If you’re looking for the perfect spot to retire near
Tucson, we’ve got you covered. We looked at a whole bunch of data to figure out the best Tucson suburbs for retirees and narrowed it down to the best of the best.
In these 10 suburbs, you’ll find plenty of senior amenities, close-knit communities, and affordable homes close to all the action in downtown Tucson.
Let’s take a look at the winners.
Key Stats:
- Number of doctors: 117
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,794
The small town of Oracle kicks off our list of the best Tucson suburbs to retire. Home buyers will find spacious farmhouse, ranch, and Mediterranean style homes.
Active retirees will love hiking and wildlife watching at Oracle State Park and the nearby Santa Catalina Natural Area. With just 4,000 residents, it’s easy to get to know new neighbors in this close-knit community.
2. South Tucson
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 83, compared to the Tucson average of 94
- Residents age 65 and up: 21.9 percent
Your retirement fund will go a whole lot further in the close suburb of South Tucson, which had one of the lowest costs of living of any place we ranked. Home buyers will find modern townhomes, ranch style homes, and bungalows.
Get to know new neighbors and enjoy local talent at community events like the annual City of South Tucson’s Music & Arts Festival. Residents are just minutes away from all the shopping, dining, and entertainment in downtown Tucson.
3. Summit
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 84, compared to the Tucson average of 94
- Residents age 65 and up: 18.7 percent
- Median home price: $84,000
The small town of Summit earns the third spot on our list of the best Tucson suburbs to retire in with affordable ranch and adobe style homes for potential home buyers.
Frequent travelers are just minutes away from the conveniently located Tucson International Airport. Residents enjoy a peaceful close-knit community just 15 miles from all the action in downtown Tucson.
4. Nelson
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 87, compared to the Tucson average of 94
- Residents age 65 and up: 14.7 percent
The tiny town of Nelson earns the fourth spot on our list with a low cost of living and plenty of peers for retirees. Ranch style homes are common picks for home buyers.
Nelson residents enjoy easy access to all the amenities in neighboring Marana, and are just 30 miles from all the action in downtown Tucson. With just over 1,000 residents, it’s easy to get to know new neighbors.
Key Stats:
- Number of doctors: 864
- Total senior amenities: 111
Green Valley earns the fifth spot on our list with plenty of amenities for retirees to enjoy. Home buyers will find plenty of ranch style homes and spacious Mediterranean style homes.
Nature lovers will enjoy peaceful picnics and strolls through Desert Meadows Park, while avid readers check out a new book or attend an event at the Joyner-Green Valley Library.
6. Three Points
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 88, compared to the Tucson average of 94
- Median home price: $92,600
The small town of Three Points comes in sixth on our list of the best suburbs to retire near Tucson with one of the lowest costs of living of any place we ranked. Ranch and Mediterranean style homes are common.
Residents enjoy a close-knit community less than 30 miles from all the action in downtown Tucson. Three Points is the perfect spot for retirees who want plenty of wide-open spaces and scenic mountain views.
7. Tucson Estates
Key Stats:
- Median home price: $113,800
- Residents age 65 and up: 17.5 percent
Home buyers have plenty of options in the scenic suburb of Tucson Estates, from modest ranch style homes and bungalows to spacious Mediterranean style homes on large lots.
Nature loving retirees will love camping trips or scenic hikes through the beautiful Tucson Mountain Park. The nearby
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum boasts live animal exhibits and botanical gardens.
Key Stats:
- Number of doctors: 23
- Residents age 65 and up: 10 percent
The peaceful small town of Catalina earns the eighth spot on our list with plenty of modest ranch style homes and spacious Mediterranean style homes for potential buyers.
Active retirees will love strolling and picnicking in Catalina Regional Park, while avid readers check out a new book or attend an event at the Dewhirst Catalina Library.
9. Littletown
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 86, compared to the Tucson average of 94
- Residents age 65 and up: 16.7 percent
Retirees looking for a close-knit community will love the tiny town of Littletown, which has a population of just over 600 residents. Home buyers have their pick of craftsman, Mediterranean, and ranch style homes.
Active retirees will loves strolling and picnicking in the Thomas Jay Regional Park, while history buffs enjoy the exhibits at the nearby Pima Air & Space Museum.
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,379
- Number of doctors: 369
Sahuarita rounds out our list of the best Tucson suburbs to retire with one of the lowest crime rates of any place we ranked. Ranch, craftsman, and Mediterranean style homes are common.
Avid readers can check out a new book at the Sahuarita Library, while history buffs enjoy a tour of the Titan Missile Museum. Nature lovers will enjoy fishing, picnics, and strolls at Sahuarita Lake Park.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best Tucson suburbs to retire in, we took a look at the following retirement friendly criteria:
- Doctors per capita
- Senior amenities per capita (volunteer opportunities, recreation centers, golf courses, restaurants, libraries, arts and entertainment, and retirement homes)
- Cost of living (the lower the better)
- Median home price (the lower the better)
- Percent of residents 65 and up
- Total Crimes per 100k
From there, we ranked each suburb in the above categories. Then, because some things are a little more important to retirees than others, we weighed the percent of residents 65 and up and total crimes per 100k so they made up 20 percent of our total score, while the rest of the categories made up 15 percent.
We averaged these weighted scores into one overall score, with the lowest 10 scores going toward our top 10 neighborhoods for retirement.
To see how other Tucson suburbs ranked, check out the table below:
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