Don't Believe the Hype : Tucson, Arizona (Phoenix, Sierra Vista: violent crime, buying a home, job outlook)

[milliebfit]

Originally Posted by chrisperrin

With all due respect is there a city anywhere in the world that doesn't have graffiti and some run down neighborhoods???

I agree I love Tucson! My son lives there and loves it. He has been there for a year and just signed another year lease.

[borderboy86]

I dont see why anyone is saying nice things about Tucson. I grew up there and hated every minute of it. Not only are people there small minded. Not too long ago I read online that Pima County had passed the million in population mark. Sure dont feel like it. Two freeways, Three skyscrappers (If you want to call them that), no nightlife, dead downtown, and over priced homes. What is there to like? For anything worth doing we had to make frequent trips to Phoenix. I would never want my kids to grow up there and sure would never consider moving back.

[Robin Holland]

Originally Posted by finmqa1

I really don't believe Tucson is a bad as some of you say. If it were this crime ridden slump, why is it one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the U.S.?

There are cities that are growing faster than Tucson, but you do ask a good question. The crime in Tucson is three times the natural average, and only slightly ahead of Phoenix, so why are people moving there?

Greater Phoenix and Greater Tucson are in the top-20 most dangerous metropolitan areas in the country, both are worse than Boston, New York, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Arizona is the 4th most dangerous state in the country.

Originally Posted by Amybear

Well I suppose everyone has an opinion to share when it comes to Tucson..
Personally, I'm moving there in February of 2007 and I can't wait!
I love Tucson, and have for years. I currently live in the heart of New York City...I grew up here and lived here for 40 years so if you want to talk about crime- let's go..
In NYC I hear on the news every day about murders, assaults, people being pushed into oncoming subways, rapes, cops getting shot up, etc..constantly!!

New York City metropolitan area is not in the top-25 most dangerous metropolitan areas in the US. Tucson and Phoenix both are. The crime in both Tucson and Phoenix is greater per 100,000 people than New York City as well.

Originally Posted by chrisperrin

With all due respect is there a city anywhere in the world that doesn't have graffiti and some run down neighborhoods???

Yes, many.

[borderboy86]

Personally I would never make the change from such a culturaly diverse city as NYC to a dinky town like Tucson. Tucson is dangerous. Lets face it and live with it. Dont try to deny it or put a mask on the demon. Its dangerous and has a lot of illegals living in it.

[Jenali]

Originally Posted by borderboy86

I dont see why anyone is saying nice things about Tucson. I grew up there and hated every minute of it. Not only are people there small minded. Not too long ago I read online that Pima County had passed the million in population mark. Sure dont feel like it. Two freeways, Three skyscrappers (If you want to call them that), no nightlife, dead downtown, and over priced homes. What is there to like? For anything worth doing we had to make frequent trips to Phoenix. I would never want my kids to grow up there and sure would never consider moving back.

I've lived 2yrs in Tucson ,and just like u I hated every min of it.I too fail to understand what does anyone like about this city?!!It's miserably HOT,desert , congested bad roads ,no big or major city with attractions close by,nothing to do beside going to the mall (bcoz for 6 months it is impossible to get anywhere outside or without AC ..even at night ) and the small shopping center where Pinnacle Peak restaurant is (I loved that place though).The ppl were nice ,I have no objection ,but the city is way too hot for me ,and boring .
The only good thing about Tucson was the affordability ,not anymore .
I used to live in the north side of the city..and ppl kept telling how nice my area is ,I don't know ..I didn't even know what was good or nice about it?I think ppl are diff in what they consider good and what they see beautiful ,otherwise we wouldn't see Tucson RE prices going that high within the last 4yrs ,it means some ppl really like it there and willing to pay ,but not me ,I got out of there and forever .I still have some friends there and like to visit in winter ,but not in the summer time .

[Jenali]

Originally Posted by borderboy86

Personally I would never make the change from such a culturaly diverse city as NYC to a dinky town like Tucson. Tucson is dangerous. Lets face it and live with it. Dont try to deny it or put a mask on the demon. Its dangerous and has a lot of illegals living in it.

I agree about the 'moving from NYC to Tucson' part ,but to be fair ,90% of the crimes are in the south side .The north/north east/north west/and many parts of the central/west/east are pretty safe areas .

[Daniel_T]

I really don't like this town. I moved here four years ago, and today the atmosphere is so different. crime is worse, and the city just seems stuck on stupid. C'mon. Shutting down freeway exits to expand? that should've been done years ago. Not now when the city is over a million. Our traffic jams last from 6 AM to 9 AM. the other day, I-10 was jammed until 11:30!!!!

Jobs don't pay well. Can't really find a job. A lot of immigrants get them. the illegal ones. I really can't wait to just get out of here, and leave this dump behind.

[borderboy86]

Thank You, I am glad to see I was not the only one who hated living there. For a city with over a million it feels like a city with a population of around 300,000. I won't even visit there in the winter. I never want to see that city again.

[Mudd]

Originally Posted by Daniel_T

I really don't like this town. I moved here four years ago, and today the atmosphere is so different. crime is worse, and the city just seems stuck on stupid. C'mon. Shutting down freeway exits to expand? that should've been done years ago. Not now when the city is over a million. Our traffic jams last from 6 AM to 9 AM. the other day, I-10 was jammed until 11:30!!!!

Jobs don't pay well. Can't really find a job. A lot of immigrants get them. the illegal ones. I really can't wait to just get out of here, and leave this dump behind.

Well put. He pretty much nailed Tucson to the "T". Especially the stuck on stupid comment.

The people that want to move here it seems are retirees that want nothing to do with the snow, ever. And that's fine, but I don't like it when they sugar coat it to try to justify their own decisions to move here. Tucson is what it is. It's a hole. It has it's nice parts, but the major problems (the previous mentioned civil engineering nightmares, the lack of intelligence - both from the illegal immigrant influx and the lack of decent schools here, the job market, the asinine real estate pricing, and the crime) all make this a place to avoid. If you like to golf, live on a county club, and don't go out doors during the day for 9 months out of the year, then Tucson is for you. If not ....

[C-Dizzle]

moved to tucson from southern california for school. graduated and lived here for 5 years total. It seems like a lot of people bash tucson because its not what they want but u take it for what it is then you can appreciate it. It still has some small town vibes, and it is growing up a bit. Its definitely unique. I think it has an artsy vibe and lots of cool small businesses u wont find elsewhere. You can find decent shopping like trader joes, costco, and most mall shops and chains besides upscale designers. No outlet stores. Fun bar scenes on 4th avenue and university bars. They arent crazy night clubs like you find in scottsdale but they are just different.

Places to live: there are definitely places you dont want to live as is true anywhere. Such as south oracle road/miracle mile area. There are many barrior type neighborhoods that seem like "little mexico" as one person has said. But then you have oro valley area and the foothills, NE tucson and east tucson has some large mansions many people dont even know about. SE tucson is full of new developments and cookie cutter homes and even a new urbanist community. The west foothills is also a nice place to leave if you proceed west past the silverbell road.

Tucson is what it is you love it or hate it. Personally, i think it has the most beautiful sunsets and mountains, a great U of A campus, a downtown renovation project, a great place to start businesses up, many interesting people to meet, a grid structured road system providing many alternate routes to travel. There are many pluses. Just avoid the negatives like the tougher neighborhoods, dont leave valuables in plain view in your car things like that because there seems to be high property crime.

You can find an ok job here but it can be difficult to find a high paying job. this is countered by cheap cost of living, so it works out.

Overall score from 1 to 10 - i give it a 7.5