Rent to own Homes in Tucson, AZ
With 548,073 residents, Tucson, Arizona, is the 33rd most populous city in the U.S., and it encompasses 226.71 square miles, making it the 20th largest municipality in the country based on area. But its origins, dating back to the late 1700s, are not nearly as glorious. In 1776, Lieutenant Colonel Hugo O'Connor of the Spanish army built a 700 square foot fort for several officers, 75 soldiers, and their families in what was then the Sorona - a Mexican state.
The area grew to 11 acres, and soon civilians started to move to the vicinity. By 1830, Tucson had developed into an entire Mexican village. It was finally annexed to the United States in 1854 when the government bought 29,670 square miles - an area that is now part of Arizona and New Mexico - from the Mexicans for $10 million in the Gadsden Purchase.
Tucson, AZ is a great place for affordable rent-to-own homes! With a median household income of over $45,227 and a median rent of $861, the Tucson, AZ rent-to-own market is more affordable than the traditional housing market which has shown tremendous growth across the U.S. and with it, aggressive competition for home purchases. With the current housing shortage trend it can make it harder to become a homeowner, including in Tucson, AZ. This means higher than average down payments for homes and higher qualification standards for conventional home loans. With a rent-to-own property, tenants are also buyers. You can live in the house for a set amount of time before you purchase it, meaning that you get to know the house, your neighbors, and your community before making the final purchase. This enables you and your family to make the right choice based on both information and experience. Rent-to-own is also a great alternative way to get into a home if you have bad credit or don't have enough saved for a down payment.
More Tucson, AZ Property Resources
Rent to own Homes in Cities Near Tucson, AZ
- Avra Valley
- Casas Adobes
- Catalina
- Catalina Foothills
- Corona de Tucson
- Drexel Heights
- Flowing Wells
- Kleindale
- Littletown
- Marana
- Nelson
- Oro Valley
- Picture Rocks
- Rillito
- Rincon Valley
- Saddlebrooke
- Sahuarita
- South Tucson
- Summerhaven
- Summit
- Tanque Verde
- Three Points
- Tucson
- Tucson Estates
- Tucson Mountains
- Vail
- Valencia West
- Willow Canyon
Neighborhoods in Tucson, AZ
Foothills Vista rent to own homes Flowing Well Neighborhood rent to own homes Limberlost rent to own homes Casa Carina Townhomes rent to own homes North First Medical Plaza rent to own homes Park View Estates rent to own homes Shirley Manor Townhouses rent to own homes Campus Farm rent to own homes Prince Tuscon rent to own homes Agro Farms rent to own homesBuying a Home in Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ is seeing rapid growth and Tucson, AZ's' housing market remains optimal with an average home price that is -24% below the 2025 national average. Tucson, AZ is part of Pima county and taxes are an important factor to consider when purchasing a home whether through rent to own or a traditional purchase. The average tax rate as of 2025 for county Pima is 0.81% which is below the national average, which is 0.99%.
Median Home Price in Tucson, AZ
Median Rent in Tucson, AZ
Average Cost of Living in Tucson
The average cost of living in Arizona is 2.2% higher than the national average, but Tucson is 10.6% lower than the state and 8.4% less than the rest of the country. Expenses like groceries, health, housing, utilities, and transportation are all below average. Nevertheless, nearby municipalities such as Sahuarita, Marana, and Oro Valley are between 4.4% and 17.5% more costly than Tucson. And the cost of living in Phoenix, the only larger city in Arizona, is 12.1% higher. Based on its location and status as a major city in the area, Tucson is an affordable place to live.
Average Home Prices in Tucson
Tucson's housing market is perfect for people who are looking to move to the area. The median price of a house in the city is $185,800 - slightly more than $45,000 cheaper than average for the United States and $63,500 lower than Arizona's median price tag. Homes in Phoenix cost $239,400, and Sahuarita, Marana, and Oro Valley range between $207,200 and $301,600. If you're thinking of moving to the region and would like to live in a city environment that has some sprawl, Tucson is an excellent option for you. As a bonus, the city has many available rent-to-own home opportunities.
Tucson Statistics
If you're interested in Tucson rent-to-own homes, don't forget to consider important factors in addition to monthly living costs, such as average commute, taxes, crime rates, etc. The following are some common Tucson statistics compared to the U.S. national average.
| Tucson Averages | National Averages | |
|---|---|---|
| One-Way Commute | 22.2 minutes | 26.4 minutes |
| Violent Crime | 37.5 | 22.7 |
| Property Crime | 83.2 | 35.4 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 3.9% |
| Income Tax Rate | 4.2% | 4.6% |
| Air Quality | 49 | 58 |
| Water Quality | 48 | 55 |
| Median Household Income | $37,149 | $53,482 |
| Median Property Taxes | $1,200 | $2,200 |
| Utilities | $265/month | $112/month |
| Monthly Rent | $920 | $1,470 |
| Median Home Cost | $185,800 | $231,200 |
| Median Home Age | 40 years | 40 years |
Popular Amenities and Attractions in Tucson
One of the more exciting facets of Tucson, Arizona, is the fact that it is one of the few areas continuously inhabited since early civilization. It has thousands of years of human history, and the government ensures its availability to the public. Visitors and locals enjoy an endless assortment of interesting historical sites and outdoor experiences, whether or not they're into history.
You can spend years exploring the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. Its visitor center and administrative offices are located in Tucson, but the area covers 3,300 square miles. It includes the Santa Cruz River's watershed, which is still in use and has been a major trade route since humans came to the area. In addition to recreation and hiking, you can learn about desert farming, U.S.-Mexico border culture, frontier life, ranching traditions, and how the Native Americans lived back in the day. There are also plenty of U.S. and Spanish military posts open to visitors.
Tucson also has many popular traditional attractions, such as the Pima Air and Space Museum, the Reid Park Zoo, the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, and the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. The city also maintains more than 150 parks for recreation, boating, fishing, pets, educational purposes, hiking, biking, swimming, and a host of other activities for guests and residents to enjoy.
The Old Pueblo is now a fully developed municipality with a friendly environment and a healthy, growing economy. The city is a national hub for aerospace and defense-related manufacturing, technology, warehousing, research and development, and distribution, and it's ranked in the top five in the U.S. for this sector. Tucson also shines in the renewable energy and optics sectors and brought in $2.4 billion in spending from tourism in the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Some of the city's major employers include the University of Arizona and the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Tucson has lots of history, open space, and friendly people. You can become a part of the long, historical chain of human civilization in Tucson by buying one of its many rent-to-own homes available for sale.