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The votes have been counted, and Downtown Tucson bested all in “Tucson’s Top 10 Neighborhoods Renters Love Most,” according to an article posted today on The Huffington Post. “Downtown Tucson is where Southwestern culture meets modern amenities.” The urban hub is described as the “perfect neighborhood for the culture vulture — music, museums, restaurants and shops are everywhere you look,” and was cited for its effort to weave Tucson’s history as a functional part of the city’s current day-to-day activities.

Before you get too excited or defensive by this Top 10 Neighborhoods list, keep in mind it was based on searches on the ApartmentGuide.com website. That said, here’s the ranking, which technically are areas of town, not neighborhoods:

1. Downtown Tucson
2. Central Tucson
3. Northwest Tucson
4. Catalina Foothills
5. Eastside
6. University of Arizona Campus
7. Winterhaven
8. Starr Pass
9. Broadway/Pantano East
10. South Tucson

Here’s a rundown of the article’s specific mentions for each area of town.

1. Downtown Tucson: The usual suspects, including Hotel Congress, John Dillinger (Days), the Children’s Museum, the (forthcoming) Modern Streetcar, restaurants, etc.

2. Central Tucson: The classic Broadway Village Shopping Center, Central Tucson Gallery Association and its First Saturdays art walk (though on hiatus during July/August), and the Third Street/University Bicycle Boulevard.

3. Northwest Tucson Uh, Mansfield Park is mentioned. That’s about it. I guess the people who live up on Oracle Rd., Orange Grove and Ina use another site? Or maybe just those free booklets you pick up in the front of Circle K’s and grocery stores?

4. Catalina Foothills: So many hiking/search-and-rescue opportunities, including Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, Pima Canyon and Ventana Canyon. DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun and Tanque Verde’s restaurant row get plugs.

5. Eastside: Uh, Case Park. Help HuffPo out in the comments.

6. University of Arizona Campus: I think you can guess where this one is going…

7. Winterhaven: Someone decided to make this “Winter Haven,” which is probably the copy editor’s fault. Predictably mentions the annual Festival of Lights and its retirees.

8. Starr Pass: “Hotspot for cyclists,” with great views, including Tucson Mountain Park, Saguaro National Park, great resorts, including JW Marriott Resort & Spa. Doesn’t exactly help keep the rent down.

9. Broadway/Pantano East: Shout outs to Jesse Owens Park, Harold Steele Elementary (check out the Comic Sans-filled web page!), and back for food at the Jesse Owens Park Farmer’s Market.

10. South Tucson: Besides Mexican restaurants, HuffPo includes Santa Rosa Park, Santa Rita Park and the Native American community. Probably code for “CASINOS ARE NEARBY!!!”

What are some of the glaring neighborhood highlights that Atlanta resident and author Courtney Craig missed in this article? Please let us know in the comments.

This article appears in Jul 10-16, 2014.

12 replies on “Tucson’s Top 10 Neighborhoods for Renters, per Huffington Post”

  1. Most of these aren’t “neighborhoods” but large areas of town which include several neighborhoods. “Eastside” could easily include the Harold Bell Wright estates and the Corbett neighborhood, two vastly different parts of town.
    Overall, I’d say this is a pretty stupid list.

  2. Come on west side! Old neighborhoods, Grande Festival, close to the freeway and a 10 minute drive or bus ride to downtown/campus.

  3. You have to be kidding. South Tucson? This is just an article for “Downtown Tucson”. Foothills too? And Winterhaven. You need better editors to make choices to put articles like this in the paper.

  5. This is the worst list ever. There are actual neighborhoods…. “Northwest Tucson”?? Do they realize what Tucsonans consider “Northwest Tucson”? Basically, this list is mentioning all but one Tucson “neighborhood.” The Huffington post should stick to what they know.

  6. I think the people above have said it all. Pretty stupid list. Tell Courtney to stay the hell in Atlanta.

  8. Tucson is diversity and simply naming/listing neighborhoods will not reflect the history nor give due justice to the enormity of character in its people and surroundings. A little more research is recommended including speaking with the neighborhood ‘associations.’ Even that word minimizes the value of its representatives… at the heart of Tucson’s true neighborhoods are the people. <3 Thanks for trying.

  11. She didn’t mention Tucson’s gated communities, favored by fearful white conformists*.

    *thank you Bizarro!

  12. Hm, so pretty much all of Tucson, except “West Side,” which maybe gets a rep by having Starr Pass mentioned. But yeah, all of Tucson is popular with renters. Sounds about right.

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