Where is the "Go to" part of town for safe living in Tucson? (Catalina Foothills: rentals, crime)

[HarveytheRabbit]

Not just a pocket neighborhood that when you go 3-5 miles away from your home you get into sketchy areas. Where's the best side of town where you can venture out, drive all over, stop and feel pretty much safe everywhere; like even at a random corner gas station, strip mall etc.

Is it north Tucson? Mid-town?

[sandstorm6]

Funny question - I cross the street and I'm in a sketchy neighborhood! If you want a three-mile "radius of safety," you should stick to the Foothills (north of River) or Oro Valley.

[azdr0710]

Harvey....can you tell us if you're thinking of moving here and, if so, where you're coming from??

sandstorm makes a good point....it's all very mixed here as you move around....there are $1M+++ homes here within a few blocks of white-trash rentals then $1M+++ homes again the other side of the white trash.....

but if this very wide radius thing is important, as S says, anything N of River and E of Oracle should be what you need.....

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

Harvey....can you tell us if you're thinking of moving here and, if so, where you're coming from??

sandstorm makes a good point....it's all very mixed here as you move around....there are $1M+++ homes here within a few blocks of white-trash rentals then $1M+++ homes again the other side of the white trash.....

but if this very wide radius thing is important, as S says, anything N of River and E of Oracle should be what you need.....

Yup, a 3rd vote for that area.

Ken

[coatimundi]

The Catalina Foothills are known to be wealthy, but wealth does not necessarily equate safety. I'd point out, for instance, in recent years that a couple of drug stash houses have been discovered in the area. And you still have crime like home break-ins despite living behind a fortress of gates and security systems. The danger there is that there's a false impression of safety, and that leads to only leads to complacency which, in the end, perpetuates the crime.

I guess Tucson is somewhat unique in that we don't have our "right side" and "wrong side of the tracks" like many other urban areas, but you can live in a nice, safe area within the city and have minimal worries about your safety, in particular your physical safety.

[tickyul]

Originally Posted by sandstorm6

Funny question - I cross the street and I'm in a sketchy neighborhood! If you want a three-mile "radius of safety," you should stick to the Foothills (north of River) or Oro Valley.

Same thing I was thinking, 3 miles of decent living.....hahaha, what country are you talking about???

[sierraAZ]

I can't believe this thread! And many others, but I just don't bother with them...

What is wrong with the East side, the Northeast, the far Southeast, the posh West on the way to Desert Museum, and many, many other areas?! I'm not sure how things stand right now, but for a long time 85749 was the most expensive zip code. Yes, before 85750, Oro Valley, and all that jazz.

It looks to me that this forum has been overrun by people from the NW and Oro Valley who think that's be all and end all in metro Tucson.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I can't believe this thread! And many others, but I just don't bother with them...

What is wrong with the East side, the Northeast, the far Southeast, the posh West on the way to Desert Museum, and many, many other areas?! I'm not sure how things stand right now, but for a long time 85749 was the most expensive zip code. Yes, before 85750, Oro Valley, and all that jazz.

It looks to me that this forum has been overrun by people from the NW and Oro Valley who think that's be all and end all in metro Tucson.

It IS true that those other areas are very nice. Aside from the East side though, I don't think any of those "nice" areas are as large as the northern area is. The op stated he wanted a large "safe" area. While the West area is very very posh it seems to me that it's not that far to "not so nice" areas. That's that the primary reason I selected the north part of town (the "nice & safe" area is just bigger in that direction - though I do admit that the east "nice & safe" area is probably just as big).

Ken

[2farsouth]

I'm happy the East side is considered favorable also. I think I want to look in the Pantano/Broadway area. Seems to be an area I can bicycle to most of the areas that interest me, so I can leave my car parked on most days and get some well needed exercise, while saving some gas money.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

It IS true that those other areas are very nice. Aside from the East side though, I don't think any of those "nice" areas are as large as the northern area is. The op stated he wanted a large "safe" area. While the West area is very very posh it seems to me that it's not that far to "not so nice" areas. That's that the primary reason I selected the north part of town (the "nice & safe" area is just bigger in that direction - though I do admit that the east "nice & safe" area is probably just as big).

Ken

Starting from Wilmot (the official beginning of East) East and Northeast are great all the way East. With Southeast the cut-off of "great" may be a little farther East, but there's absolutely nothing wrong/dangerous with it even if you start from Wilmot (some of these areas are just older, more modest, and working class neighborhoods). When I read these posts, I have the feeling the posters talk about Harlem or East L.A. WTH?!

Granted, the good West side is not that large and is lacking amenities (those have to be shared with not so nice areas).