Population: 541,811
% over 50: 28%
Median home price: $156,000
State income tax: 4.54%*
You probably know that Tucson has 350 days of sunshine, more than two dozen golf courses designed by the likes of Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus, and some of the best southwest cuisine this side of the border.
What you might not know is that Tucson is surrounded by four different mountain ranges, and there’s even skiing at nearby Mount Lemmon. The city has a wealth of historic places to explore, from the 19th century St. Augustine Cathedral to the old homes and store fronts in El Presidio. Just outside of Tucson, you can visit old mining towns, missions and archaeological sites, including the petroglyphs at Signal Hill and the reconstructed dwelling as Dankworth Village.
When temperatures get too brutal for outdoor pursuits, such as hiking the 150 miles of trails in the Santa Catalina Mountains, you can always hop in a summer class with the University of Arizona at Tucson’s lifelong learning program. There’s even a course on pirates!
