Tucson vs Yuma
Compare Tucson, AZ and Yuma, AZ on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,071/mo in Tucson and $950/mo in Yuma, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,337/mo and $1,264/mo. Across the four public-data screens Tucson comes out ahead (280 vs 238 summed points), though Yuma still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 100°F and 104°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Yuma; if walkable daily life matters more, Tucson screens stronger on the walkability proxy (9 vs 6). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Yuma leads 85 to 80 on the cost and climate screen.
Yuma leads 77 to 73 on the work screen.
Tucson leads 51 to 36 on the daily life screen.
Tucson leads 76 to 40 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Tucson is roughly $170,000 in Yuma using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Tucson | Yuma | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,071/mo | $950/mo | Yuma |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,337/mo | $1,264/mo | Yuma |
| Median home value | $258,000 | $174,000 | Yuma |
| State income tax | 2.5% | 2.5% | Tie |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 22.8 min | Yuma |
| Safety score | 64/100 | 44/100 | Tucson |
| School score | 8/10 | 3/10 | Tucson |
| Walkability estimate | 9/100 | 6/100 | Tucson |
| Outdoor score | 10/10 | 10/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 158.9 | 129.2 | Tucson |
| Mountain distance | 102 mi | 126 mi | Tucson |
| Coast distance | 143 mi | 55 mi | Yuma |
What stands out
Tucson stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 9 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 146 miles
Tucson tradeoffs
- Very hot summers
Yuma stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 2 miles
- Coast access within 55 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Yuma tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Tucson cheaper than Yuma?
On public benchmarks Yuma is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,071/mo in Tucson vs $950/mo in Yuma; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,337/mo vs $1,264/mo; state income tax is 2.5% vs 2.5%.
Is Tucson or Yuma safer?
Tucson screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 64/100 for Tucson and 44/100 for Yuma (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Tucson or Yuma?
School screens show 8/10 for Tucson vs 3/10 for Yuma, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Tucson and Yuma?
Tucson: summer highs near 100°F, winter lows near 39°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. Yuma: 104°F / 41°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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