Tucson’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in Tucson.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Arizona thanks in part to tons of entertainment and jobs, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in Tucson. Some neighborhoods aren’t as safe as others.
So the question arises, which Tucson neighborhoods are the most dangerous and which are the safest?
Today, we’ll use Saturday Night Science to determine which Tucson hoods need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the Tucson area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Houghton ranks way above the rest.
We examined 127 of Tucson’s neighborhoods to find out the most dangerous places to live. These places don’t quite measure up to Tucson’s reputation.
Table Of Contents: Top 10 | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the worst neighborhood to live in Tucson for 2024? According to the most recent census data, San Ignacio Yaqui looks to be the worst neighborhood in Tucson.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Tucson that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.
For more Arizona reading, check out:
The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Tucson For 2024
/10
Population: 471
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,054
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,240
Median Home Value: $83,950 (5th worst)
Median Income: $27,521 (7th worst)
More on San Ignacio Yaqui: Data
Located along the I-10, San Ignacio Yaqui provides some draws. Still, the area has issues with affordability, jobs, and a lack of other amenities. This makes it one of the least attractive areas in the city.
The median home price in San Ignacio Yaqui sits at $83,950. In most places, that represents a highly affordable figure. However, it’s a tough mortgage to cover with a local median income of just $27,521. At the same time, the unemployment rate comes in at 7.7%.
/10
Population: 3,918
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,418
Property Crime Per 100k: 7,360
Median Home Value: $98,300 (11th worst)
Median Income: $31,228 (22nd worst)
More on Wakefield: Data
/10
Population: 352
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 766
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,736
Median Home Value: $126,500 (28th worst)
Median Income: $30,357 (19th worst)
More on Barrio Blue Moon: Data
/10
Population: 2,147
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,944
Property Crime Per 100k: 12,974
Median Home Value: $98,450 (12th worst)
Median Income: $43,921 (69th worst)
More on Fairgrounds: Data
Living in a place called Fairgrounds seems like a lot of laughs. And, to be fair, this neighborhood does house the Tucson Rodeo</a, so residents do get access to their share of excitement. However, generally speaking, life in Fairgrounds is no laughing matter. In fact, it counts as the number 4 worst spot in Tucson.
A lack of amenities and a weak economy contribute to the neighborhood’s bad character. The unemployment rate sits at 5.8% and the median income comes in at $5.8. At least Fairgrounds is affordable. The median home value stands at $98,450.
/10
Population: 2,115
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,283
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,712
Median Home Value: $94,500 (8th worst)
Median Income: $42,110 (59th worst)
More on El Rio Acres: Data
/10
Population: 1,418
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 957
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,963
Median Home Value: $97,600 (10th worst)
Median Income: $19,514 (worst)
More on Balboa Heights: Data
/10
Population: 477
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,052
Property Crime Per 100k: 5,455
Median Home Value: $154,400 (53rd worst)
Median Income: $29,967 (17th worst)
More on Alvernon Heights: Data
Alvernon Heights is a square neighborhood bordered by E. 22nd Street on the north, E. 29th Street on the South, S. Alvernon Way to the west, and S. Columbus Blvd. to the east. It is also situated kitty-corner from the Randolph Golf Complex and the Tucson Police Department.
The area benefits from modest amenities and a good safety reputation. Still, it ranks as one of the worst neighborhoods in the city. Why? Well, the economy leaves a lot to be desired.
The numbers tell the story. The unemployment rate sits at 6.2% and the median income comes in at $29,967. The median home price in the area stands at $154,400.
/10
Population: 1,478
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,191
Property Crime Per 100k: 12,372
Median Home Value: $141,300 (4worst)
Median Income: $34,322 (29th worst)
More on Mountain View: Data
/10
Population: 2,878
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,515
Property Crime Per 100k: 7,581
Median Home Value: $117,900 (25th worst)
Median Income: $29,352 (14th worst)
More on Rose: Data
/10
Population: 227
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,196
Property Crime Per 100k: 9,890
Median Home Value: $243,600 (10worst)
Median Income: $40,682 (55th worst)
More on Shaheen Estates: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous Tucson neighborhoods in 2024
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We plugged the following criteria into Saturday Night Science to get the worst neighborhoods in Tucson:
- High crime (Estimated)
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criterion into a “Worst Score.”
The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the most dangerous neighborhood of Tucson.
The article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Tucson.
Skip to the end to see the list of all 127 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Tucson
Well, there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Tucson with San Ignacio Yaqui landing at the bottom of the pack.
The worst neighborhoods in Tucson are San Ignacio Yaqui, Wakefield, Barrio Blue Moon, Fairgrounds, El Rio Acres, Balboa Heights, Alvernon Heights, Mountain View, Rose, and Shaheen Estates.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Tucson aren’t all bad. Houghton takes the cake as the best place to live in Tucson.
The best neighborhoods in Tucson are Houghton, Rillito, Eastside, Old Fort Lowell, and Civano.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more Arizona reading, check out:
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods To Live In Tucson For 2024?
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Ignacio Yaqui | 471 | $83,950 | $27,521 |
| 2 | Wakefield | 3,918 | $98,300 | $31,228 |
| 3 | Barrio Blue Moon | 352 | $126,500 | $30,357 |
| 4 | Fairgrounds | 2,147 | $98,450 | $43,921 |
| 5 | El Rio Acres | 2,115 | $94,500 | $42,110 |
| 6 | Balboa Heights | 1,418 | $97,600 | $19,514 |
| 7 | Alvernon Heights | 477 | $154,400 | $29,967 |
| 8 | Mountain View | 1,478 | $141,300 | $34,322 |
| 9 | Rose | 2,878 | $117,900 | $29,352 |
| 10 | Shaheen Estates | 227 | $243,600 | $40,682 |
| 11 | Mortimore | 319 | $126,800 | $49,854 |
| 12 | Barrio Hollywood | 2,776 | $129,950 | $31,901 |
| 13 | Dodge Flower | 2,150 | $114,850 | $28,238 |
| 14 | Sunset Villa | 746 | $125,750 | $36,344 |
| 15 | Saint Cyrils | 2,346 | $85,600 | $30,441 |
| 16 | Miracle Manor | 3,143 | $92,200 | $25,816 |
| 17 | Midtown | 6,862 | $109,883 | $34,518 |
| 18 | Doolen-Fruitvale | 1,537 | $127,833 | $41,610 |
| 19 | Santa Rita Park | 548 | $147,200 | $35,568 |
| 20 | Barrio Anita | 220 | $174,400 | $47,143 |
| 21 | Amphi | 6,670 | $150,233 | $28,286 |
| 22 | Campus Farm | 6,005 | $161,943 | $36,218 |
| 23 | Flowing Wells | 14,945 | $63,217 | $35,378 |
| 24 | Silvercroft | 426 | $99,700 | $42,750 |
| 25 | Ocotillo Oracle | 1,043 | $181,925 | $27,875 |
| 26 | Roberts | 1,999 | $155,150 | $31,568 |
| 27 | Barrio Santa Rosa | 753 | $191,650 | $35,644 |
| 28 | Las Vistas | 2,674 | $99,000 | $50,516 |
| 29 | Parkway Terrace | 138 | $115,100 | $57,975 |
| 30 | Santa Cruz Southwest | 2,751 | $69,675 | $44,447 |
| 31 | Feldman’s | 2,303 | $215,467 | $30,092 |
| 32 | North Dodge | 2,235 | $155,700 | $25,780 |
| 33 | Westside Development | 3,905 | $150,950 | $65,522 |
| 34 | Barrio Centro | 516 | $115,100 | $57,975 |
| 35 | Myers | 5,381 | $129,967 | $37,594 |
| 36 | Rancho Buena | 4,518 | $68,050 | $37,246 |
| 37 | Desert Aire-Loma Linda | 415 | $178,200 | $29,722 |
| 38 | Elvira | 8,246 | $117,300 | $42,972 |
| 39 | South Park | 3,265 | $152,667 | $39,027 |
| 40 | Naylor | 1,349 | $104,800 | $28,719 |
| 41 | Miles East West | 1,339 | $175,400 | $34,372 |
| 42 | Swan Way Park | 1,075 | $168,350 | $39,836 |
| 43 | Limberlost | 3,236 | $154,433 | $28,139 |
| 44 | Western Hills | 1,172 | $81,500 | $31,838 |
| 45 | Sunnyside | 14,720 | $108,200 | $38,066 |
| 46 | Enchanted Hills | 2,019 | $134,800 | $34,238 |
| 47 | Barrio Viejo | 687 | $300,800 | $54,131 |
| 48 | Keeling | 5,305 | $152,680 | $35,846 |
| 49 | Richland Heights West | 685 | $165,600 | $41,071 |
| 50 | San Clemente | 767 | $261,250 | $46,557 |
| 51 | El Cortez | 342 | $139,700 | $42,197 |
| 52 | Hedrick Acres | 3,105 | $180,950 | $39,960 |
| 53 | La Madera | 1,297 | $162,400 | $47,580 |
| 54 | Dunbar Spring | 938 | $315,333 | $39,788 |
| 55 | Bravo Park Lane | 2,154 | $128,167 | $48,891 |
| 56 | San Gabriel | 1,315 | $225,633 | $45,353 |
| 57 | Menlo Park | 5,659 | $217,700 | $44,291 |
| 58 | Barrio San Antonio | 283 | $187,600 | $41,356 |
| 59 | Wilshire Heights | 225 | $191,600 | $68,693 |
| 60 | Julia Keen | 4,304 | $112,133 | $45,917 |
| 61 | Avondale | 1,662 | $195,600 | $19,694 |
| 62 | Armory Park | 1,259 | $197,367 | $44,402 |
| 63 | Stella Mann | 4,864 | $140,175 | $39,739 |
| 64 | Arroyo Chico | 2,003 | $192,300 | $61,047 |
| 65 | Thunderbird Heights-Wilmot Desert | 886 | $150,700 | $39,635 |
| 66 | Cabrini | 1,664 | $136,800 | $39,068 |
| 67 | Palo Verde | 5,438 | $218,050 | $42,521 |
| 68 | Country Glenn | 1,179 | $160,267 | $47,580 |
| 69 | West University | 4,495 | $315,600 | $30,374 |
| 70 | Corbett | 6,533 | $126,600 | $46,554 |
| 71 | El Gheko | 2,453 | $186,150 | $48,534 |
| 72 | Glenn Heights | 182 | $221,500 | $42,543 |
| 73 | Mitman | 1,507 | $139,300 | $61,448 |
| 74 | Drexel Park | 2,250 | $114,000 | $28,472 |
| 75 | Tucson Park West | 3,752 | $152,700 | $29,854 |
| 76 | Groves Lincoln Park | 6,265 | $153,550 | $58,873 |
| 77 | Richland Heights East | 1,385 | $292,350 | $38,418 |
| 78 | Iron Horse | 243 | $215,550 | $35,330 |
| 79 | Terra Del Sol | 4,924 | $149,200 | $45,426 |
| 80 | Millville | 759 | $215,000 | $38,942 |
| 81 | Starr Pass | 1,195 | $489,800 | $76,922 |
| 82 | Lakeside Park | 5,070 | $137,725 | $49,232 |
| 83 | Rincon Heights | 2,295 | $212,233 | $39,104 |
| 84 | Miramonte | 3,213 | $280,600 | $37,324 |
| 85 | Jefferson Park | 3,320 | $261,000 | $33,336 |
| 86 | Rosemont West | 1,500 | $178,200 | $43,254 |
| 87 | Broadway-Northeast | 1,185 | $193,600 | $83,750 |
| 88 | Oak Flower | 2,292 | $178,800 | $27,340 |
| 89 | Northwest | 958 | $204,300 | $42,197 |
| 90 | A Mountain | 2,502 | $116,700 | $49,340 |
| 91 | El Presidio | 552 | $337,200 | $60,758 |
| 92 | Toumey Park | 1,635 | $157,600 | $52,861 |
| 93 | Sewell | 1,428 | $298,450 | $38,814 |
| 94 | Colonia Del Valle | 1,870 | $177,950 | $57,800 |
| 95 | Vista Del Monte | 1,548 | $164,350 | $39,434 |
| 96 | Pie Allen | 954 | $216,100 | $26,903 |
| 97 | North University | 2,388 | $319,833 | $42,558 |
| 98 | Peter Howell | 2,300 | $248,750 | $55,530 |
| 99 | El Montevideo | 86 | $327,700 | $110,357 |
| 100 | Cherry Avenue | 9,562 | $97,100 | $43,818 |
| 101 | Mountain First Avenue | 1,857 | $240,833 | $34,106 |
| 102 | Desert Palms Park | 333 | $243,800 | $77,371 |
| 103 | Poets Square | 1,040 | $234,567 | $68,613 |
| 104 | Prince Tucson | 2,295 | $250,000 | $52,954 |
| 105 | El Conquistador | 40 | $327,700 | $110,357 |
| 106 | Harlan Heights | 2,215 | $153,700 | $47,761 |
| 107 | Midvale Park | 15,704 | $147,564 | $50,931 |
| 108 | Catalina Vista-Blenman-Elm | 118 | $328,600 | $59,157 |
| 109 | Blenman-Elm | 3,532 | $266,650 | $61,471 |
| 110 | Dietz | 6,818 | $124,867 | $48,456 |
| 111 | Bear Canyon | 1,642 | $386,625 | $84,854 |
| 112 | Sam Hughes | 4,026 | $353,600 | $63,077 |
| 113 | Highland Vista Cinco Via | 655 | $216,900 | $76,653 |
| 114 | Ironwood Ridge | 188 | $205,700 | $82,206 |
| 115 | Campbell-Grant | 810 | $228,800 | $57,438 |
| 116 | South Harrison | 5,240 | $179,600 | $61,133 |
| 117 | Samos | 1,225 | $252,125 | $45,772 |
| 118 | Broadmoor-Broadway | 1,581 | $326,250 | $66,392 |
| 119 | Mesquite Ranch | 2,164 | $248,700 | $88,510 |
| 120 | Rosemont East | 160 | $216,900 | $76,653 |
| 121 | Rita Ranch | 17,981 | $220,960 | $93,062 |
| 122 | Harrison East-South | 3,311 | $163,800 | $75,206 |
| 123 | Civano | 3,195 | $265,167 | $90,547 |
| 124 | Old Fort Lowell | 2,055 | $317,933 | $59,231 |
| 125 | Eastside | 4,032 | $223,000 | $87,636 |
| 126 | Rillito | 1,196 | $227,000 | $94,167 |
| 127 | Houghton | 2,583 | $352,000 | $86,571 |
