The Town FilesSouth Tucson, Arizona
City in Pima County · population 4,613 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,000
- Household income
- $33,598
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 100°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 41.7
South Tucson is a city of 4,613 people in Pima County, Arizona. The median home is worth $167,000, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Arizona towns, more vibrant than 100% of Arizona towns, better transit than 100% of Arizona towns.
How South Tucson ranks
Percentile among Arizona towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arizona towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Tucson is worth $167,000, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $33,598, which is more affordable than 26% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $941 a month. 34.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Tucson | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,000 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $941 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $33,598 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 34.4% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in South Tucson
| People | South Tucson | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.0% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.4% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.4% | 88.0% |
Weather in South Tucson
July highs average 99.7°F and January lows 42.3°F. About 11.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 155 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 5 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Tucson since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 27, 1964 about 3.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 28, 2002.
Severe weather in Pima County since 1996
Pima County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 11, 2020 | Fire | FM-5312: Big Horn Fire |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1660: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 12, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3241: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Pima County
Pima County had 386,312 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,936 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in South Tucson itself the ACS puts it at 10.6%.
Public schools in South Tucson
1 public school with — students.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASDB - ELP Region 3 Preschool | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near South Tucson
- Drexel Heights, AZ5.8 mi · 27,523 people · home $250,100
- Tucson, AZ6.5 mi · 542,629 people · home $266,200
- Flowing Wells, AZ7.2 mi · 15,657 people · home $41,100
- Tucson Mountains, AZ8.7 mi · 10,862 people · home $473,200
- Catalina Foothills, AZ8.8 mi · 52,401 people · home $652,000
- Tucson Estates, AZ9.3 mi · 12,069 people · home $205,400
- Summit, AZ9.3 mi · 4,724 people · home $150,400
- Valencia West, AZ9.4 mi · 14,101 people · home $323,000
South Tucson questions
Is South Tucson, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Tucson scores better for retirees than 0% of Arizona towns and quieter than 2%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in South Tucson?
The median owner-occupied home in South Tucson is valued at $167,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $33,598, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $941 a month.
What is the weather like in South Tucson?
July highs average 99.7°F and January lows 42.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does South Tucson get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Tucson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 27, 1964. The typical Arizona town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)