| Tucson, Arizona is like a breath of fresh air for many | | | | held a high school degree, with 27 percent completing |
| people. But there is much more to consider for those | | | | four or more years of college. Growth in the high-tech |
| thinking of relocating to Tucson. | | | | job market attracts a greater number of residents |
| The seat of Pima County, Tucson is the second | | | | each year. The University of Arizona has a hand in |
| largest city in Arizona. The 48th U.S. state is the | | | | Tucson's economic development as the city's second |
| birthplace of singer Linda Ronstadt and actress | | | | largest employer. Raytheon Missile Systems is tops |
| Barbara Eden. Nicknamed 'The Old Pueblo,' Tucson is | | | | with 10,200 people on the payroll. Government |
| home to the University of Arizona and its nearly | | | | contractors and high-tech industries are drawn to |
| 30,000 full-time students. The city's estimated | | | | Tucson with its Air Force base and nearby center for |
| population in July 2005 was 515,526 people. Since the | | | | military intelligence. Current high-tech employers include |
| U.S. Census of 1990, the number of Tucson residents | | | | Texas Instruments, IBM, Intuit, Inc. and Universal |
| has grown 23.4%. The metropolitan area has | | | | Avionics. Tucson also relies on its culture and heritage |
| experienced an even greater rate of growth. In 2000, | | | | to bolster the economy. The faithful dry and sunny |
| the census counted 843,746 living in the area, a 26.5% | | | | climate aids the area's $1.5 billion dollar tourism industry. |
| increase over the total in 1990. Just 60 miles from the | | | | At nearly 25-hundred feet above sea level, Tucson is |
| Mexican border, 54% of Tucson's population is White | | | | surrounded by mountain ranges reaching 7,000 feet. |
| Non-Hispanic. The Hispanic or Latino races account for | | | | Mild winters include a yearly average temperature of |
| nearly 36% of the population, Black (4.3%), and | | | | 39 degrees in January. Hot summers come with an |
| American Indian (3.2%). The crime rate is statistically | | | | average of 78 degrees in July. And typical for Arizona, |
| high. The FBI's crime index in 2005 had Tucson at | | | | a mere 11 inches of precipitation is the annual average. |
| 734.7, more than doubling the national average of | | | | With more than enough sunshine annually, Tucson's |
| 325.2. In 2004, there were 55 murders and over 300 | | | | climate gives sports enthusiasts plenty to see and do. |
| rapes in the city. | | | | Professional baseball teams take part in spring training |
| Affordable housing and a comfortable cost of living | | | | at Hi Corbett Field and Tucson Electric Park. The |
| may attract those with plans on relocating to Tucson. | | | | Chrysler Classic of Tucson golf championship is held |
| While still very reasonable, the price tag on homes for | | | | annually. Skiers will trek their way up to Mount |
| sale in the city has risen by more than $35,000 since | | | | Lemmon and take to the slopes. If you are relocating |
| 2000 when the average asking price was $93,300. | | | | to Tucson, it is one of the top cities in the country for |
| House values were significantly below the rest of the | | | | biking. The city hosts the El Tour de Tucson cycling |
| state at an average of $96,300. Housing starts steadily | | | | event each fall. |
| increase each year. In 2005, 2,421 buildings went up at | | | | "Old Pueblo" enjoys a multicultural heritage that includes |
| an average cost of $147,200. Renters were paying | | | | Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo |
| $516 monthly gross rent in 2000. But according to the | | | | influences. Tucson was a big part of the Old West |
| Metropolitan Tucson Chamber of Commerce, the | | | | where the streets hosted many gunfights, as did |
| average rent for a two-bedroom apartment was | | | | neighboring Tombstone. Tucson is about a two-hour |
| $707 in 2004. That same year, the city's Cost of Living | | | | drive from Phoenix. Winter residents called "snowbirds" |
| Index (99.2) was found to be just below the national | | | | make Tucson their winter home, purchasing property |
| average. | | | | or recreating in R.V.s. Tucson International Airport |
| While Tucson is emerging in the high-tech industries, | | | | welcomes seven million passengers annually with its 12 |
| per capita income has been very low. The median | | | | major airlines. The primary highway routes into the city |
| income for a household was just $30,981, according to | | | | bring travelers to and from Los Angeles and El Paso. |
| census statistics in 2000. The average family income | | | | Amtrak also provides passenger service as does |
| did not fair any better at $37,344. Finding work doesn't | | | | Greyhound bus lines. |
| seem to be a problem with an unemployment rate of | | | | Lou Ross is with - Your resource for moving truck |
| 4.1% recorded early in 2005. About 83% of residents | | | | rentals. |