Tucson is a cactus-filled city in the Southwest. It is better to live in Anaheim because of its historical heritage, endless outdoor recreation, and exciting city amenities. On the other hand, Anaheim is a pride of Orange County because of its flourishing tourism industry.
The city of Tucson offers you an affordable and unique lifestyle.
It has incredible scenery with mountain ranges, desert skies, and endless rays of sunshine.
It is famous for its desert sunsets, cowboy culture, and incredible culinary scene.
Anaheim is world-renowned in terms of entertainment and recreational facilities. It is where the first-ever Disneyland Park was built. Also, Knott’s Berry Farm, Adventure City, and Angel Stadium are some of Anaheim’s pride.
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What are the Pros and Cons of Anaheim vs. Tucson?
Tucson is a high crime rate city that offers impressive tax benefits. Meanwhile, Anaheim has many recreational sites that are perfect for families and young ones but are very densely populated. Both towns provide a great life outdoors and warm weather, too.
Living in Tucson
Pros
- A place for snowbirds and retirees
- Hotspot downtown
- Rich and colorful past
- Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum
- San Xavier del Bac Mission
- Arizona History Museum
- Tohono O’odham Nation Cultural Center & Museum
- Great outdoor
- Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- Tucson Mountain Park
- Reid Park Zoo
- Santa Catalina Ranger District
- Mount Lemmon
- Bike-friendly city
Tucson has warm weather, sunny skies, and little to no snow, which snowbirds love to live. People in the northern relocate to this southwest city because of warmer weather. The town also attracts retirees due to great outdoor activities.
People can enjoy the great outdoors while getting the benefits of having to pay no tax on Social Security benefits. Tucson is a favored place to retire in Arizona.
If you visit the city’s Downtown, you will notice how colorful and vibrant it is. The Rio Nuevo District and the SunLink streetcar transformed into Tucson’s art, commercial, and entertainment hub. Here you will experience food trucks and grand sales from local artisans every 2nd Saturday of the month.
The Hoco Fest, on the other hand, is a music festival that demonstrates guest lectures and art exhibits. It includes Mercado San Agustin Annex, Westbound, Beaut Burger, and Old Town Artisans. There are also several exciting shops you can check out Downtown.
Aside from the modern lifestyle Tucson offers, you will be amazed by the richness of the city’s historical heritage. Tucson became a city in 1877 which you can trace back to the Hohokam Indians.
The group helped in shaping contemporary Tucson today. You will see that the city is full of historic sites displaying Spanish, Mexican, and American influences. It is also the perfect place to learn about the modern-day people of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Some historical sites you should see in Tucson:
Tucson offers you the best spot to hike, run, and horseback ride. Here in this city, you can explore wide-open spaces and natural beauty. Tucson is worth considering if you want to experience a different environment.
You can check out these areas when you like to experience life outdoors in Tucson:
Tucson has over 131 miles of car-free paths encouraging cyclists all over the city. You can traverse the Chuck Huckleberry Loops, one of America’s top cycling sites.
You can also try cycling at the Tugo Bike Share giving you access to affordable bike rentals in the city. It has 40 stations circling the town, giving you more accessible locations. The El Tour de Tucson is the best spot for those into competitive cycling.
Cons
- Bad commute
- Reptile scare
Tucson does not offer a comprehensive public transportation system. If you are the type who loves to move around, then you need to get a private vehicle to enjoy the city. The city also lacks significant highways and streets; it is one of the primary drawbacks of this city.
Tucson is a desert. You might occasionally encounter reptiles along the way. These animals can be very harmful and pose a lot of scare to most residents. It is essential to always be cautious about reptiles in this part of Arizona.
Living in Anaheim
Pros
- Anaheim’s star attraction – Disneyland Park
- The Exclusive Club 33
- Yorba Regional Park
- Endless arts and galleries
- Ice on the rinks
The happiest place on earth is in the city of Anaheim. Disneyland is a significant income generator for this city, with millions of tourists flocking every day. On a typical day, over 60,000 visitors fill the city of Anaheim.
People spend more than a day touring around the amusement park. You can visit around eight themed lands in Disneyland. Each zone has unique characteristics, personality, and style.
If you want to see the most luxurious spot in Anaheim, you should join The Exclusive Club 33. It is a private members club in New Orleans Square around Disneyland. Here you can experience world-class services and high-class preferential treatment.
When you visit the mouth of the Santa Ana Canyon, you will be greeted by the Yorba Regional Park. It is a 140-acre park that covers the Santa Ana River. The park has more than 400 picnic tables you can use when bonding with your families.
Aside from that, the Yorba Regional Park has four lakes and streams where you can engage in water activities. You have plenty of opportunities to go fishing, boating, and water skiing inside the park.
Anaheim is a city for creatives and artists.
Anaheim has various galleries exhibiting Disney characters and animations if you cannot get enough of the Disney spirit.
The WonderGround Gallery is the perfect place to see these famous Disney characters.
Meanwhile, the S. Preston Art + Designs dedicates its exhibitions to sports icons. You will see art created by Preston capturing the very essence of MLB ballparks. The Hilbert Museum of California Art houses a collection of paintings about the history of California in the 20th century.
Anaheim has an indoor ice rink popular among locals and sports teams. The Anaheim Ducks, a National Hockey League, use this to practice and train.
Locals skate in this venue, and for beginners, the ice rink conducts an open session. It is the best place to learn hockey or even ice skate. You can even ask for help from professional coaches here.
Cons
- Unimpressive nightlight scene
- Regularly crowded with tourists
Anaheim can boast about its parks and recreations sites, but it lacks vibrancy at night. The city does not have enough bars and nightclubs that keep you entertained all through the night. It would be best to go to nearby towns to enjoy the California night scene.
The city is constantly visited by millions of tourists every year. You should expect that vital tourist destination is always jam-packed with tourists. Since the city only covers 50.3 square miles of land, it can annoy some.
Anaheim or Tucson – Which is more expensive?
Anaheim is a costly city in California. Compared to Tucson, Anaheim is around 60.7% more expensive. The median home cost is considered the most significant element of this price difference.
| Living expenses | Anaheim | Tucson |
| Housing | 257.1% | 80.4% |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5% | 95.5% |
| Health | 95.9% | 85.4% |
| Utilities | 97.4% | 99.4% |
| Transportation | 118% | 96.6% |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing cost
It is easier to be a homeowner in Tucson than in Anaheim. Real estate in Anaheim is almost twice the rate of Tucson properties. You need an amount of $762,700 in this California city, while only $271,800 in Tucscon. The percentage difference is around 180.6%.
Utility cost
The utility cost in Anaheim and Tucson is below the national average. But when we compare the cost between Anaheim and Tucson, the latter has a more expensive utility cost. The difference is just about 2%.
Food & groceries cost
Since Anaheim is a central tourism hub, there is a higher regulation of food pricing. Eating or dining out and buying essential items is more expensive in Anaheim than in Tucson. On the other hand, Tucscon offers 7.3% cheaper food and grocery costs than Orange County city.
Transportation cost
Anaheim has a poor transportation system and is more expensive than Tucson. The transit rate in Anaheim is above the US median rate. In contrast, Tucson offers more affordable transit options below the national level and 22.2% lower than Anaheim.
Health care cost
When you live in Tucson, you will find that its health care services are lower than in other cities in the US. It is also 9.4% cheaper than Anaheim’s.
Is Anaheim bigger than Tucson?
Tucson is a metropolitan area and a county seat of Pima County. It has a total land area of 226.71 square miles and is more significant than Anaheim, with only 50.3 square miles. Tucson is also the second-largest city in Arizona by population size.
When discussing the covered land area, Anaheim is a small metro city in Orange City. However, it is a very densely populated city with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The town is at the heart of Orange County and knows for having safe and peaceful neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, Tucson has a population of more than half a million. Unlike Anaheim, the people are more dispersed with its vast land area and do not compete against a limited city space. Next to Phoenix, Tucson is also the second most populated city in Arizona.
Is Tucson safer than Anaheim?
Anaheim is safer than Tucson. It has a recorded violent crime rate of 22.3, while Tucson has a record of 37.5 in violent crime. Tucson’s major areas have higher violent and property crime rates than the national average.
If you move to Tucson, there are certain areas you should avoid. These places have a notoriously higher crime rate. For instance, South Tucson has affordable housing prices, but the crime rate is significant.
Meanwhile, Anaheim has a lot of safe neighborhoods to offer. You can check out houses in Anaheim Hills and Platinum Triangle. If you want to be closer to commercial activities, finding a property in the Downtown area is an excellent move.
Is Anaheim warmer than Tucson?
Anaheim and Tucson both have warm cities. Tucson is near the desert, while Anaheim is near California’s coastal area. Nevertheless, Tucson is hotter than Anaheim, with a temperature as high as 100 degrees.
Tucson has a subtropical semi-desert climate. The people here experience sweltering weather during summers. Since it is part of the Sonoran Desert, the temperature during summers can go way above a temperature with a triple-digit number.
June and August are the months when people most likely spend time indoors because of the brutal heat of the sun.
On the other hand, residents in Anaheim enjoy their weather even during summers. They visit nearby cities to experience the sun’s heat while spending time in the sand.
Is Tucson better than Anaheim?
Tucson is better than Anaheim if you want to live a unique lifestyle. The city opens opportunities for you to be physically fit while living a great life outdoors. Anaheim is also a desirable city offering modern California living.
Both cities are excellent for relocation. Tucson attracts retirees because of its tax benefit perks. It is also easier to be a homeowner here, given the affordability of its real estate. Tucson is also abundant in cultural and historical attractions.
Anaheim is a place for young families. It has a job available in the tourism sector. The city also has abundant kid-friendly parks where children can enjoy spending time outside the house. Anaheim is also a great place if you love visiting amusement parks like Disneyland.
Ready to relocate? Which city would you choose? Tucson or Anaheim? Share your thought here.
