Tucson or Phoenix? - Which city shall I move to?

Greetings all,

I have enjoyed reading all the friendly advice and info people give each other on this site. I plan to relocate to Arizona in a few months. Can't wait to leave the northeast and all the snow we've had. Not to mention unbearably humid summers in the past few years. I like the year-round climate of both Phoenix and Tucson. And the friendliness. I have to decide soon which of the two cities to live in. I would love input about either place. Anything I may not have thought of?

At first glance, Tucson is more charming. I like the way the natural look of the desert is used in landscaping. And the views of mountains from all around town. In Tucson, I like the fact that there are lots of community activities listed in the weekly paper. For example, one can take inexpensive swing dance lessons (not only at a commercial dance school) in Tucson. If things like that exists in Phoenix, I didn't get to see it on my short visit there. I looked in Phoenix's weekly entertainment paper but saw no community events listed. I have spent more time in Tucson than Phoenix, so it's hard to judge Phoenix. I love the desert museum in Tucson, but of course, I could drive down there once in awhile if I lived up in Phoenix. One good thing about Phoenix is that most people I talked with who live in the center of the city have not seen scorpions in the house. The comparable central area in Tucson is much smaller, leaving me with fewer housing options there, since I am terrified of seeing a scorpion inside! And worried about my tiny pets. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Greetings all,

Welcome to Arizona Paths!

Anything I may not have thought of?

I would compare the Phoenix area with the Tucson area, not just the two cities within their own boundaries. Tucson is very much by itself, though there are a few surrounding areas. Phoenix is has plenty of surrounding cities, including Tempe, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, Anthem, Apache Junction, and the list goes on. So you may not find the things in Phoenix that you like about Tucson, but they are likely to be right next to Phoenix.

At first glance, Tucson is more charming. I like the way the natural look of the desert is used in landscaping.

You will see more and more of this on the outer edges of the Phoenix area, like north Scottsdale, or out in Gilbert.

And the views of mountains from all around town.

The Metro Phoenix area is in a valley, so it is surrounded entirely by mountains: South Mountain, Superstition Mountains, etc.. and is dotted throughout with some smaller ones, like Camelback Mountain and Piestewa (Squaw) Peak.

In Tucson, I like the fact that there are lots of community activities listed in the weekly paper.

You will see more of this in the smaller cities (like Tempe) than you will in Phoenix.

One good thing about Phoenix is that most people I talked with who live in the center of the city have not seen scorpions in the house. The comparable central area in Tucson is much smaller, leaving me with fewer housing options there, since I am terrified of seeing a scorpion inside! And worried about my tiny pets. Any thoughts?

The closer you live to natural desert landscaping, the more likely you are to see scorpions. I know you like that type of landscaping, so there will likely have to be a trade-off of some sort.

I've been to Tucson plenty of times, but I've never lived there, so I can't compare what it's like to live in Tucson vs. living in the Phoenix area. I just know that everything you've mentioned that you like about Tucson is readily available in the Phoenix area as well.

Greetings, I'd just like to thank you, Nick, for all the information you shared in answer to my Phoenix/Tucson question. It is nice the way you commented on each part of my note! Thanks so much for taking the time to do that. You confirm my feeling about friendliness in Arizona. Peace, Jodi

My wife put it quite succinctly: Tucson is a hick town and Phoenix is a modern city.

I love the mountain in Tucson though. No view like that in Phoenix, sorry. The North area nearest the mountains is where you want to be.

You mentioned about friendly. I came from Michigan and I was shocked at how rude people are here at least when it comes to driving. I will see people sitting in their car, waiting to exit a gas station and almost always someone just pulls right in front of them and doesn't let them out.

On the highway you can be in the fast lane about to pass someone. The car behind that car will often just pull out in front of you then go 1 mile an hour faster than the car you wanted to pass rather than let you pass first. Amazingly inconsiderate.

Also, I have never seen so many people just throwing their children in the car with no seatbelt or child seat!! This ignorance just amazes me.

You mentioned about friendly. I came from Michigan and I was shocked at how rude people are here at least when it comes to driving.

I know people from all over, and I think that the people in Arizona are among the friendliest. However, I will agree with you that many of them are bad or inconsiderate drivers. I notice this much more in the summer than in the winter, and heat can very stressful. I think that behavior on the roads has more to do with the environment than the people.

Tucson is a hick town? You must think Vail is backwards and wrong then.

Phoenix may be less "hick-like" but it's also at least 10 degrees hotter most days (because it doesn't share the slight elevation of Tucson) and isn't near as beautiful as Tucson.

Phoenix also definitely does not share that small town feel in attitudes.

I guess it all depends on what you're looking for. The Phoenix heat turned me off more than any other factor. I cannot fathom living in temps more than 110 many days a year. I think most people moving to AZ are coming from big cities and like that small town feel of Tucson.

I lived in Phoenix for a number of years, but a job change brought me down to Tucson. I like both cities, but there are definitely some differences. Tucson is usually much cooler than Phoenix-- and it truly cools off at night the way a desert should, unlike Phoenix (sometimes still a 110 degrees at midnight!) However, Tucson is not as well-maintained as Phoenix; the roads are littered and have pot holes/cracks. Tucson doesn't beautify the roads with murals, colored rocks, and cactus the way Phoenix does and there is no well-organized network of roads similar to the 101/202 loop in Phoenix-- getting around Tucson can be slow! There is definitely a "charm" to Tucson, however, and the idea of supporting local establishments seems to be very important to Tucson. There are a number of "mom and pop" stores that thrive, whereas Phoenix is more commercialized with name-brand chains. Other considerations: the Phoenix airport has more flights and better fares. A huge number of people grow grass in Phoenix which is, of course, totally unnatural and bad for water conservation (whereas Tucson tries harder to work with the natural surroundings). Overall, I'd say Tucson is more desert, less glitz and Phoenix is more modern convenience (but with a consumer-ist attitude). Good luck-- and remember, both cities have good mexican food!!!!

and remember, both cities have good mexican food!!!!

I would have to say that that would be a very important factor when choosing where to live.

Thanks to all for the comments in answer to my question. I did make a decision and moved to Tucson after all. I've been here two months now. It is quite pretty, and it does cool down nicely after the sun goes down. I live with a nice view of a mountain from my window. I have also made a few trips to see my good friend up in Phoenix. She does not do desert landscaping, as many in Tucson do. (I think water costs more in Tucson?) She does have an un-Tucson-like lovely, enviable, grass-covered backyard for her dogs to run in, with a couple of shade trees and some tall oleander bushes.

Although the state is lovely, I've noticed though that Arizona in general does not have the money-consciousness of NY! Many people work for so very little in this "right to work" state. It makes me sad to see so many people with no benefits or retirement plans. And if they are lucky they get a week vacation at the end of a year of working for barely more than minimum wage. They labor daily and get so little in reture, as if this is a "right." I do miss the NY Chutzpah and demands for fairness.

in general does not have the money-consciousness of NY! Many people work for so very little in this "right to work" state. It makes me sad to see so many people with no benefits or retirement plans. And if they are lucky they get a week vacation at the end of a year of working for barely more than minimum wage. They labor daily and get so little in reture, as if this is a "right." I do miss the NY Chutzpah and demands for fairness.

While I agree, for the most part, with your analysis, I'm going to have to disagree with the concept. I can understand that this would be saddening to see people working for very little. However, people do only what they choose to do. If someone didn't want to work for a small amount of money, then they would do something about it.

Contrary to many other places, I don't think it is an employer's responsibility to provide for someone's retirement. Nor do I think an individual should incur the false sense of security that comes with being dependent on your employer for your retirement. People have many options when investing in their future, and they should make the decision to exercise those options rather than whine and complain that someone won't give them a retirement.

In Arizona, real estate is a great investment. And the "right" that you refer to is the right to have a job without the requirement of being part of a particular labor organization (union). That is, an employer cannot make membership in a labor organization a requirement of acquiring a job. This doesn't prevent someone from being part of a union.

Arizona is also a great place for an entrepreneur, and business ownership is the best way to secure one's financial future.