Looking to move to Tucson? Arizona’s second-largest city is a lively area known for its diverse culture, incredible dining, and rich history—you’ll always be able to find fun things to do in the Old Pueblo! Here are the five best Tucson neighborhoods for singles and young professionals to check out.
Armory Park
Photo via @tucsongolfliving
- Home Price: $243,550 median purchase price; $750 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 92% of Tucson neighborhoods
You can feel right at home in Armory Park, one of the most unique and desirable neighborhoods in Tucson. Young professionals are drawn here because of its plentiful job opportunities with small businesses dispersed throughout Armory Park—and its close proximity to Downtown Tucson. Best yet, Armory Park is incredibly walkable and bikeable, so it’s easier to get to work or to the night’s fun! The namesake park itself offers residents some green space in the middle of an urban area, and serves as a social area for classes or celebrations like Parade of Lights.
Things to Do in Armory Park
Join an adult soccer league at the Maracana Indoor Sports Arena. Break in your new skates on a Saturday morning at Premises Park, a nonprofit indoor skate park. Get your mind blown by over 50 nationally-recognized artists at Philabaum Glass Gallery. Head over to Downtown Tucson to view rotating exhibits from local, national, and international artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Get breakfast at 5 Points Market & Restaurant and order The Eggleston Sandwich or Smoked Salmon Benedict. Enjoy international cuisines, with dishes like Pancetta Wrapped Chicken Roulade, Thai Mussels and Grilled Shrimp, or Made to Order Fish Chowder at The Coronet. Throw one back at Iron John’s Brewing Company, where they serve “expressive beers that let the ingredients speak for themselves.” Or satisfy your sweet tooth with a Bourbon Almond Brittle cone at HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery.
Dunbar Spring
Photo via @love.your.dirt
- Home Price: $184,167 median purchase price; $689 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 33% of Tucson neighborhoods
Named after novelist and poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, and the teacher John Spring, Dunbar Spring has fostered a strong cultural identity. With personality at every corner, residents can choose to live in Prairie-style, Queen Anne, and Mission Revival-style houses. Though many families have lived here for generations, residents of Dunbar Spring welcome vibrancy and new additions to the neighborhood. This established area in Tucson is filled with restaurants, cafes, and art galleries—which residents can easily walk and bike to!
Things to Do in Dunbar Spring
Stay in shape and find community at Milo Fitness Factory. Participate in group fitness Blast, Zumba, and Flamenco classes at Floor Polish. Fill your plant-parent soul by picking up greenery at Drutopia. Have a picnic with friends at Estevan Park. Sing karaoke and order a Mic Drop Omelette or Dancing Queen French Toast at Bumsted’s at Wonderwall. Eat clean, healthy, and fresh at Warfuel Kitchen with Clean Chipotle Cheddar Meatloaf, Coconut Curry, or Asada Burrito Bowl. Or indulge in Macho Tacos, Veggie Tacos, or “Bahn Mi” Quesadillas at Boca Tacos. Head for after-work drinks to try brews like the Prickly Pear Wheat Ale or Noche Dulce Vanilla Porter at Borderlands Brewing.
Old Fort Lowell
Photo via @casacheruy
- Home Price: $188,833 median purchase price; $986 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 86% of Tucson neighborhoods
Old Fort Lowell gets its name from an army post established in 1873, but it can trace its roots all the way back to around 300 A.D. Since then, different communities have come and gone, leaving their mark on the neighborhood. Now the area is populated with eclectic artists, galleries and murals, local cafes and eateries, and lots of charm. The neighborhood is comprised of adobe buildings, Old Fort Lowell structures, bungalows, and Sonoran Ranch homes.
Things to Do in Old Fort Lowell
Find your style while shopping at an upscale consignment boutique with a carefully-curated collection, Green Monkey Boutique. Spend a day relaxing, playing ball, using the playground, or going for a swim in the public pool at Fort Lowell Park. See over 500 contemporary roomboxes and dollhouses at the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. Attend one of the many gatherings, lectures, exhibits, and memorials held at historic San Pedro Chapel, a Tucson landmark that sits on a hillside overlooking Old Fort Lowell. Start your morning with an espresso, Red-Eye Chicken Taco, or Calabacitas Omelette at LeBuzz, an Italian neighborhood espresso bar. Get authentic Sikh and Indian food at IndianTwist, where they prepare fresh dishes like Tandoori Chicken, Lamb Biryani, and Chana Masala. Share a Sausage Bianco or a Centurion pizza at Trident Grills & Pizza Pub.
El Presidio
Photo via @thejennelltaylor
- Home Price: $66,200 median purchase price; $736 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 49% of Tucson neighborhoods
El Presidio and the Presidio District is where Tucson was first established when a Spanish military fort was founded there in 1775. Rich with history and Spanish roots, you’ll find this neighborhood filled with museums, art, and authentic Spanish cuisine. El Presidio offers a mix of housing styles, including Spanish Colonial Revival, Victorian, and Sonoran Rowhouses. And since it’s part of the downtown area, there is plenty to see and do within walking or biking distance!
Things to Do in El Presidio
Travel back in time and learn about what life was like for early Tucsonans at the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum. Host your next event or celebration at the Historic Bates Mansion and experience its old-pueblo feel. See art from a wide span of cultures and time periods at the Tucson Museum of Art. Dive into a play, see a ballet, or attend concerts and musical performances at Leo Rich Theater. Find new and classic records at Old Paint Record Shop, along with books, t-shirts, buttons, and more. Fill up on Biscuits & Gravy, Huevos Rancheros, or the Vegan Breakfast Scramble at LaCo Tucson, or come back in the evening for drinks and live music! Savor handcrafted pasta, bread, pastries, and espresso at Ceres Pasta. Try the Tamale Temptation Trio or Chicken Flautas at “the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family,” El Charro Cafe.
Sam Hughes
Photo via @selltucson
- Home Price: $312,312 median purchase price; $911 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 72% of Tucson neighborhoods
Sam Hughes is one of Tucson’s oldest neighborhoods and is a safe, affordable place to live for singles and young professionals. Many residents of Sam Hughes value its location, being near the University of Arizona and just a few miles from Downtown Tucson. Because of its proximity to major Tucson areas for young professionals, residents are able to easily commute for jobs, school, and fun nightlife. Plus, Sam Hughes’ housing market is affordable for young professionals—and includes budget-friendly townhouses and condos, as well as Craftsman bungalows and Mission Revival single-family homes.
Things to Do in Sam Hughes
Explore Himmel Park—perfect for basking in the Arizona sun, taking quiet walks, or using the public pool. Discover vintage items, pottery, and folk art at Art De La Vida. Witness “an immersive planetarium experience like no other” at the university’s Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium. Bear down and cheer on the Arizona Wildcats (NCAA) at a basketball game in the McKale Memorial Center. Enjoy a cup of tea or purchase blends from Seven Cups, a fine Chinese teas shop. Grab a slice of Famous Stuffed Pizza or order the Florentine Ravioli at Rocco’s Little Chicago. Sample from the ever-changing menu at Tumerico, with Latin-inspired vegan and vegetarian cuisine. Or satisfy your cravings with homemade ice cream flavors like Sweet Cream Honeycomb, Coffee Toffee, and Blueberry Cheesecake at The Screamery.
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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes
