The Catalina Foothills sits in the shadow of the Santa Catalina Mountains, where resorts and golf courses were built into the desert landscape. The foothills were once considered worthless land where cattle would graze; today, it has a million-dollar reputation with hillside estates and views of both mountain peaks and the Tucson city lights. John Murphey bought the land to build homes on large lots while preserving the desert vegetation. However, when the stock market crashed, he had the idea for one of Tucson’s first master-planned communities. Today, this residential community has grown to about 52,000 people. “The Foothills was where all the doctors and lawyers were. They built their big houses and drove down into the city. Then, they started building the golf courses, which opened up some of the smaller townhouses and condos that could accommodate some of our snowbirds,” says realtor Emily Erickson with Coldwell Banker Realty Oro Valley, licensed in Tucson since 2017.
The hospitality industry is rooted in the community, with major employers including Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and The Westin La Paloma. Vacation rental businesses are also popular. Catalina Foothills is just outside Tucson, where major employers include the University of Arizona, Raytheon and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
A mix of homes, condos, and multi-family units surround The Westin La Paloma in the Catalina Foothills.
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort features accommodations, dining, golf, and a spa in the Catalina Foothills.
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Trekking trails, golfing and seasonal weather shifts
Trailheads dot the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, which border the neighborhood to the north. In the east, where the mountain range dips into the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, miles of hiking trail loops and bike-friendly paths weave through the desert landscape. Except for the pay-to-ride tram, motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trails. Local golfing options include country clubs, such as the Tucson Country Club, and resort courses. “In July, people usually flee. They become firebirds,” Erickson says regarding the area’s sweltering summers. “We kind of have everyone's winter where we actually stay inside during the summer. During the summers, our monsoon season starts, and that’s when we can get big rains and thunderstorms, which takes the edge off the heat.” The official monsoon season starts June 15 and lasts until September 30. It is paired with peak temperatures in the desert and associated with a season of elevated fire risks across the region.
Part of the Coronado National Forest, Sabino Canyon is a popular recreational spot for locals and tourists.
Skyline Country Club in the Catalina Foothills offers members a private 18 hole golf course.
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Shops and restaurants along Skyline Drive
Shopping centers dot local thoroughfares, such as Skyline Drive, and have national grocers, box stores and restaurants varying from cantinas to steakhouses. La Encantada is an outdoor mall with high-end retailers, and Tucson Mall is a nearby traditional indoor mall. Galleries and studios are also located within these shopping centers, except for the popular DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, which is tucked into the foothills. The property includes a garden, gift shop, indoor museum and the Mission in the Sun, an adobe mission registered as a National Historic landmark.
La Encantada features Catalina Foothill's luxury brands in an open-air shopping center.
Constructed by Arizona artist Ted DeGrazia, DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is a famous spot in the Catalina Foothills.
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Million-dollar views from Spanish-influenced townhouses and single-family homes
In the early 1930s, the architect Josias Joesler began building Spanish Revival and Mission Revival homes in various subdivisions. Joesler’s influence exists today in the original homes he designed and single-family houses built after 1970. “In the foothills, you get a little bit different variety because Sabino Canyon has a lot of townhouses, condos, and million-dollar homes. You also have Sin Vacas, which is just at the foothills, and it’s mainly a gated community of $1 million to $10 million homes,” Erickson says. “Many of them are snowbird homes, especially around the golf courses. Ventana Canyon, which also has a lot of secondary homes, also gets you close to Canyon Ranch, a world-renowned inclusive resort. It has a huge campus with mind, body, and spirit types of activities and classes. You have from your yogis to your people who are just trying to lose weight.”
Single-family homes are priced roughly between $400,000 and $13 million. Meanwhile, townhouses and condos can list from $160,000 to $1.5 million. According to the “Latest Housing Indicators” report by the National Association of Realtors published in November 2024, the national median single-family home price is nearly half the Catalina Foothills’ median of almost $800,000.
Spanish-Revival homes influenced by architect Josias Joesler in Catalina Foothills are set against a stunning backdrop.
Contemporary homes set deep in the Catalina Foothills are priced at a minimum starting price of over a million dollars.
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Academics and immersion programs in the Catalina Foothills
Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD) is a unified district ranked second in Tucson by Niche and earns an A grade. Over 5,400 students are enrolled at CFSD schools, all of which earn A grades. The district offers Spanish immersion classes beginning in kindergarten and Chinese immersion courses from ninth to 12th grade. According to Niche, the top three colleges favored by graduates are the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University.
The Catalina Foothills School District is an A rated district by Niche.
Ventana Vista Elementary School serves grades K-5 in Tucson, Arizona.
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Venturing off North Oracle Road and air travel
North Oracle Road, a major thoroughfare, connects the Catalina Foothills to Oro Valley, about 10 miles north, and Tucson, less than 10 miles south. Despite not having a local hospital, the area’s proximity to Oro Valley and Tucson gives it access to both the Oro Valley Hospital and Tucson Medical Center. The Tucson International Airport is nearly 20 miles south and has direct flight options to 19 airports and connections to over 400 cities, including international ones. River Road and Skyline Drive are bike-friendly thoroughfares running east and west. Raytheon and the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base are both located within a 20-mile drive south of Catalina Foothills.
Crime across Pima County
Catalina Foothills sits in the northeast area of Pima County and is served by the Pima County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the county’s violent crime rate is lower than the national average, although both rates have steadily increased since 2020. Pima County’s property crime rates remain primarily consistent with national averages; however, they typically increase around mid-year in greater margins than national averages and decrease below national figures with the return of winter.
Written By
Lauren Melton
Photography Contributed By
Kristen Rademacher
Video By
Mike Dunleavy
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Paul Miller,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Catalina Foothills, AZ sell after 70 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Catalina Foothills, AZ over the last 12 months is $693,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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