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Living in
Vail.
Vail 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 Vail
If you're considering Vail, understand that you're looking at a rapidly growing exurban community about 24 miles southeast of Tucson that's evolved from its railroad-era roots into a family-oriented bedroom community. Your main trade-off is the commute: at 28.4 minutes on average, you're banking on that distance to Tucson for jobs, shopping, and services that Vail itself doesn't fully provide yet, since the town remains unincorporated and still carries that small-town infrastructure feel despite the growth. The community is predominantly white and family-oriented, with a significant Latino population and a median age around 40, which shapes a fairly conservative, suburban character; two failed incorporation attempts (2013 and 2023) hint at disagreements about the town's future direction.
Vail at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Foreign-Born
7.9%
Broadband Internet
98.3%
of households
Median household income
Demographics7.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Vail: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Vail, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (25.9%), and 8.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.7%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
11.1%
of households
Married Couples
77.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.95
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 33% above AZ average
Rent, home values, and income in Vail
In Vail, rent runs 33% above the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
0.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,943
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
91.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2007
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $402,034 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AZ
Unemployment in Vail and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pima County, which includes Vail, is close to the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
Vail: Pima County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pima County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Vail is about 2% of Pima County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Vail 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
Commute29.7 min avg
How Vail residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Vail, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 38% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Tucson International Airport (TUS)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 122 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 Vail, 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 Vail, 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
Vail is about 2% 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 Vail, 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
Vail is about 2% 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
Vail 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
13.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
150
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
8
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
48
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 Vail
Uninsured
3.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Vail's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Joseph's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 15 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.
Education18.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Vail
Vail's student/teacher ratio is 18.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 42.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Saguaro National Park, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Vail
Vail has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saguaro National Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saguaro National Park
National Park
11 mi awayTumacácori National Historical Park
National Historical Park
39 mi awayCoronado National Memorial
National Memorial
55 mi awayFort Bowie National Historic Site
National Historic Site
74 mi awayChiricahua National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayCasa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
81 mi awayCities Near Vail
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Vail?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Vail FAQ
Is Vail, Arizona affordable?⌄
Vail's median rent is $2,057/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $130,904/year. Median home value is $414,600.
Is Vail, Arizona safe?⌄
Vail 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 Vail, Arizona?⌄
Pima County, which includes Vail, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Vail, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in Vail is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,057/month and median household income is $130,904/year. The median home value is $414,600. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Vail, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in Vail is 30 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