The Tucson metro area: Pima County · Population 1,060,490 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Tucson area
Household size in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in the Tucson area run small, averaging 2.48 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.57, mirroring the country. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.5 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.5 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.7 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of the Tucson area is 41.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 38.9 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in the Tucson area as they are nationally: 11.3%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Arizona overall (12.6%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Tucson area
Renters in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.5% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.0% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.8% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in the Tucson area rent their homes (34.8%), the same as the national share. About four in ten owners (40.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southeast. The renter share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in the Tucson area as nationally: 9.1%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.2 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in the Tucson area is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in Arizona overall, where the median home dates to 1992. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $960 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $991 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,089 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,479 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$519 | +$694 | +$606 |
Rent in the Tucson area runs $1,479 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $519 a month since 2006–10, up 54%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Tucson area
Bachelor's degrees in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.4% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.4% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.4% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the Tucson area as nationally: 36.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in Arizona overall (33.3%). The share with a degree is up 7.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.7% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.9% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.9% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in the Tucson area have finished high school as nationally: 90.3%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.6 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Tucson area
| Period | Tucson area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Tucson area is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Tucson area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson area (all) | 2.48 | 41.7 | 11.3% | 34.8% | 9.1% | 1987 | $1,479 | 36.4% | 90.3% | 5.3% |
| Casas Adobes | 2.29 | 43.0 | 9.1% | 35.7% | 6.7% | 1987 | $1,778 | 43.1% | 94.3% | 4.0% |
| Marana | 2.62 | 44.7 | 7.5% | 15.6% | 7.8% | 2007 | $1,857 | 46.2% | 95.8% | 4.7% |
| Catalina Foothills | 2.16 | 54.1 | 4.5% | 24.8% | 11.6% | 1984 | $1,799 | 71.5% | 98.4% | 2.7% |
| Oro Valley | 2.33 | 53.4 | 5.1% | 22.1% | 9.5% | 1997 | $1,934 | 57.4% | 97.4% | 2.2% |
| Summit | 3.05 | 36.9 | 19.9% | 21.0% | 8.1% | 1998 | $1,467 | 18.4% | 82.5% | 6.6% |
| Sahuarita | 3.11 | 39.5 | 7.0% | 15.0% | 9.6% | 2006 | $1,746 | 39.8% | 93.9% | 5.4% |
| Flowing Wells | 2.32 | 39.2 | 16.5% | 30.5% | 13.7% | 1982 | $1,063 | 12.8% | 78.7% | 7.7% |
| Drexel Heights | 3.00 | 39.6 | 18.4% | 15.2% | 5.2% | 1989 | $1,261 | 17.7% | 85.3% | 5.2% |
| Green Valley | 1.63 | 73.3 | 2.3% | 16.4% | 18.4% | 1988 | $1,351 | 43.8% | 95.8% | 2.6% |
| Vail | 3.02 | 42.0 | 7.3% | 6.8% | 5.8% | 2006 | $1,944 | 41.3% | 96.4% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Bridgeport area · Omaha area · New Orleans area · Tulsa area · Honolulu area · Rochester area · Grand Rapids area · Fresno area · Buffalo area · Birmingham area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Tucson area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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