Is your family considering moving to Tucson? The second-largest city in Arizona has family-friendly activities, safe neighborhoods, great schools, delicious food, and more. Check out these five best neighborhoods in Tucson for families!
Armory Park
- Home Price: $243,550 median purchase price; $750 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 86% of Arizona cities
Armory Park, recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the safest neighborhoods in Tucson, making it ideal for families! With 6th Avenue—home to some of the best restaurants in Tucson and fun activities for kids—within walking distance, this highly-walkable and bikeable neighborhood offers convenience for residents. When looking for homes, you can find many styles including Angelo Territorial, Victorian, and Greek Revival. Plus, parents can enroll their children in great schools like nearby Safford K-8 School, Imago Dei Middle School, or Project MORE High School. Armory Park is a great place for employment as well, with easy access to I-10 and downtown in addition to the job opportunities provided by the tourism and hospitality industry in the area!
Things to Do in Armory Park
Have a blast learning about the body in Bodyology, painting in the paint pods in Imagine It!, making music on xylophones in the Curiosity Courtyard, and more at the Tucson Children’s Museum. Take advantage of Free Third Thursdays by seeing exhibitions of Contemporary work by global artists, listening to art lectures, and signing your child up for one of the summer camp programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson. See the Arizona Opera put on seasonal performances like The Sound of Music or listen to the grand sounds of the Tucson Symphony at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. Sign up for events like yoga classes in the park or play a game of horseshoes or shuffleboard at the neighborhood’s namesake, Armory Park. Start with warm Miso Soup before filling your belly with a Salmon Poke Bowl or Obon Ramen at Obon. Have delicious Central Mexican cuisines like Manchamanteles, Ceviche, Ensalada Mixta, and more at Penca. Go out for a nice dinner of Manzanilla Miso Halibut, Tequila’d Trout, or “Surf & Turf” Enchiladas Banderas at Charro Steak. End the night with a sweet treat of unique ice cream flavors like Balsamic Strawberry, Bourbon Almond Brittle, and Unicorn Swirl at HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery.
Broadmoor-Broadway
- Home Price: $281,650 median purchase price; $764 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 57% of Arizona cities
Broadmoor-Broadway is one of the best neighborhoods in Tucson for families looking for a peaceful area to live. Located in central Tucson, quiet Broadmoor-Broadway resides on the eastern end of the Sunshine Mile, a historical shopping district providing lots of interest to the neighborhood! Families can find more things to do at parks in the area like Reid Park, local restaurants and shops, or Malvern Plaza, which has a Little Free Library. But what really draws residents to this neighborhood is the housing! Homes in this area were built in the post-war era of the 1940s and are typically in a Ranch style, breaking away from the usual bungalow or Adobe-style houses in Tucson.
Things to Do in Broadmoor-Broadway
Meet giraffes at the Giraffe Encounter, see African Elephants in Expedition Tanzania, or ride on your favorite animal on the Wildlife Carousel at the Reid Park Zoo. Learn about the history of neon signs in interactive exhibits featuring signs from Molina’s Midway Restaurant, the Lyric Theater, and more at the Ignite Sign Art Museum. Stop by the oldest comedy club in Arizona to see live stand-up shows from touring and local comedians at Tucson’s only Laffs Comedy Club. Enroll in classes for young children, teens, and adults up to the professional level at Ballet Tucson. Start your morning with a cup of coffee to go with your Apple Pecan Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs & Chorizo, or 2 Eggs Any Style with Steak at Laverna’s Coffee Shop. Pick up freshly baked breads such as Whole Wheat Walnut, Cranberry Apricot, Rustic Olive, and more at Barrio Bread. Show up early to order first-come first-served Brisket, Pulled Pork, Hot Links, and other delicious barbeque dishes at Kiss of Smoke BBQ—they’re quick to sell out! Or explore delicious flavors in dishes like Chiles Toritos, Camarones Culichi, or Pollo Fajitas at Mariscos Chihuahua.
Catalina Foothills
- Home Price: $400,200 median purchase price; $952 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 71% of Arizona cities
If your family loves nature, Catalina Foothills is the perfect neighborhood for you! Not only can you access great hiking in Tucson in the Santa Catalina Mountains, but this stunning suburb is also right at the cusp of the Sonoran Desert! Prospective homeowners will find Spanish Revival and Southwest-style homes with well-maintained desert landscaping in this northern Tucson neighborhood. And parents can rest assured that children are getting top education in the Catalina Foothills Unified School District, as it’s one of the best school districts in Arizona.
Things to Do in Catalina Foothills
Gather the kids for family fun in Tucson and splash around at Cactus Springs, race around the track on the Go-Karts, or play a round of Mini Golf at Funtasticks Family Fun Park. Enter the 100-year-old enchanted fairyland and attend performances, tours, and other magical events at the Valley of the Moon. Visit a world of miniatures and see mini sets of the Silver Queen Collection or Colonial Room Collection, and in the winter months, be sure to check out the Wee Winter Wonderland at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. Take a family hike on the Sabino Canyon trails—or enjoy a picnic under the shaded camping site at the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Order a Daily Drip, Doppio, Mocha, or Cold Brew before biking your favorite Tucson trail at Hello Bicycle & Cafe, which also doubles as a bike store! Dig into a Blackened Ahi Salad, Chubasco Burger, or El Cubano Torta at Fini’s Landing, a popular family-friendly restaurant in Tucson. Pick up a Stuffed Sopapilla, a side of Las Cruces Messy Fries, or a bowl of Chicken Tortilla soup at locally-owned New Mexican restaurant Poco and Mom’s Cantina. Or choose from Ricotta Gnocchi, New York Steak, Togarashi Crusted Salmon, and more when you make a reservation at Commoner & Co.
Dunbar Spring
- Home Price: $184,167 median purchase price; $689 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 26% of Arizona cities
As one of the first African-American neighborhoods in Tucson, Dunbar Spring is known for its culturally-diverse community. Affordable homes come in a variety of styles such as Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Sonoran. This neighborhood is just north of Downtown Tucson and has plenty of unique eateries and fun things to do with the family. If you don’t have a car, no problem—Dunbar Spring is very walkable and bikeable. Plus, there are great schools like Small Miracles Education for preschoolers or Pima Community College for those who are interested in furthering their education. This up-and-coming neighborhood has beautiful views of the Tucson Mountains and is ideal for families looking for a quaint and quiet area to move to!
Things to Do in Dunbar Spring
Explore traveling art exhibits like The Sacred and the Profane and Art of the Ancient Americas in addition to the permanent collection at the Tucson Museum of Art. Participate in classes, listen to live music, or attend poetry readings at the Steinfeld Warehouse Community Arts Center. Enroll in fitness programs like Olympic Lifting, Functional Fitness Training, or Foundation Classes at the Milo Fitness Factory—or bring the family down for a fun day at the playground, shoot some hoops on the basketball court, or kick the ball around on the soccer field at Estevan Park. Order The Buddah Bowl, Clean Honey Crusted Chicken, and Plant-Based Roasted Harvest Bowl at WarFuel Kitchen, an innovative restaurant in Tucson that serves fresh meals. Feast on tasty Tucson-style Mexican dishes like Enchiladas del Rancho, Tamale Platters, or Chile Relleno del Rey at El Charro Cafe—or choose between Tarascan Tacos, Beef or Chicken Flautas, or Calabacitas to go with your Jalapeno Margarita at La Indita. Sample great Ethiopian food in Tucson with dishes such as Yemisir Kay Wat, Mincheta Bish, Kay Watt Zigni, and more at Zemam’s, Too!
Sam Hughes
- Home Price: $312,312 median purchase price; $911 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 61% of Arizona cities
If you’re looking for a family-friendly neighborhood in Tucson, Sam Hughes should definitely be on your list. Even though Sam Hughes is just minutes away from Downtown Tucson and neighbors the University of Arizona, this active area still feels quite suburban. This safe, affordable Tucson neighborhood offers housing options like Southwest-style homes and Mission-style bungalows on tree-lined streets. Children and teens attend local schools like Sam Hughes Elementary or Edge High School. But the heart of the neighborhood is Himmel Park, which provides students, parents, kiddos, and grandparents alike walking paths, a swimming pool, and even fall movie events.
Things to Do in Sam Hughes
Tour exhibitions like Restored: The Return of Woman-Ochre, the American Art Gallery, and the Modern Art Gallery at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. Sign the family up for library cards so they can check out tons of books and join events like Family Storytime and Lego Fun on Wednesdays at the Himmel Park Library. Watch unique films, Hollywood classics, and other movies at The Loft Cinema, a nonprofit movie theatre that’s been in the community for 50 years. See the Cactus & Succulent Garden, Barrio Garden, Herb Garden, and other exhibits at nearby Tucson Botanical Gardens, voted one of the best botanical gardens in the U.S. Order authentic Japanese food like Tonkotsu, Umami Shoyu, or Veggie Ramen at Raijin Ramen. Find Chicago-style stuffed pizza with flavors such as the Big Bad Wolf, Heart Atack Special, or the Kitchen Sink at Rocco’s Little Chicago. Fill up on Vietnamese dishes like Bun Cha Ha Noi, Com Bo Luc Lac, and Pho Tai at Miss Saigon. Or bite into a Graze Double Beef Burger, Chorizo Burger, or Turkey Burger with a side of Fresh Cut Fries at Graze Premium Burgers.
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Neighborhood and suburb statistics from AreaVibes
