$283,826Average Value$179Average Price per Sq Ft46Homes For Sale
Foothills city popular for retirement
Tucson Estates offers scenic vistas that are a short drive from downtown Tucson. This nature-centered city sits at the base of the Tucson Mountains, where gold rushers passed on their journey to California in 1848. Later, cattle ranches were established before developers converted the open space into the current residential communities. Although some properties double as vacation rentals and bring tourists to the region, the city’s resident population has hovered around 12,000 since the 2010 U.S. Census. About 36% of the total population is over 65, which is higher than the national estimate of just under 18%. With a mostly mild climate and an established 55-plus community, Tucson Estates is popular among retirees.
Tucson Estates offers a wide mix of home styles for residents.
Tucson Estates is the gateway to many of Tucson's greatest parks and museums.
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Manufactured and territorial-style homes in the foothills
Spanish Revival and territorial-style architecture is present in single-family homes in cul-de-sacs and townhouses in subdivisions, including Kidney Village and Sierra Villas. The city shares a name with a 55-and-older manufactured home community, where residents pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to a golf course, community pool and various sports courts. “It’s a pristine, very Palm Springs vibe,” says Tony Ray Baker, a Realtor with RE/MAX Professionals who has over three decades of experience. “It’s a very pretty neighborhood and popular with retirees who want to be close to everything in Tucson and not go all the way down to Green Valley. Tucson Estates is not a rec center-centric situation—it’s a little retirement village behind the mountain.” The median home price is $250,000, about $150,000 less than the national median home price, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Manufactured homes with a variety of design options are preferred for the 55+ community in Tucson Estates.
Many families in Tucson Estates choose newer, Spanish-influenced subdivision homes.
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Nature trails, a desert museum and Old Tucson
Tucson Mountain Park spans the natural open space just north of the city and includes various trails. Entrances to Saguaro National Park West are also nearby, where hiking paths are lined with various cacti. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum combines a botanical garden, zoo and natural history museum. Nearby, Old Tucson is a movie studio that filmed many John Wayne movies and remains an active filming location. “It looks like you’ve walked into the Old West, and people go there for that vibe with saloons,” Baker says. “It’s one of those things within your backyard that I have not been to in a decade, but if your friend showed up in Tucson, you’ll take them. The folks living near there probably use it a lot more often because they have events like concerts at Old Tucson and a famous Halloween event called ‘Nightfall’ with cowboys and zombies.”
The Sarasota Trailhead in Tucson Estates is a popular hiking trail for all ages.
Hundreds of classic western movies were filmed at Old Tucson near Tucson Estates.
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Local dining near Tucson Spectrum’s major retailers
Strip malls at the Tucson Estates manufactured home community entrance include a boutique, hardware store and butcher shop. This retail area also has various restaurants, including a donut shop and a popular cafe. National grocers and additional dining options are along West Valencia Road, and major retailers are farther east at Tucson Spectrum shopping mall. Various restaurant chains, a Harkins Theatres and Main Event—an indoor family fun center—are all nearby.
Visitors from all over love visiting Tucson Mineral & Gem World near Tucson Estates.
Locally owned and operated, Brucedog, in Tucson Estates serves up delicious hot dogs.
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Highway travel to Tucson and Mexico
The Tucson Water Treatment Plant and Snyder Hill Pumping Plant span flat acres in southern Tucson Estates, where West Ajo Highway leads southwest to Mexico and northeast to Interstate 19. Downtown Tucson is about a 15-mile drive on I-19, while the U.S.-Mexico border at Nogales is about 70 miles. The Tucson International Airport has direct flights to 19 domestic destinations and is nearly 15 miles away. The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and leaders in the aerospace and technology industries are based within a 20-mile radius of Tucson Estates. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department patrols Tucson Estates but does not have readily available crime data for this specific city.
Tucson schools and Pima County’s first IB program
Although Tucson Estates is popular among retirees, about 15% of the population is under 18, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. This school-aged population may attend schools in Tucson Unified School District, where they earn a B overall grade from Niche. Nearby schools include the C-plus-graded Banks Elementary, C-minus-graded Valencia Middle and B-minus-graded Cholla High. The high school is the first in Pima County and the only one in the district to have an International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
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
Gerardo 'Jerry' Acosta,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Tucson Estates, AZ sell after 74 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Tucson Estates, AZ over the last 12 months is $250,000, down 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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