The best way to describe the neighborhoods in Tucson is by geographic location. In general, the different areas are divided accordingly:

CENTRAL: Includes the University and downtown.

EAST: Bordered on the east by the National Park boundary, on the north by Speedway, on the west by Wilmot Road, and on the south by Golf Links Road.

WEST: Mostly bordered on the east by I-10, on the north by Ina Road, on the west by the Saguaro National Park, and on the south by the Mountain Park boundary.

NORTH: Bordered on the east by Sabino Canyon Road, on the north by the Catalina Mountains, on the west by Oracle Road, and on the south by River Road.

NORTHWEST: Generally bordered on the east by Oracle Road, goes all the way north to Pinal County, on the west by Camino de Oeste, and on the south by River Road.

NORTHEAST: Generally bordered on the east by Wentworth Road, on the north by National & State forest/park, on the west by Sabino Canyon Road, and on the south by Speedway Road.

SOUTHEAST: Bordered on the east by Vail, on the north by Speedway Road, and on the west by Nogales Freeway.

SOUTHWEST: Bordered on the east by Nogales Freeway, on the north by Speedway Road, and on the west by Federal/Native American land.

CENTRAL

This is an area of long-standing neighborhoods, most near parks. The area is in the heart of Tucson’s shopping, and includes the University of Arizona and Downtown Tucson. It is the hub of the business community and the Tucson Arts District. While much of central Tucson is the focus of urban renewal, there are many lovely established communities, such as the Sam Hughes area. The Arizona Inn is in this area, as are the El Con Mall and the Park Mall.

This area includes commercial strips, apartments, condominiums, and lower priced and mid priced housing developments. There are also a few custom homes on large lots, and lots of older mid-priced homes on about ¼ of an acre or less. It offers easy access to shopping and restaurants, and relatively easy access to I-10.

This area offers easy access to I-10 and downtown. This area includes parts of Marana, the western tip of Tucson, and unincorporated Pima County. In general the west side is characterized by open desert spaces, city views, and an abundance of wildlife. It is just a short drive to Saguaro National Park, Gates Pass, and the Arizona Sonora Desert. The housing is a mix of semi-rural and clustered developments.

The North side is nestled in the Catalina foothills, and features dramatic mountain settings and desert vegetation. Gorgeous custom homes on large lots are mixed with a potpourri of apartments, townhouses and single-family home developments. The prestigious foothills area contains both new resort-oriented developments and established neighborhoods built decades ago. There is easy access to Central, Northeast and Northwest Tucson. The Westin La Paloma Resort and the Ventana Canyon Resort are in this area

 NORTHWEST

This is Tucson’s fastest growing area, and includes Oro Valley, parts of Marana, the northwestern tip of Tucson, and unincorporated Pima County. The terrain tends to be a bit hillier than the rest of Tucson, and there are good views of the Catalina and Tortolita mountain ranges. There is a good mix of housing, from inexpensive older homes on ½ an acre of so, to custom built homes in developments like Honey Bee Canyon and Stone Canyon, with the bulk of the newer development in the mid price range. This is also were most of the adult communities are located (including Sun City Tucson, Saddlebrooke, Heritage Highlands and Sunflower). There is easy access to I-10, and the shopping facilities include the Tucson Mall and the Foothills Mall. The Sheraton El Conquistador Resort and the Westward Look Resort are in this area.

This area offers mountains near it mostly semi-rural home sites, and easy access to Mt. Lemmon. There are also several moderately priced subdivisions with homes on smaller lots. It has relatively convenient access to restaurants and retail, and easy access to Sabino Canyon and Saguaro National Park East.

This area is in the foothills of the Rincon Mountains, and offers easy access to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and several major employers (in the buildings previously developed and owned by IBM). In the far eastern outskirts the area is characterized by open desert space and mountain views; as you get closer to Central Tucson you find more mid-priced developments with smaller lots.

This area is characterized by both very old and very new neighborhoods. Housing is affordable with prices starting around $70,000. This area has easy access to the Raytheon facility, as well as the Saguaro National Park West.