so buy a windshield shade to keep the inside of your car cooler, and a set of tires with good tread on them for Monsoon season and in the event of running over snakes or rabbits in the area.