Tucson city, Arizona Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Tucson city is a major urban center located in Arizona. The total population is 543,348. It ranks as the 2nd most populous out of 445 cities and towns in Arizona.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tucson city is 34.6 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tucson city is $54,546. This is 29% lower than the state median of $76,872. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.8%. This is 48% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 23% higher than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $242,200. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $358,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 51.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Tucson city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 42.7%.

Education

30.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 32.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Tucson city, Arizona is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Arizona state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 445 Census-designated places in Arizona. For official data, visit data.census.gov.