Hi Jim,
My 2 favorite cities in AZ are Flagstaff and Tucson. Both have a fun and edgy vibe. But you asked about Tucson. Elizabeth and I went for 5 days. We stayed in Oro Valley at the base of the Santa Catalina mountains. If looking for a place to live I would recommend that area. It's close enough to Tucson and the mountains and has an upscale feel. The house prices are comparable to what NJ homes would cost with much lower taxes.
We found great food places nearby, including new American, really good pizza and a great bakery, I recommend Kneaders Bakery Cafe, Wildflowers and Charo Vida, all good food and very reasonable. Really lots of good places. There is also a coin shop on Oracle rd. And you can hike in the mountains. If you golf at least 2 public golf courses are available. There are lots of HOAs if you want that and also neighborhoods.
As a place to plant roots I think the Oro Valley would be nice. But it is missing some of the history that the old Pueblo has. Tucson itself is a spread out city with a small central business district. You have to drive everywhere. And we felt safe everywhere we went. Although parts of South Tucson looked a little sketchy.
Anywhere by ASU (Arizona state University) will have a lot of college kids around, but you also have access to all the museums (try to go the Tucson History Museum). If you don't want to be where all the college students go drinking I would avoid living on 4th Ave. Definitely go there for dinner/drinks/music but expect lots of students. I recommend the Congress hotel for dinner, drinks and music. Good food and reasonable. Also LaCo Tucson in the Old Artisan's building. The margaritas are really good.
South of Tucson it gets a little poorer and also dustier. The areas by the Indian reservations being the poorest and dustiest.
Tucson is Overall an above average city with many great places to live and things to do, with some places that are sketchy but no where as bad for example as St. Louis or Camden, NJ.
Some pictures.
Edited by hfjacinto
12/08/2022 5:28 pm
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And not (having the potential for being) cherrypicked. 
Posted 12/08/2022 3:06 pm
The '60's is down right brisk isn't it?
