Expanding city with a suburban feel in the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains
Corona de Tucson spans the desert south of Tucson, where the Santa Rita Mountains overlook open space and residential areas. Developers have built various subdivisions in the flat, cacti-dotted land since the early 2000s. According to the U.S. Census, the city’s population grew to 9,200 in 2020, a roughly 63% increase from 2010. “It’s a family oriented housing area and one of the least expensive areas to live in if you want to get into the Vail Unified School District,” says Christina Esala, a local associate broker with Tierra Antigua Realty since 2014. The district is top-rated and one of the area’s leading employers. Although Corona de Tucson feels more remote than other areas of Tucson, its proximity to highways grants commuters access to employers in the defense, technology and aerospace industries.
Corona de Tucson is near the UA Tech Park which houses top Tucson employers, such as Raytheon.
Corona de Tucson is set 10 miles from the city of Tucson and has a rural-style of living.
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Master-planned communities with Milky Way views
Many post-2020 Spanish Revivals and ranch-style houses sit in cul-de-sacs adjacent to single-family home communities from the early 2000s. New construction is most prominent in master-planned communities, including Santa Rita Ranch, with many townhouses, and Sycamore Canyon, where over 70% of the community is dedicated to open space. The median home value is about $390,000, which is aligned with the Tucson median, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Homeowners associations oversee the maintenance of shared spaces, including neighborhood parks and pools. “It’s quiet. We have a dark skies ordinance, where you can’t have lights facing upward,” Esala says. “The stars are beautiful, and you can see the Milky Way. You always hear animals like coyotes howling in the middle of the night.”
Spanish-inspired homes in Corona de Tucson make up many subdivisions.
Newer ranch-style homes in Corona de Tucson are popular choices for growing families.
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Remote yet connected to major employers via I-10
Although no interstates or significant thoroughfares run through Corona de Tucson, Interstate 10 and Sonita Highway are just east of the city. Sonita Highway connects the area to Vail, where additional shops and restaurants are about 10 miles away. Interstate 10 connects commuters with major employment centers, including the University of Arizona Tech Park and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The Tucson International Airport has direct domestic flights and is about 20 miles away, and Downtown Tucson is an additional 8 miles north. Despite its remoteness, Corona de Tucson has a fire station in the city, which is convenient since wildfires are a regional concern. Monsoons are also common, occurring seasonally from around June 15 to September 30.
Top-rated Tucson school district and high school choice
Corona de Tucson covers the southwestern area of the Vail Unified School District, which Niche gives an A-plus rating and ranks the No. 1 best school district in the Tucson area. This district offers high school choice. Parents rank their students' high school of choice in an online portal. The local high schools have different focus areas, such as STEM at A-minus-graded Andrada Polytechnic High School. “Many kids walk to school, and nobody has issues because it’s one of those places you don’t have to worry as much,” Esala says. In fact, Corona de Tucson scores a 1 out of 10 on the CAP Index for crime, while the national average is 4.
Andrada Polytechnic High School serves grades 9-12 in Tucson, Arizona.
Cienega High School serves grades 9-12 in Vail, Arizona.
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Arizona National Scenic Trail and Pima County Fairgrounds
Although there are few public parks in Corona de Tucson, there is abundant outdoor access with the Arizona National Scenic Trail just outside the city. The trail runs 800 miles from Utah to the United States-Mexico border, crossing over mountains, deserts and canyons. “People like Corona de Tucson because it’s surrounded by state land, so you can go out there and ride dirt bikes and quads. You can also go shooting,” Esala says. Just north of the city, the Pima County Fairgrounds hosts concerts, horse shows and the county fair in April. The Tucson Dragway and Tucson Speedway race tracks are also nearby.
The Arizona National Scenic Trail passes through Corona de Tucson.
The Pima County Fair brings excitement to the Rita Ranch community every April.
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Limited local retail and Houghton Town Center
South Houghton Road has various Mexican restaurants, the popular Italian restaurant Argenziano’s and an Ace Hardware. Esala says most shopping and dining is done outside the city since no designated retail district exists. Vail has additional restaurants and a grocery store. The Houghton Town Center shopping center, which houses a Super Walmart and other national retailers, is about 10 miles away.
Family owned Argenziano's in Corona de Tucson is the most popular restaurant in the area.
Corona de Tucson is close to Houghton Town Center which offers national retailers.
Jennifer, National Vice President of The Jason Mitchell Group, is a top-producing realtor and coach ranked 4th among Southern Arizona’s Top 25 Residential Real Estate Agents for 2023, out of nearly 6,000 agents. Since beginning her real estate career in 2015, she has helped hundreds of families buy and sell homes, with her best year closing over 80 escrow transactions—a testament to her passion and expertise.
With 18 years of service in the U.S. Air Force and a background in Psychology, Jennifer understands the challenges of relocation and the emotional aspects of buying or selling a home. Her mission is to make every transaction seamless, educating and supporting clients from start to finish. “House to home… It’s what I do!” is more than her motto—it’s her promise to provide unmatched care and dedication.
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