Sierra Vista is a quiet spot in the Chihuahuan Desert, home to about 45,000 people. Some residents are short-term tenants at Fort Huachuca, a military base on the town’s north side, and they might stay for three or four years. Others served earlier in life and have returned for long-term retirement. Others just want lower cost of living and more budget-friendly housing prices. Whatever their motivation, they usually have one thing in common: they come to Sierra Vista for a relaxed way of life. “It’s a small town with a slower pace,” says Melanie Crane, managing broker with Service First Realty and a local since the early 2000s. “You get to know a lot of people around here. When you go to a restaurant, you’ll probably see the same regulars. You also have milder weather than Tucson or Phoenix, and you’re surrounded by beautiful mountains.”
Pueblo Del Sol is close to the high peaks, some reaching over 9000 feet hight.
Residents can relax on the benches at Veterans Memorial Park and enjoy the mountain views.
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Huachuca Mountains, San Pedro River and sunny days
Sierra Vista is in the Sky Island region, named for sparse mountain ranges that rise up out of the desert. The Huachuca Mountains are roughly 10 miles west of town with hiking and mountain biking trails that go above 9,000 feet, and popular spots include Garden, Brown’s and Ramsey’s canyons. Kartchner Caverns State Park is also in this area, a limestone cave with some of the world’s largest stalactites. Stretching along the east side of town, the San Pedro River is a frequent kayaking destination and a key habitat for almost 300 animal species. The Mule Mountains are another nearby range, about 20 miles east of Sierra Vista.
Sierra Vista is known for its sunshine and has over 300 sunny days per year. Its average year-round temperature is in the upper 70s, and winters are typically in the 50s and 60s. After the heat picks up in early summer, monsoon season brings rain in July and August.
The Pueblo Del Sol Country Club Golf Course is open to the public.
Pueblo Del Sol is near the Huachuca Mountains, where there many hiking trails with nice views.
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Spanish ranch-style homes in the Chihuahuan Desert
Most homes keep with a desert theme — stucco exteriors, neutral colors and tile roofs. Ranch-style homes are the majority, and they’re found in central neighborhoods like Pueblo del Sol and Pueblo del Sol Country Club Estates. On the outskirts of town, properties are either budget-friendly single-story homes like in Sierra Vista Estates and Greater San Pedro Ranches, or they’re higher-dollar, Spanish estates with big acreage like in Sierra Vista Southeast. Whatever the location, properties usually have views of the Huachuca and Mule mountains. The median price in Sierra Vista is $300,000, about $100,000 less than the national median.
Sierra Vista Estates enjoys scenic views of the mountains throughout the neighborhood.
Pueblo Del Sol Country Club Estates feature a variety of home-styles and sizes.
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Shopping and dining at Cochise Crossroads, The West End
At the intersection of state routes 90 and 92, Cochise Crossroads and surrounding complexes have big box stores and local restaurants. The West End, built around Fry Boulevard, is a nearby neighborhood with the first-ever McDonald’s drive-through as well as some German cafes. The Mall at Sierra Vista is an indoor mall on the town’s south side and has almost 50 shops and restaurants.
West End residents can hang out, shop, dine and catch a movie at The Mall at Sierra Vista.
For large shopping needs, West End residents can shop at the Walmart Supercenter.
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Hummingbird Capital of the United States and city events
The city is the Hummingbird Capital of the United States and serves as a key migration point in the fall; the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory hosts banding sessions from July through September, when visitors can hold the tiny birds. Held in Veteran’s Memorial Park on Memorial Day weekend, Sierra Vista Sips & Skies celebrates Arizona’s wine and beer culture with vendor booths and live music. El Tour de Zona is a multiday bike race that starts and ends in Sierra Vista in late March.
The Centennial Pavilion at Veterans Memorial Park has live music events for locals to enjoy.
The Sierra Vista Farmers Market features various craft goods that can liven up any home.
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College prep with Sierra Vista Unified Schools
Rated a B-minus by Niche, Sierra Vista Unified School District serves nearly 6,000 students across 11 schools. The district has a student-teacher ratio of 21-to-1, in line with the state average but higher than the national one. Sierra Vista Unified partners with Arizona State University to offer the Prep Global Academy, wherein middle and high school students can take college courses.
All Saints Catholic School serves students from Pre-K to 8th Grade.
Village Meadows Elementary School serves Sierra Vista students from kindergarten to 6th grade.
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Crime levels in Sierra Vista
In 2023, Sierra Vista’s violent crime rates aligned with both state and national averages. Property crime rates were lower in comparison. While trends have varied from month to month, violent rates have increased since January 2018, whereas property rates have decreased.
Driving on state routes 90 and 92
People use golf carts in neighborhoods like Pueblo Del Sol Country Club Estates, but most people drive cars around town. State Route 92 is the main route north and south, and it connects to state Route 90, the east-west thoroughfare. Naco and the U.S.-Mexico border are about 30 miles south, and other destinations are close by. “You can make a day trip east with the historical towns in Bisbee and Tombstone, and Sonoita wine country isn’t too far north,” says Sam Franko, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a local since 2020. “Parker Canyon Lake and Patagonia Lake are other options toward the Huachuca Mountains.” Tucson International Airport is the closest commercial airport, about 70 miles north of Sierra Vista.
Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Ling Ge
Video By
Taylor Gilbert
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