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Living in
Drexel Heights.
Drexel Heights is an unincorporated community in Pima County, AZ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Drexel Heights
Drexel Heights offers an affordable desert living option on Tucson's southwest side, though you should know upfront that it's geographically separated from the rest of the city by the Tucson Mountains—getting anywhere takes routing through limited mountain passes, which adds time and makes commuting a real consideration. The median commute is about 26 minutes, and you'll definitely be car-dependent here. The community is largely Latino, family-oriented, with about a third of households having children, and the vibe tends toward established neighborhoods rather than rapid development—actually the population has declined slightly in recent years.
Drexel Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Foreign-Born
15.4%
Broadband Internet
92.0%
of households
Population Growth
-6.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Drexel Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Drexel Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (85.8%), and 48.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.1%
of households
Married Couples
47.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.94
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% below AZ average
Rent, home values, and income in Drexel Heights
In Drexel Heights, rent runs 13% below the AZ average, and home values are 37% below the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,723
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
84.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.5%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AZ
Unemployment in Drexel Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pima County, which includes Drexel Heights, is close to the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
Drexel Heights: Pima County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pima County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Drexel Heights is about 3% of Pima County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Drexel Heights Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Tucson, AZ metro area
Commute26.8 min avg
How Drexel Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Drexel Heights, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Tucson International Airport (TUS)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 106 mi
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Major hub25.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Pima County Sheriff's Office, which covers Drexel Heights, runs 35% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
214.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,821.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Pima County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 88 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Pima County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Pima County, which includes Drexel Heights, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 88 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 88 | Heat | $441,500 |
| 2024 | 85 | Heat | $26.2M |
| 2023 | 86 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.9M |
| 2022 | 94 | Flash Flood | $4.2M |
| 2021 | 84 | Flash Flood | $3.0M |
| 2020 | 63 | Heat | $327,500 |
| 2019 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | $652,000 |
| 2018 | 66 | Flash Flood | $8.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Pima County, county-wide
Drexel Heights is about 3% of Pima County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Pima County, which includes Drexel Heights, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
54
Good Days
123
per year
Moderate Days
234
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Pima County, county-wide
Drexel Heights is about 3% of Pima County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate100°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Drexel Heights has hot summers (avg high 100°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
84°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
100°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
86°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
158
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
12
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
47
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 41°F | 0.84" |
| Feb | 69°F | 43°F | 0.84" |
| Mar | 76°F | 48°F | 0.56" |
| Apr | 83°F | 53°F | 0.24" |
| May | 92°F | 62°F | 0.20" |
| Jun | 101°F | 71°F | 0.23" |
| Jul | 100°F | 76°F | 2.21" |
| Aug | 99°F | 75°F | 1.98" |
| Sep | 95°F | 70°F | 1.32" |
| Oct | 86°F | 59°F | 0.67" |
| Nov | 75°F | 48°F | 0.56" |
| Dec | 66°F | 41°F | 0.96" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Drexel Heights
Uninsured
9.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Drexel Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
VA S. Arizona Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Tucson
Banner-university Medical Center South Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Tucson
St. Mary's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.3 mi away · Tucson
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Drexel Heights
Drexel Heights's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Drexel Heights (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 42,537 students · in-state tuition $13,906 · 62% graduate · median earnings $67,414 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 2,567 students · 74% graduate · median earnings $44,191 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
10.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 562 students · in-state tuition $25,933 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Saguaro National Park, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Drexel Heights
Drexel Heights has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saguaro National Park (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saguaro National Park
National Park
17 mi awayTumacácori National Historical Park
National Historical Park
40 mi awayCasa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
66 mi awayCoronado National Memorial
National Memorial
71 mi awayFort Bowie National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayChiricahua National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Drexel Heights
Southwest Branch Library
6855 S Mark Rd, Tucson
Cities Near Drexel Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Drexel Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Drexel Heights FAQ
Is Drexel Heights, Arizona affordable?⌄
Drexel Heights's median rent is $1,342/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,508/year. Median home value is $250,100.
Is Drexel Heights, Arizona safe?⌄
Drexel Heights is policed by the Pima County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 214 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1821 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Drexel Heights, Arizona?⌄
Pima County, which includes Drexel Heights, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Drexel Heights, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in Drexel Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,342/month and median household income is $73,508/year. The median home value is $250,100. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Drexel Heights, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in Drexel Heights is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from