Catalina, AZ lies in the northwest quadrant of Tucson and is an unincorporated area just north of Oro Valley and south of SaddleBrooke. It sits largely east of North Oracle Road (State Route 77) and has an eastern boundary of Catalina State Park and the Coronado National Forest. The town has its origins in cattle ranching that gradually gave way to residential and commercial development in the second half of the 20th century.
The official elevation of Catalina is 3,123 feet, but it peaks on Mount Lemmon at 9,147 feet. Its elevation and proximity to the Santa Catalina Mountains offers a slightly cooler climate and striking views, especially in the winter when snow accumulates at higher elevations.
The housing mix in this area is primarily single family on larger lots relative to Tucson and mobile homes. Many of the homes sit outside of subdivisions and masterplanned communities. If you’re looking for an area that doesn’t have a homeowners’ association (HOA), the Catalina area offers much to choose from and some properties have horse privileges.
Catalina and the large luxury retirement community of SaddleBrooke share the zip code 85739. As a consequence, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reports homes for sale in both Catalina and SaddleBrooke together. Since SaddleBrooke is an upscale community with nearly three times the homes, the listings the MLS reports are heavily skewed toward SaddleBrooke rather than Catalina.
As of March 2016, there were 361 homes listed for sale in zip code 85739, 95 percent of which were single-family. Prices for the detached homes ranged from $64,900 to $799,000 and square footages ranged from 756 to 4138. The average listed rice was $317,413 and the median was $299,250. Within the attached segment, the lowest price was $169,500 and the highest $325,000. Square footages ranged from 1442 to 2193.
Minus the SaddleBrooke inventory, there are 24 properties for sale within the boundaries of unincorporated Catalina, most of which are undeveloped commercial and residential lots. The four single family homes for sale have an average sales price of $188,050 with 1932 square feet. The four manufactured homes on the market average $142,625 for 1636 square feet.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the median home value in Catalina stood at $162,100 in 2014, which is higher than the median in Tucson proper, reported at $133,500, for the same period. The Census reports that there were 3,306 total housing units in Catalina as of 2014.
Subdivisions in Catalina include Black Horse, Vista Las Cantinas, Chaparral Estates, Eagle Crest Ranch and Ranch Acre Estates. Mobile home communities include Twin Lakes Mobile Estates, Chaparral Estates West, and Lariat Estates.
Richmond American is currently building homes in Eagle Crest Ranch whose prices start at $178,950 for 1720 square feet and go up to 2153 square feet priced at $201,950. Robson Resort Communities is currently offering new homes at SaddleBrooke Ranch priced from $225,900 for 1513 square feet and $430,460 for 2323 square feet.
The population of Catalina numbered 7,569 in 2010, with 21 percent of residents under 18 years old and 19 percent over 65. The average household size in 2010 was 2.6. Because Catalina was settled centuries by Spanish explorers, the population mix is primarily Caucasian and Hispanic. The median household income in 2010 stood at $49,332 for Catalina residents, measurably higher Tucson’s median of $37,149.
Shopping centers line Oracle Road and you’ll find more in SaddleBrooke Ranch. The Golder Ranch Plaza is home to Bashas, Great Clips, several fast food restaurants and a shipping store. The shopping in Oro Valley includes a wide variety of stores and services, including Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Tuesday Morning and Big Lots for the bargain hunters. You’ll find more upscale stores at La Encantada Mall and Tucson Mall just a few miles south in Tucson.
People from all over the world visit the Santa Catalina Mountains to enjoy the hiking, picnicking and camping. These mountains are home to Mount Lemmon, the only skiing area in Southern Arizona. Sabino Canyon is located inside the Santa Catalinas and supports a rich wildlife and plant population. According to the U.S. Forest Service, over a million people each year visit this area. Catalina State Park is open year-round for hiking, horseback riding, cycling picnicking and camping.
If your home doesn’t have a backyard pool, you can use Catalina’s public swimming pool on Oracle Road just south of Edwin from Memorial to Labor Day. The Town of Oro Valley has an aquatic center that offers monthly family memberships to the public. Golf courses are abundant in this region of Tucson. El Conquistador, Silverbell, and Quail Canyon golf courses offer public play. The courses at nearby SaddleBrooke are available for residents only.
Catalina lies within the Amphitheater Unified School District. Children from grades K through 8 attend Coronado K-8 School. This school has Title 1 status, which means that it receives supplemental funding to enhance the educational opportunities for students with economic disadvantages. Coronado has a 95 percent attendance rate and has earned a B score for student achievement. Ironwood Ridge High School, an A-rated school, has a 91 percent graduation rate, and a 94 percent attendance rate.
Catalina lies inside the Golder Ranch Fire District and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department provides safety services. You’re more likely to encounter a scorpion in this area than an intruder. The Santa Catalinas and Catalina are among the safest places in the Tucson Metro area, but the entire Catalina and Oro Valley areas are known hot spots for the bark scorpion, according to reporter Jim Becker of KOLD News 13.
