City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Tucson, AZ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Tucson - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

543,348
Residents
$54,546
Median income
$242,200
Median home
$1,129
Median rent (state)

Tucson - the verdict

Nationally, Tucson sits in the 27th percentile for household income and the 8th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
54th
percentile, home value
31st
percentile, median rent
8th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Tucson, AZ

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 543,348 residents in Tucson, a mid-sized U.S. city within Arizona. Median household income here is $54,546 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.4%. Home values in Tucson run a median of $242,200, and the median resident age is 34.6 years. Educational attainment runs 30.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 57.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1,505 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 17% from five years earlier. Tucson's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3901.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 70.6°F with 10.6 inches of precipitation per year and 0.1 inches of snowfall.

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Arizona at 100.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,129 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across Arizona, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Tucson report an average commute of 19.4 minutes, with 69.5% driving alone and 12.4% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 88.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

543,348 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$54,546 /yr

Poverty 13.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Tucson compare to other US cities?

Tucson measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 54% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% pricier than other cities
Safety 8% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Arizona, Tucson ranks #56 of 61 Arizona cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Tucson's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Arizona, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

27thIncome percentile
8thSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 8th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Tucson's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Tucson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 31 Avg. percentile National median
Tucson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Tucson's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$242,200 46th percentile more affordable than 46% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Tucson $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Tucson, AZ Tucson, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Tucson, AZ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Tucson, AZ median $54,546/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Tucson, AZ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Tucson, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
543,348
Median Income
$54,546
Median Home Value
$242,200
Median Age
34.6
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Labor force participation
57.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3901.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
588.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3313.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
70.6°F
Annual Precipitation
10.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"

Schools

Total Schools
274
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
540,000 residents545,000 residents550,000 residents555,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 542,621 residents 548,371 residents ▲ +1.1%
Tucson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
1,505
housing units authorized
Single-Family
923
detached homes
Multifamily
582
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,816
2020 1,755
2021 2,093
2022 1,880
2023 1,668
2024 1,505

Permit volume decreased 17% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.4 minutes
Drive Alone
69.5%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
2.4%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
12.4%
Other
3.1%

Based on 255,648 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arizona - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$34
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arizona state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arizona state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Tucson sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.7
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,129/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arizona

Mesa
507,478 people
Chandler
278,123 people
Gilbert
271,118 people
Glendale
250,193 people
Scottsdale
242,169 people
Peoria
194,338 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Tucson's 543,348 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fresno, CA
543,615 people
Sacramento, CA
524,802 people
Albuquerque, NM
562,488 people
Milwaukee, WI
569,756 people
Baltimore, MD
577,193 people
Kansas City, MO
508,233 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Tucson's $54,546 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fort Covington, NY
$54,545 median income
Tuckahoe, NY
$54,538 median income
Sandy Valley, NV
$54,556 median income
Smithville Flats, NY
$54,531 median income
Apollo, PA
$54,531 median income
Hodges, SC
$54,531 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Tucson, AZ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Tucson, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 58.2% 11.6% 19.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 42.7% White 58.2% Black or African American 5.0% Asian 3.1% American Indian 2.7% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 11.6% Two or more races 19.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Tucson compares to nearby Arizona cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Tucson (this city) 543,348 $54,546
Mesa 507,478 $78,779
Chandler 278,123 $103,691
Gilbert 271,118 $121,351
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Tucson, AZ?

What is the population of Tucson, AZ? +

Tucson, AZ counts 543,348 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Tucson, AZ? +

Median annual household income in Tucson runs $54,546, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Tucson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Tucson; the closest available measure is the Arizona state average, a cost of living index of 100.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arizona vary by metro area.

Is Tucson, AZ safe? +

Tucson has a total crime rate of 3901.9 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Tucson, AZ? +

The median home value in Tucson is $242,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Tucson? +

Climate normals put Tucson's yearly average temperature at 70.6°F, 10.6 inches of precipitation, and 0.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.