Tucson and Fresno receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Tucson
Fresno
Opportunity
29 · Bottom 6%
vs42 · Bottom 22%
Growth
54 · Top 45%
vs46 · Bottom 42%
Climate
64 · Bottom 43%
vs70 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
18 · Bottom 8%
vs10 · Bottom 4%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 26%
vs66 · Bottom 13%
Access
73 · Bottom 34%
vs90 · Top 37%
Economic stability
47 · Bottom 34%
vs48 · Bottom 34%
Measured values
| Metric | Tucson | Fresno | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,060,490 | 1,177,665 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,315 | $74,468 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,140 | $32,569 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 115/sq mi | 145/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $319,700 | $389,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,212 | $1,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 57.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 7.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -4.8% | -0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.8% | 23.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 18.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,790 | 3,391 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.5 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.2% | -7.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 99°F | 98°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 11.1" | 11.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 49 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 25.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.8 | 33.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Tucson
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding.
Fresno
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake, wildfire.
Full profiles: Tucson, AZ Metro Area · Fresno, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology