Who moves to Tucson, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Pima County, AZ, home of Tucson, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 36,318from other US counties
- Moved out
- 33,946to other US counties
- Net
- +2,372more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 875tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 4,305 |
| Cochise County, AZ | 1,387 |
| Pinal County, AZ (San Tan Valley) | 1,317 |
| Santa Cruz County, AZ | 1,005 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 905 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 878 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 506 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 420 |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 408 |
| Coconino County, AZ (Flagstaff) | 359 |
| Orange County, CA (Anaheim) | 359 |
| Yuma County, AZ (Yuma) | 358 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 5,043 |
| Pinal County, AZ (San Tan Valley) | 1,428 |
| Cochise County, AZ | 1,124 |
| Santa Cruz County, AZ | 824 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 683 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 635 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 461 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 381 |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 330 |
| Bexar County, TX (San Antonio) | 292 |
| Orange County, CA (Anaheim) | 269 |
| El Paso County, CO (Colorado Springs) | 265 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 9,850 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Arizona and 26,468 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Cochise County, AZ | 1,387 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 905 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 878 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 506 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 420 |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 408 |
| Coconino County, AZ (Flagstaff) | 359 |
| Orange County, CA (Anaheim) | 359 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Cochise County, AZ | 1,124 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 683 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 635 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 461 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 381 |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 330 |
| Bexar County, TX (San Antonio) | 292 |
| Orange County, CA (Anaheim) | 269 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Tucson come from?
Most people moving into Pima County, AZ come from nearby counties, led by Maricopa County, AZ (4,305 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Cochise County, AZ.
Where do people leaving Tucson move to?
The top destination is Maricopa County, AZ (5,043 people). Farther away, the most popular is Cochise County, AZ.
Are more people moving to Tucson or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 36,318 people moved into Pima County, AZ from elsewhere in the US and 33,946 moved out, a net gain of 2,372 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Tucson with any city it trades people with, like Tucson vs Los Angeles, Tucson vs San Diego, Tucson vs Las Vegas, Tucson vs Seattle.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Tucson.