Tucson, Arizona Retirement

Tucson is Arizona's second largest city and is the hub of activity and commerce for southern Arizona. It is a clean, modern and attractive city. Tucson is located in a valley at the base of 4 different mountain ranges. Just northeast of Tucson, the Santa Catalina Mountains rise to over 9,000 feet. They are home to the southernmost ski resort in the United States.

Population: As of July 1, 2006, a Census Bureau estimate puts the city's population at 518,956.

Weather: Tucson has two major seasons, summer and winter; plus three minor seasons: fall, spring, and the monsoon.

Colleges and Universities: University of Arizona: established in 1885; the second largest university in the state in terms of enrollment with over 37,000+ students.
Pima Community College: located in the Tucson area with six campuses.
University of Phoenix has four Tucson campuses.
Prescott College has a Tucson branch campus.
Northern Arizona University has a Tucson branch campus.

Transportation: Tucson International Airport is Tucson's public airport and is located six miles south of Tucson's central business district. TIA is the second largest commercial airport in Arizona, providing nonstop flights to 28 destinations throughout the United States, and 1 destination in Mexico. Overall, Tucson International Airport serves 29 destinations. Sun Tran is Tucson's public bus system. It was awarded Best Transit System in 1988 & 2005 and serves the major part of the metropolis of Tucson. The city remains largely dependent on automobiles for transportation. Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Tucson three times weekly in both directions, operating its Sunset Limited between Orlando, Florida and Los Angeles, California.

Things To See and Do: The city is home to more than 120 parks, including Reid Park Zoo. There are five public golf courses located throughout the area. Several scenic parks and points of interest are also located nearby, including the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and Biosphere 2 (just north of the city, in the town of Oracle). The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show is held every year in February for two weeks. It is one of the largest gem and mineral shows in the world, and features many of the finest mineral specimens. There is no single location for display of minerals, but rather dozens of locations spread across town. The show has an estimated attendance of more than 50,000 people from over twenty countries. Attendees frequently include the general public, experts, beginning collectors, museum employees, dealers, retailers, and researchers. Many museums and universities, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Sorbonne, have displayed materials at the show.

Housing Costs: Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $144,400 (it was $96,300 in 2000).

Health Care:

Arizona Cancer Center - Tucson, Arizona


Carondelet Saint Joseph's Hospital - Tucson, Arizona
Saint Mary's Hospital - Tucson, Arizona

El Dorado Hospital - Tucson, Arizona
El Dorado Surgicenter - Tucson, Arizona


Kindred Hospital Tucson - Tucson, Arizona

Kindred Hospital Tucson - Tucson, Arizona
Kino Community Hospital - Tucson, Arizona

Northwest Medical Center - Tucson, Arizona

Saint Mary's Hospital - Tucson, Arizona
Sierra Tucson - Tucson, Arizona

Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital - Tucson, Arizona
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System - Tucson, Arizona

Tucson Heart Hospital - Tucson, Arizona
Tucson Medical Center - Tucson, Arizona

Retirement Communities: (not inclusive) Santa Catalina Villas, 520-742-0505, The Manor At Midvale, 520-294-3200