Tucson’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in Tucson.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Arizona thanks in part to tons of entertainment and jobs, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in Tucson. Some neighborhoods aren’t as safe as others.
So the question arises, which Tucson neighborhoods are the most dangerous and which are the safest?
Today, we’ll use Saturday Night Science to determine which Tucson hoods need a little tender loving care. We examined 127 of Tucson’s neighborhoods to find out the most dangerous places to live.
$27,521 median income
Located along the I-10, San Ignacio Yaqui provides some draws. Still, the area has issues with affordability, jobs, and a lack of other amenities. This makes it one of the least attractive areas in the city.
The median home price in San Ignacio Yaqui sits at $83,950. In most places, that represents a highly affordable figure. However, it’s a tough mortgage to cover with a local median income of just $27,521. At the same time, the unemployment rate comes in at 7.7%.
$42,750 median income
$30,357 median income
$31,228 median income
$19,514 median income
$42,110 median income
$31,838 median income
$29,967 median income
Alvernon Heights is a square neighborhood bordered by E. 22nd Street on the north, E. 29th Street on the South, S. Alvernon Way to the west, and S. Columbus Blvd. to the east. It is also situated kitty-corner from the Randolph Golf Complex and the Tucson Police Department.
The area benefits from modest amenities and a good safety reputation (it is within sight of a police headquarters, after all). Still, it ranks as one of the worst neighborhoods in the city. Why? Well, the economy leaves a lot to be desired.
The numbers tell the story. The unemployment rate sits at 6.2% and the median income comes in at $29,967. The median home price in the area stands at $154,400.
$36,344 median income
Sunset Villa sounds like an excellent place to sit back, relax, and stare into the horizon, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, names can be deceiving. In reality, Sunset Villa represents one of the most unappealing locations in Tucson.
You can blame a lack of amenities and a weak economy for Sunset Villa’s bad reputation. The neighborhood’s 746 inhabitants have to deal with a 4.5% unemployment rate and make due with a median income of just $36,344.
Located along 1-19 and north of W. Ajo Way, Sunset Villa has its draws as well. Housing is relatively affordable, with a median home value of $125,750. Meanwhile, it’s located close to Santa Cruz River Park.
$43,921 median income
Living in a place called Fairgrounds seems like a lot of laughs. And, to be fair, this neighborhood does house the Tucson Rodeo
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Arizona’s statewide median.
Arizona statewide median: $423,330
Arizona statewide median: $79,964
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous Tucson neighborhoods in 2026
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We plugged the following criteria into Saturday Night Science to get the worst neighborhoods in Tucson:
- High crime (Estimated)
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criterion into a “Worst Score.”
The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the most dangerous neighborhood of Tucson.
The article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2026. Skip to the end to see the list of all 127 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
The full plate
Most dangerous neighborhoods to live in Tucson for 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by neighborhood name.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Ignacio Yaqui | 471 | $83,950 | $27,521 |
| 2 | Silvercroft | 426 | $99,700 | $42,750 |
| 2 | Barrio Blue Moon | 352 | $126,500 | $30,357 |
| 4 | Wakefield | 3,918 | $98,300 | $31,228 |
| 5 | Balboa Heights | 1,418 | $97,600 | $19,514 |
| 6 | El Rio Acres | 2,115 | $94,500 | $42,110 |
| 7 | Western Hills | 1,172 | $81,500 | $31,838 |
| 8 | Alvernon Heights | 477 | $154,400 | $29,967 |
| 9 | Sunset Villa | 746 | $125,750 | $36,344 |
| 10 | Fairgrounds | 2,147 | $98,450 | $43,921 |
| 11 | Rancho Buena | 4,518 | $68,050 | $37,246 |
| 12 | Mortimore | 319 | $126,800 | $49,854 |
| 13 | Rose | 2,878 | $117,900 | $29,352 |
| 14 | Flowing Wells | 14,945 | $63,217 | $35,378 |
| 15 | Las Vistas | 2,674 | $99,000 | $50,516 |
| 16 | Sunnyside | 14,720 | $108,200 | $38,066 |
| 17 | Barrio Hollywood | 2,776 | $129,950 | $31,901 |
| 18 | Santa Cruz Southwest | 2,751 | $69,675 | $44,447 |
| 18 | Enchanted Hills | 2,019 | $134,800 | $34,238 |
| 20 | Miracle Manor | 3,143 | $92,200 | $25,816 |
| 21 | Saint Cyrils | 2,346 | $85,600 | $30,441 |
| 22 | Ocotillo Oracle | 1,043 | $181,925 | $27,875 |
| 22 | Parkway Terrace | 138 | $115,100 | $57,975 |
| 24 | El Cortez | 342 | $139,700 | $42,197 |
| 25 | Amphi | 6,670 | $150,233 | $28,286 |
| 26 | Midtown | 6,862 | $109,883 | $34,518 |
| 27 | Naylor | 1,349 | $104,800 | $28,719 |
| 28 | Santa Rita Park | 548 | $147,200 | $35,568 |
| 29 | Barrio Santa Rosa | 753 | $191,650 | $35,644 |
| 30 | Barrio Centro | 516 | $115,100 | $57,975 |
| 31 | Dodge Flower | 2,150 | $114,850 | $28,238 |
| 32 | Roberts | 1,999 | $155,150 | $31,568 |
| 33 | Elvira | 8,246 | $117,300 | $42,972 |
| 34 | Desert Aire-Loma Linda | 415 | $178,200 | $29,722 |
| 35 | Mountain View | 1,478 | $141,300 | $34,322 |
| 36 | Swan Way Park | 1,075 | $168,350 | $39,836 |
| 37 | Tucson Park West | 3,752 | $152,700 | $29,854 |
| 38 | Westside Development | 3,905 | $150,950 | $65,522 |
| 39 | Doolen-Fruitvale | 1,537 | $127,833 | $41,610 |
| 40 | Campus Farm | 6,005 | $161,943 | $36,218 |
| 41 | Miles East West | 1,339 | $175,400 | $34,372 |
| 42 | Drexel Park | 2,250 | $114,000 | $28,472 |
| 43 | Myers | 5,381 | $129,967 | $37,594 |
| 44 | Richland Heights West | 685 | $165,600 | $41,071 |
| 45 | North Dodge | 2,235 | $155,700 | $25,780 |
| 46 | Barrio Anita | 220 | $174,400 | $47,143 |
| 47 | Groves Lincoln Park | 6,265 | $153,550 | $58,873 |
| 48 | Julia Keen | 4,304 | $112,133 | $45,917 |
| 48 | Shaheen Estates | 227 | $243,600 | $40,682 |
| 50 | South Park | 3,265 | $152,667 | $39,027 |
| 50 | Keeling | 5,305 | $152,680 | $35,846 |
| 52 | Armory Park | 1,259 | $197,367 | $44,402 |
| 53 | Limberlost | 3,236 | $154,433 | $28,139 |
| 54 | Cherry Avenue | 9,562 | $97,100 | $43,818 |
| 54 | Bravo Park Lane | 2,154 | $128,167 | $48,891 |
| 56 | Feldman’s | 2,303 | $215,467 | $30,092 |
| 57 | Barrio San Antonio | 283 | $187,600 | $41,356 |
| 58 | Toumey Park | 1,635 | $157,600 | $52,861 |
| 59 | Country Glenn | 1,179 | $160,267 | $47,580 |
| 60 | Iron Horse | 243 | $215,550 | $35,330 |
| 61 | Stella Mann | 4,864 | $140,175 | $39,739 |
| 62 | Lakeside Park | 5,070 | $137,725 | $49,232 |
| 63 | A Mountain | 2,502 | $116,700 | $49,340 |
| 64 | Oak Flower | 2,292 | $178,800 | $27,340 |
| 65 | La Madera | 1,297 | $162,400 | $47,580 |
| 66 | San Gabriel | 1,315 | $225,633 | $45,353 |
| 67 | Wilshire Heights | 225 | $191,600 | $68,693 |
| 68 | Thunderbird Heights-Wilmot Desert | 886 | $150,700 | $39,635 |
| 69 | Cabrini | 1,664 | $136,800 | $39,068 |
| 70 | Menlo Park | 5,659 | $217,700 | $44,291 |
| 71 | Corbett | 6,533 | $126,600 | $46,554 |
| 72 | Millville | 759 | $215,000 | $38,942 |
| 73 | Richland Heights East | 1,385 | $292,350 | $38,418 |
| 74 | El Gheko | 2,453 | $186,150 | $48,534 |
| 75 | Midvale Park | 15,704 | $147,564 | $50,931 |
| 76 | Terra Del Sol | 4,924 | $149,200 | $45,426 |
| 77 | Rosemont West | 1,500 | $178,200 | $43,254 |
| 78 | Avondale | 1,662 | $195,600 | $19,694 |
| 79 | Northwest | 958 | $204,300 | $42,197 |
| 80 | San Clemente | 767 | $261,250 | $46,557 |
| 80 | Arroyo Chico | 2,003 | $192,300 | $61,047 |
| 82 | Sewell | 1,428 | $298,450 | $38,814 |
| 83 | Barrio Viejo | 687 | $300,800 | $54,131 |
| 83 | Harlan Heights | 2,215 | $153,700 | $47,761 |
| 85 | Hedrick Acres | 3,105 | $180,950 | $39,960 |
| 86 | Rincon Heights | 2,295 | $212,233 | $39,104 |
| 87 | Pie Allen | 954 | $216,100 | $26,903 |
| 88 | Jefferson Park | 3,320 | $261,000 | $33,336 |
| 89 | Vista Del Monte | 1,548 | $164,350 | $39,434 |
| 90 | North University | 2,388 | $319,833 | $42,558 |
| 91 | Dietz | 6,818 | $124,867 | $48,456 |
| 92 | Mountain First Avenue | 1,857 | $240,833 | $34,106 |
| 93 | Colonia Del Valle | 1,870 | $177,950 | $57,800 |
| 94 | Desert Palms Park | 333 | $243,800 | $77,371 |
| 95 | Prince Tucson | 2,295 | $250,000 | $52,954 |
| 96 | Poets Square | 1,040 | $234,567 | $68,613 |
| 97 | Dunbar Spring | 938 | $315,333 | $39,788 |
| 98 | Glenn Heights | 182 | $221,500 | $42,543 |
| 99 | Mitman | 1,507 | $139,300 | $61,448 |
| 100 | Palo Verde | 5,438 | $218,050 | $42,521 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. All 127 Tucson neighborhoods.
Summary
Summary: The worst neighborhoods around Tucson
Well, there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Tucson with San Ignacio Yaqui landing at the bottom of the pack.
The worst neighborhoods in Tucson are San Ignacio Yaqui, Silvercroft, Barrio Blue Moon, Wakefield, Balboa Heights, El Rio Acres, Western Hills, Alvernon Heights, Sunset Villa, and Fairgrounds.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Tucson aren’t all bad. Rillito takes the cake as the best place to live in Tucson.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below. Not sold on Arizona? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Worst Neighborhoods In Tucson FAQs
What is the most dangerous neighborhood in Tucson?
San Ignacio Yaqui ranks as the worst neighborhood in Tucson for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Silvercroft and Barrio Blue Moon are next on the list.
What are the worst neighborhoods in Tucson?
The worst-ranked neighborhoods in Tucson are San Ignacio Yaqui, Silvercroft, Barrio Blue Moon, Wakefield, Balboa Heights, El Rio Acres, Western Hills, Alvernon Heights, Sunset Villa, and Fairgrounds. We scored all 127 neighborhoods in the city.
Why does San Ignacio Yaqui rank as the worst?
San Ignacio Yaqui posts the roughest combined numbers in Tucson: a median household income of $27,521 and a median home value of $83,950, with crime, unemployment, and density folded into the score.
Are these neighborhoods dangerous everywhere?
No. The scores are neighborhood-wide averages, and conditions change block by block and hour by hour. Plenty of people live in these neighborhoods without incident; the numbers just say the odds run tougher.
How do you rank the worst neighborhoods?
Each neighborhood is scored on crime, unemployment, income, density, and home values, using Census tract and FBI data. The worst combined score tops the list.
