Tucson no longer worth the effort
-
6/27/2024
My wife and I characterize ourselves as a young couple, well educated, with decent positions and we’re Tucson natives. We’ve observed our quality of life from both a daily living perspective and our plan for the next few years erode to the point our best option is to leave . The explosive growth of Tucson from the mass exodus of Californians and a few from the Northeast and Midwest has resulted in Tucson becoming one of the most unaffordable housing markets in the U.S. thanks to spiraling prices and bidding wars (3 different publications place Tucson squarely in the top 10 given the well below national average pay scale here in most occupations), very high prices at the pump, grocery stores, and many other good and services, the heavy congestion and very real traffic, overcrowding, increasing property and violent crime, horrendous driving practices, and increasingly notable arrogance, rudeness and entitlement we and other family members have witnessed first hand. The quality of health care here is strained and deteriorating as are resources many of Tucson’s lower income and older citizens depend on. In short Tucson has morphed into Southern California accumulating the traits and problems we were crossing our fingers wouldn’t hit us so hard, and the punchline is this will continue for probably at least another 2-3 years until Tucson reaches a tipping point in which Tucson is just flat out an example of diminishing returns in every sense. We’re relocating to Lubbock TX of all places which by no means is seen necessarily as a destination place by many people yet offers at least more of what we’re seeking to regain some livability and potential for a good outlook. We’ve already watched as three family members and two other couples we’re close to have placed Tucson in their rear view mirror.
Greg | Tucson, AZ