Tucson might be a haven for “snowbirds,” retirees who spend their winters in the desert city, but the real economic engine of the city is all about preparing people for the work force. The University of Arizona, with more than 43,000 students and a total payroll of nearly $900 million, is the city’s largest employer.
A powerhouse like that contributes to population growth, which the Tucson area is seeing. Between July 2015 and July 2016, the metro area went from 1,008,205 to 1,016,206 residents, a growth rate of 0.8 percent, according to the latest census data. Tucson is located in Pima County, and, according to the census definitions, the metro area and the county have the same borders and same population.
Some of that population growth comes from new births and immigration, but a good chunk of it is also due to people moving into Tucson from other places in the U.S. In fact, Pima County attracted 51,023 domestic movers from 2011 to 2015, according to another census study that covers those years.
That same study also gives us a good idea of where those new Tucsonans are coming from. It turns out most, 65 percent, are coming from other U.S. states, and 35 percent are moving to Tucson from elsewhere within Arizona.
Below are rankings for the top five counties of origin for movers to Pima County:
Movers outside of Arizona:
- Los Angeles County, CA
- San Diego County, CA
- Orange County, CA
- Clark County, NV (Las Vegas)
- Cook County, IL (Chicago)
Movers from Arizona:
- Maricopa County
- Pinal County
- Cochise County
- Santa Cruz County
- Coconino County
Above are the top places inside Arizona that people moved to Pima County from over the five-year period 2011-2015. Numbers represent the number of movers from that place during the period.
Sources:
University of Arizona Fact Book
City of Tucson Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2016
U.S. Census Bureau
