Tucson (Sierra Vista) AZ Metro 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Tucson, Arizona has been a popular destination for retirees and active adults for decades. To cater to the large retirement population there are dozens of age-restricted communities in Tucson and the surrounding area. Many people who move to one of Tucson’s active adult communities are drawn to the vibrant lifestyle and expansive amenity centers. Whether you prefer an intimate villa in one of the small Tucson or Sierra Vista 55+ retirement communities or a luxurious single-family home at a large active adult community there is something for everyone.

Climate & Geography

Tucson is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the United States Mexico border. The metropolitan area contains a population of 980,263 people and has many distinct neighborhoods. Tucson tends to have hot summers and temperate winters. Compared to Phoenix, Tucson active adult communities are always cooler and wetter due to its higher elevation.

Located 70 miles southeast of Tucson, Sierra Vista has a total area of 153.5 square miles, and it is located 4,623 feet above sea level. Situated in Cochise County, Sierra Vista is surrounded by the Huachuca, Dragoon, Whetstone, Mustang, and Mule Mountains, as well as the San Pedro River on the east. Major roadways include Interstate 10 and State Highways 90 and 92.

Snow is not common in Sierra Vista but the Huachuca Mountains Miller Peak and Carr Peak offer picturesque snow-capped mountaintops in the winter. Retired homebuyers will enjoy the stable climate with little humidity. The months of July and August bring the most rain throughout the year but Sierra Vista remains dry for the rest of the year.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Active adults in Tucson can look forward to the many festivals and cultural events that are held annually. Popular events include the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, Pima County Fair, Tucson Festival of Books, Tucson Folk Festival, Fourth Avenue Street Fair, The Tucson Rodeo, and more. Other attractions like the Arizona Historical Society, Fort Lowell Museum, The University of Arizona Art Museum, Tucson Museum of Art, and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum are all filled with rich history.

Sports enthusiasts enjoy cheering on the University of Arizona Wildcats teams, most notably their men’s basketball and women’s softball teams. The Tucson Raceway Park hosts NASCAR events and the Rillito Downs features horseracing.

Like most of Arizona, Tucson has plenty of outdoor recreation. The city itself has more than 120 parks and five public golf courses. Visiting Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tohono Chul Park, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and Biosphere 2 are all popular outdoor attractions. Mt. Lemmon offers great activities like hiking, biking, rock climbing, camping, picnicking, and fishing.

Sierra Vista has ten area golf courses, numerous camping and RV parks, fitness facilities, sports complexes, horseback riding and hiking trails. There are plenty of ways to learn about the history of the area nearby with the Henry F. Hauser Museum, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, The Amerind Foundation, Slaughter Ranch, Murray Springs Clovis Site, and Brown Canyon Ranch.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The cost of living in Arizona is less than United States average. The median home price is $148,000 and the top state income tax is 4.54%. In 2013, Forbes.com named Tucson in its list of the 25 Best Places to Retire for its low cost of living, good state tax climate, warm weather, high doctors per capita, and above average air quality.

The cost-of-living index for Sierra Vista is lower than the national average and the state of Arizona. Groceries, housing, and utilities are also slightly lower than the national average as well. The local sales tax rate in Sierra Vista is 7.850%, which is broken down as 5.6% from the state of Arizona, 0.500% from Cochise County, and 1,750% from the city of Sierra Vista.

Health Care

There are 16 hospitals in the Tucson metropolitan area. University of Arizona Medical Center (UAMC) is a nationally ranked hospital located in Tucson. It is a 487-bed facility with notable services like the Arizona Arthritis Center, Arizona Cancer Center, Arizona Center on Aging, and Arizona Respiratory Center. It has been ranked in many publications and has two campuses.

Two local Sierra Vista medical centers serve the community’s health care needs: the Sierra Vista Regional Health Center (SVRHS) and the Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center. SVRHC is a general medical and surgical hospital in Sierra Vista that has 99 beds. Both hospitals provide many services from inpatient and outpatient procedures, patient and family support, community outreach, and diagnostics.