Tucson, AZ Local Data & Statistics

State: AZ

Total population: 547,073 Household income: $57,073 Rent: $1,145

Overview

Total population

547,073

Rent

$1,145

Year built

1979

Household income

$57,073

Per capita income

$32,537

Poverty rate

18.9%

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Arizona

Total population

547,073

Adults over 25

357,599

Total households

228,020

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$57,073

Per capita income

$32,537

Poverty rate

18.9%

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Rent over 30% of income

51.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,145

Year built

1979

Households that rent

48.2%

Households that own

51.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

53.7%

Black

5.1%

Asian

3.3%

Two or more races

23.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

42.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

57.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.2%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

13.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

34%

High school graduate or GED

23.2%

Some college or associate degree

11.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

31.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Tucson, AZ with: Arizona United States

Tucson, AZ

Total population547,073

Rent$1,145

Year built1979

Household income$57,073

Per capita income$32,537

Poverty rate18.9%

Unemployment rate3.5%

Arizona State

Total population7,378,838

Rent$1,543

Year built1992

Household income$79,964

Per capita income$42,503

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityTucson, AZ	StateArizona	CountryUnited States
Total population	547,073	7,378,838	334,922,499
Rent	$1,145	$1,543	$1,413
Year built	1979	1992	1980
Household income	$57,073	$79,964	$80,734
Per capita income	$32,537	$42,503	$44,673
Poverty rate	18.9%	12.5%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.5%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Tucson, AZ, Arizona and United States →

Summary for Tucson, AZ

Tucson is located in Arizona.

Rent & Income

In Tucson, the typical monthly rent is $1,145 and the typical household income is $57,073. Rent here is lower than in both Arizona and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 18.9%, which is higher than in both Arizona and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 48.2% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 51.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 31.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is similar to Arizona and lower than the national rate.

Tucson, AZ — Rent vs Household Income

Tucson, AZ — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Tucson, AZ compares in Arizona (20 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,145	2 / 20	from lower rent	$1,114 – $2,210
Household income	$57,073	20 / 20	from higher income	$57,073 – $141,978
Poverty rate	18.9%	20 / 20	from lower poverty	3.7% – 18.9%
Unemployment rate	3.5%	16 / 20	from lower unemployment	2.7% – 10.3%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Arizona with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Tucson, AZ

Rent

Tucson ranks 2nd out of 20 large places in Arizona for rent. Statewide rents range from $1,114 in Yuma, AZ to $2,210 in Queen Creek, AZ.

Household income

For median household income, Tucson is ranked 20th out of 20 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $57,073 in Tucson, AZ to $141,978 in Queen Creek, AZ.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Tucson ranks 20th out of 20 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 3.7% in Queen Creek, AZ to 18.9% in Tucson, AZ.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Tucson ranks 16th out of 20 large places. Across Arizona, unemployment ranges from 2.7% in Gilbert, AZ to 10.3% in Yuma, AZ.

💰 Rent in Tucson, AZ (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,145 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Tucson, AZ

Annual Household Income: $57,073

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Tucson, AZ

Estimated Rate: 18.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Tucson, AZ

In Tucson, AZ, households that rent: 109,803 (48.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	109,803	48.2%
Owner-Occupied	118,217	51.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Tucson, AZ

In Tucson, AZ, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 56,873 (51.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	56,873	51.8%
Other renter households	52,930	48.2%
Total renter households	109,803	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Tucson, AZ

Less than High School: 121,503 people (34%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 82,940 people (23.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 41,920 people (11.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 111,236 people (31.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 357,599

📊 Unemployment Rate in Tucson, AZ

Estimated Rate: 3.5%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Fresno, CA543,615 Albuquerque, NM562,488 Sacramento, CA524,802 Milwaukee, WI569,756 Baltimore, MD577,193 Kansas City, MO508,233 Mesa, AZ507,478 Atlanta, GA499,287 Omaha, NE488,197 Colorado Springs, CO483,099

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.