Catalina Foothills is a census-designated place, not a city or town, in Pima County. The Arizona region is situated just north of the city of Tucson, and it is considered more upscale than many of the other nearby communities. This area is the one encompassed between Oracle Road, River Road, and Sabino Creek. Santa Catalina Ranger District and Coronado National Forest also border the community.
Catalina Foothills is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains, just along the southern part of the foothills. It is larger than other census-designated places in the area with nearly 51,000 people according to a 2010 census. Population has actually decreased slightly in the last 16 years. Today, the region is considered one of the most affluent in the state. In fact, it has one of the highest per capita incomes in both Arizona and the United States.
The population density in the region is about 1,210 people per square mile, and housing units are well-spaced. Of the 23,948 households in Catalina Foothills, nearly one-fourth have children under the age of 18 living in them. More than 57 percent of the households include married couples. About 29 percent consist of individuals. The household size, on average, is 2.23 people. Among families, the average size is 2.76. Nearly one-fifth of the population of Catalina foothills consists of children under the age of 18. Nearly one-fourth is made up of residents age 25 to 44, and nearly one-third is made up of those 45 to 64. The median resident age is 52.8.
Catalina Foothills is not considered especially diverse, with about 91 percent of the population being White. Other races represented in the census include Black, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and less than 2 percent considered themselves other races. About 7.55 percent of the population was considered Latino.
Catalina Foothills encompasses nearly 45 square miles and began to develop in the 1920s, when it stopped acting merely as open range land for cattle and was purchased by a man named John Murphey. The plan was to build 10 different subdivisions for housing, each one offering low density living to preserve vegetation and views of the mountains. Development of the foothills into homes finally began in the 1930s, and a school soon followed. Today, there are many more homes than Murphey imagined. Still, the neighborhoods retain a sense of suburban, rural charm that is often not found in large-scale Tucson communities.
The estimated median house or condo value is about $371,700, which has increased more than $130,000 in the last 16 years. Additionally, this is much higher than the median for Arizona.
The most common industries among residents include those in health care and social assistance, technical services, manufacturing, educational services, and retail trade. The most common occupations tend to be those in management, sales, health treatment, engineering, architecture, education, and office administration.
The median income for households in Catalina Foothills is $65,657, which is higher than the median for Arizona. For families, the median income is closer to $82,675. Men in the region tend to make significant more than women, at $61,697 versus $37,077.
Approximately 2.4 percent of families in the area live below the poverty line, and 4.3 percent of individuals do. Unemployment is less than the Arizona unemployment rate at less than seven percent.
The average commute time is about 22 minutes, which is slightly lower than the average for Arizona commuters.
Three public school districts service Catalina Foothills. They are typically considered high-achieving by both statewide and national standards.
Amphitheater Public Schools are located on the western side of the foothills and serve neighborhoods like Pima Canyon estate and Via Entrada. These schools perform well academically, especially Canyon del Oro High School. In fact, the school was rated by Newsweek Magazine as one of the top five percent of schools in the country.
The Catalina Foothills School District servers the upper portion of the community. Catalina Foothills High School has high test scores, especially in math.
Some students attend Tucson Unified School District, especially those that live in the northeastern and lower portion of the community. Students attend Jacob C. Fruchtendler Elementary School, Joseph W. Magee Middle School, Doolen Middle School, W.V. Whitmore Elementary School, Catalina High School, and Sabino High School.
For residents over the age of 25, nearly 99 percent have a high school degree or higher. Additionally, about 64 percent have a bachelor's degree or higher.
One of the biggest reasons people visit Catalina Foothills is to visit the upscale shopping center known as La Encantada. The mall offers stores like Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. Additional shopping centers include Bel Air Plaza, Gaslight Square, and Tierra Serena.
Several resorts are also located in the community, including Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and Canyon Ranch Resort.
Catalina Foothills has a lot to offer, especially if you are looking for an affluent community outside Tucson. It is a haven for many commuters.
