ImportSport

Thanks in advance to anyone that can pass some information along.

In November I'll be interviewing for a faculty position at UA. The package looks very nice but I do not know anything about Arizona or the Tucson area.

I'd really like some opinions on the area in general.

Also:

How is the cost of living?

How is housing? What areas are best to live in from a family perspective? Is there a specific area that the university faculty tend to gravitate toward?

I have other questions, of course, but this should be a good start. Thanks again for any input you can offer.

Cheers, Jason

walkabt

Vandy man?

Internet information on Tucson is actually pretty accurate, housing prices have gone up in the recent years, but they are starting to linger now.

There are several move calculators our there, like this one:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/movecalc.asp

It has Murfreesboro, but for some reason I can't find Nashville or Davidson county in the list...

http://www.tucsonaz.gov/index.php
http://www.arizonaguide.com/

ImportSport

I'll be finishing up my Ph.D. at Vandy in the next year. The interview process is lengthy so I'll be interviewing in the next few months for a position that will start in August or December of '07.

It looks like the price range of housing is simliar to the Nashville area, I'm just not sure what the commute is like around the city. How long/far are people typically driving? The housing density looks like there is a large population north and west of the city with people on the east side living further out. But these are all from maps online so I dont really have a good feel for what the travel vs. distance relationship is.

I'll make sure to get in touch with the local guys when I head down this winter.

Shannon

I just moved to Tucson a few weeks ago from San Diego. I live in northern Tucson - and you will probably want to also. It is the nicer area. UA is in 'central Tucson' and it's not much of a commute for you... I work in south Tucson, and it takes me about 20 mins. to get to work. Def. look in the north, or northeast for housing - those are the nicest areas. There are some REALLY ghetto areas in Tucson - beware!

ImportSport

Thanks for the comments

I'll narrow down my house search areas.

Any other thoughts? Do you like it? What is the general feel for the area?