Young professionals who are looking for the perfect spot to start a career near
Tucson should look no further, because we did the work for you. We looked at a wide array of data to figure out the best Tucson suburbs for young professionals.
In these 10 winners, you’ll find plenty of peers, great amenities, and professional opportunities.
Let’s take a look at the suburbs that made the cut.
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 10.8 percent
- Total amenities: 117
The small town of Oracle kicks off our list of the best Tucson suburbs for young professionals with plenty of spacious ranch, farmhouse, and Mediterranean style homes on large lots.
With just over 4,000 residents, Oracle is the perfect spot for young professionals seeking a small town vibe. Active young professionals will love weekend camping and hiking trips at Oracle State Park and the nearby Santa Catalina Natural Area and Mount Lemmon.
Key Stats:
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $53,699
- Total amenities: 462
Marana earns the second spot on our list with plenty of amenities for young professionals to enjoy. Home buyers will find spacious Mediterranean and contemporary style homes.
Active young professionals will love hiking through the scenic Tortolita Mountain Park, while golf enthusiasts hit the link and network at numerous local golf clubs.
Key Stats:
- Total amenities: 369
- Unemployment rate: 4.6 percent
Home buyers in the Tucson suburb of Sahuarita have their pick of modest ranch style homes, charming craftsman style homes, and spacious Mediterranean style homes on large lots.
History buffs will enjoy the Titan Missile Museum, while active young professionals enjoy fishing, picnics, and scenic strolls at Sahuarita Lake Park. Community events like Fiesta Sahuarita are a great way to meet new neighbors.
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 13.4 percent
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $49,432
Valencia West earns the fourth spot on our list of the best Tucson suburbs for young professionals with spacious Mediterranean style homes for potential buyers.
Bookworms can check out a new novel or attend an event at the nearby Southwest Library, while active young professionals enjoy biking, strolling, and picnics in Star Valley Park.
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 29.9 percent
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $52,705
Young professionals looking for a home in the scenic suburb of Oro Valley have plenty of options to choose from. Modern townhomes, spacious Mediterranean style homes, and chic contemporary homes are all common.
Active young professionals will enjoy weekend camping trips and hiking at the nearby Catalina State Park, while foodies pick up fresh local produce at the Oro Valley Farmers Market.
6. Nelson
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 22.3 percent
- Residents in professional occupations: 53 percent
The small town of Nelson earns the sixth spot on our list with one of the highest numbers of residents age 22 to 29 of any place we ranked. Ranch style homes on large lots are common.
Young professionals looking for a close-knit community and small town vibe will find it in Nelson, which has just over 1,000 residents. Residents are just a quick drive away from amenities in Marana, and are less than 30 miles from all the action in downtown Tucson.
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 8.6 percent
- Cost of living: 83, compared to the Tucson average of 94
Your hard earned money will go a whole lot further in the close in suburb of South Tucson, which had one of the lowest costs of living of any place we ranked. Modern townhomes, ranch style homes, and bungalows are common.
Residents are surrounded by the city of Tucson, and are just minutes away from shopping, dining, and nightlife downtown. Community events like the annual City of South Tucson’s Music & Arts Festival are a great way to enjoy local talent.
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 7.1 percent
- Total amenities: 23
The small town of Catalina comes in eighth on our list with a range of options for potential home buyers, from modest ranch style homes to spacious Mediterranean houses.
Active young professionals have plenty of ground to explore on weekends, including the nearby Santa Catalina Natural Area, and Catalina Regional Park.
9. Casas Adobes
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 9.7 percent
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 21.5 percent
The sizeable suburb of Casas Adobes comes in ninth on our list with plenty of spacious Mediterranean style homes and modest ranch style homes for young professional home buyers.
Hit the links and network at the Omni Tucson National Resort, or shop until you drop at Foothills Mall. Book lovers can check out new reads at the Nanini Library.
10. Drexel Heights
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 10.9 percent
- Cost of living: 91, compared to the Tucson average of 94
Drexel Heights rounds out our list of the best Tucson suburbs for young professionals with a low cost of living and plenty of spacious Mediterranean and ranch style homes.
Avid readers can check out a new book or attend an event at the Southwest Library. Active young professionals will enjoy hiking, biking, and picnics by the lake at the neighboring John F. Kennedy Park.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best Tucson suburbs for young professionals, we looked at the following criteria:
- Percent of residents age 22-29
- Percent of residents who attained a bachelor’s degree
- Median earnings for those who attained a bachelor’s degree
- Percent of residents who work in management, business, financial, or other professional fields
- Cost of living
Then, because some things are just a little more important to young professionals than others, we weighed the percent of residents age 22-29 and amenities per capita to make up 35 percent of our score. Professional opportunity made up 20 percent, and cost of living made up 10 percent.
We then averaged those weighted scores into one overall score, and the 10 lowest overall scores made the cut for this list.
Want to see how other Tucson suburbs ranked? Check out the table below:
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