SaddleBrooke, a masterplanned community 30 miles north of Tucson, AZ, sits at the northwestern base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It’s a 55+ active adult community with a population of 9,614 as of the 2010 Census. Developed by Robson Resort Communities, this community features golf courses, recreation centers, extensive clubs, fitness activities, and onsite shopping and services.
While the elevation varies throughout SaddleBrooke, its official elevation sits at 3,000 feet, making it several degrees cooler than Tucson itself at 2,388 feet. Seasons are more pronounced, and it’s not unheard of to see snow falling during cold winter storms. Because the elevation is higher, rainfall is more abundant from summer monsoon storms, and the native Sonoran desert vegetation is lush.
Robson is still building homes within SaddleBrooke. Its newest series, The Villas, are townhomes that offer busy homeowners full yard and exterior building maintenance. As this community nears buildout, buyers will find ample homes available on the resale market. The Census Bureau counted 5,671 homes within SaddleBrooke in the 2010 Census, 96 percent of which were occupied by their owners. The homeownership rate for Tucson for the same time frame was just 49.6 percent.
Pride of ownership shows throughout the SaddleBrooke community. Two Homeowner Associations manage the community and each neighborhood is governed by codes, covenants and restrictions (CC&Rs) that regulate the appearance of neighborhoods, ensuring a high quality streetscape and that homes hold their values.
Because this is an age-qualified community, it’s no surprise that 60 percent of the residents are 65 and older, compared to 12 percent of Tucson residents in general. While the age profile tips heavily over the 55+ categories, SaddleBrooke residents are well educated. Over half have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to just 25 percent of Tucson residents. Since the community restricts the number of people below 55, the average household size within SaddleBrooke is 2.0, compared to 2.46 for the rest of Tucson.
This part of the Tucson metro area boasts a diverse mix of shopping opportunities, suitable for bargain hunters and those looking for luxurious goods. St. Philip’s Plaza, Casas Adobes Plaza, Plaza Palomino and La Encantada feature upscale shopping. The nearby Oro Valley Marketplace has major grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s and Sprouts. You’ll also find onsite shopping and services within SaddleBrooke Shopping Center on SaddleBrooke Boulevard.
When you buy a home within SaddleBrooke, not only do you have a place to call home, you’ll also have access to three championship golf courses, four clubhouses, eight swimming pools, a dog park, four fitness centers, 21 tennis courts, a softball field, pickle ball, and bocce ball, two arts and crafts facilities, a 480-seat theater, four libraries, and three upscale restaurants and grills. The golf courses are semi-private and sit on top of mesas, and offer stunning mountain views of the Santa Catalinas.
The residents of SaddleBrooke have organized numerous clubs and activities covering a wide range of interests, from arts and crafts to political and pet groups. The University of Arizona is within an easy drive, as is Pima Community Club for those who want to continue learning. The theater within SaddleBrooke presents local and national cultural events.
Besides the amenities just outside your door, you can quickly drive to Catalina State Park to enjoy miles of horseback and hiking trails, picnic and camping areas, or visit the Biosphere. Mount Lemmon, southern Arizona’s skiing capitol, is just up the road, and open year-round, even for horseback riding.
High-tech, medicine, and education lead the list of employers in this region of Tucson. Ventana Medical Systems, Oro Valley Hospital, and Honeywell Aerospace, all located within Oro Valley, employed a total of 2,600 people as of March 2016. The Census Bureau reported that the average commute time for working Oro Valley residents was 43 minutes, and that just 26 percent of residents were in the labor force, compared to 60 percent within Tucson.
Tucson International Airport lies south of SaddleBrooke, but some SaddleBrooke residents use Phoenix Sky Harbor because Sky Harbor often offers lower fares and better flight availability. Access to Phoenix is easy from I-10, or from Highway 77 to Highway 79. Although both are two-lane highways, traffic is significantly lower than on the freeway.
This community has its own security patrol staffed by local resident volunteers who patrol the streets. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office provides police protection, and the Golder Ranch Fire District provides fire and emergency medical services. Located within SaddleBrooke, this district branch provides Advanced Life Support, as well as wildland fire protection. According to the crime rate statistics gathered by federal law agencies, this area is 91 percent safer than the U.S. as a whole. The Oro Valley Hospital is just a few miles away.
