This article inspects the communities of Sahuarita and Marana, Arizona and compares the pros and cons of each community.
Choosing where to purchase a home can always feel overwhelming as you peer over the seemingly endless variables to consider. This article aims to remedy this by looking at both communities and comparing the pros & cons each community has.
Sahuarita:
Median price on homes for sale in Sahuarita, Arizona (as of 2022): $365,000.
Houses for sale in Sahuarita receive 2 offers on average and sell within 37 days.
History:
To begin to know any place it always helps to start at the beginning. The beginning of Sahuarita and much of Tucson starts with the Hohokam people. These potential ancestors to the Tohono O'odham nation were well known for their innovative and extensive use of irrigation. Additionally, the Hokoham were also known for being a very peaceful people and having trading routes that extended into Mesoamerica.
In 1699, a Jesuit missionary and explorer, Eusebio Fransisco Kino, founded the San Xavier del Bac mission. Later in 1775, the Spanish established a fort just north of Sahuarita after erecting several missionaries in the area. With the fort just being north of Sahuarita, this put Sahuarita and the eventually created city of Tucson under Spanish control.
However, after the Mexican War Of Independence in 1821, control of the region went into Mexico’s possession until it was sold to America amid the Gadsden Purchase. Following the Gadsden Purchase, Sahuarita became a part of the territory of New Mexico. In 1863, the territory was captured by the Union from the Confederates and then incorporated as part of the territory of Arizona.
The Benefits:
One of the most crucial details when deciding to move to a new city is the benefits that the city can provide to you. With the benefits a city provides being subjective, it is important to look at what the community is providing to its residents:
Low Crime Rate: Sahuarita's overall crime rate sits at 13 per 1,000 people which is much lower than the national average of 27 per 1,000 people.
Jobs: Sahuarita has a very short commute to Tucson, Arizona, and is also very close to several regional employers as well–such as Raytheon, University of Arizona Science and Technology Park, and Asarco.
Open Space: Despite a rising population, the community of Sahuarita is still boasting quite a bit of open space with a 10-acre lake surrounded by things like walking trails and even an amphitheater. Beyond that, Sahuarita contains several other parks and 17 miles of hiking trails.
Education: Sahuarita Unified School District has a good reputation and ranks well due to its high graduation rates.
Things to Do:
Another important factor when considering a place to live in, or even visit, is determining what places of interest a city has to offer. After all, you’re going to be spending plenty of weekends in this place and will want to know what places and activities will be available. Sahuarita has no shortage of things to do, especially considering its vicinity to Tucson, Arizona but here are just a few of the things to do in Sahuarita, Arizona::
Titan Missile Museum: A relic remaining from the tense years of the Cold War, the nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles built by the United States were named Titan and Minuteman. Sahuarita was home to a Titan missile site and after all these years, the missile facility is now a museum–the only site of its kind remaining. The museum offers tours of the well-maintained facilities which are given by enthusiastic and retired Air Force veterans.
Green Valley Pecan Farm: Some people are unaware of one of the big businesses in Arizona, which is the farming of nuts. On the side of the interstate, you can see rows and rows of trees on a farm. Those trees belong to the Green Valley Pecan farm which is one of the largest Pecan farms in the entire world. The farm offers tours that explore farm grounds as well as having a gift shop that sells delicious items like roasted pecans, pecan oil, and pecan pie!
Anamax Recreation Center: This is a great spot located in Sahuarita, this rec center has baseball fields, playgrounds, a soccer field, a skate park, and covered seating areas. The rec center also is home to a variety of events throughout the year–like live events and art shows
Considerations:
There are a couple of things that are colloquially considered downsides to living in Sahuarita, Arizona. One of these two factors is the dry weather, which is a commonly described downside of Arizona. The second commonly mentioned downside of Sahuarita is how small the city and population are. However, if your preference is towards smaller cities, then this may be the place for you.
These subjective downsides are something to consider when choosing what area you want to live in. However, if these two downsides didn’t sound too bad then there are plenty of homes for sale in Sahuarita, Arizona!
Marana:
Median price on homes for sale in Marana, Arizona (as of August 2022): $400,000.
Houses for sale in Marana, Arizona receive an average of 2 offers and will sell in around 33 days.
History:
The story of Marana begins as Sahuarita did–with Native American tribes being the first inhabitants of the area. One of the central reasons behind the 13,000-year-long occupation of the area is due to the Santa Cruz Valley. This valley is abundant with resources and one of those resources is one of the most vital resources in the southwest–water. This residence along the Santa Cruz Valley continued to be of importance well into the beginnings of Marana as the abundance of water allowed Marana to establish agriculture as its foundational local industry.
It wasn’t until later in the 20th century that Marana took towards modernization. This response was due to water as in 1977– with demand for water increasing–Marana incorporated its 10 square mile town to protect its right to water.
The Benefits:
In addition to being a very fast-growing city and having the potential for continuous growth, Marana can be a pricier area to live in with much of Marana being a suburb. There are many benefits to living in Marana but here are just a few:
Low Crime Rate: Although Marana’s crime rate is higher at 26 crimes per 1,000 people but still sits underneath the national average.
Plenty of stores and restaurants: As mentioned above, Marana is a very fast-growing city, and that growth has included plenty of shopping centers, a mall, and restaurants to enjoy.
New and Modern Homes Design: One of the reasons so many homes have been sold and continue to be sold in Marana is the town’s decision to incorporate more modern designs on housing with plenty of locations having beautiful mountain views.
Education: The Marana Unified School district is teeming with excellent schools and with Basis Oro Valley–one of the highest-ranked schools in Arizona– only a short commute from Marana, a fine education can be assured while living in Marana.
Things to Do:
The town of Marana is the 2nd fastest-growing city in Arizona and that growth has provided for an ever-growing list of things to do and places of convenience within Marana, Arizona. Here is only a small list of things that you can find to occupy your days off of work:
Saguaro National Park: The western portion of this national park is located in Marana, Arizona, and is a must-see for people new to the Sonoran desert as the Saguaro is a cactus native and can only be found in the Sonoran Desert. Aside from the exclusivity of the cacti, the national park is home to plenty of gorgeous views and trails to explore!
Catalina Brewing Company: This is a local brewery in Marana and ranks highly on plenty of lists of places to visit while in Marana. The brewery is a quaint little spot with a wide variety of craft beers and IPAs. The brewery also features an arcade-like area with a pool table and an assortment of pinball machines to play!
Wild Burro Trail: This trail is full of incredible scenery and is the gateway to a larger network of trails–including the Upper Javelina and Wild Mustang trails. The hike is a moderate distance sitting at over 7 miles for the round trip.
The Comparison:
Both communities rank very well on the lists they appear in and both have plenty of benefits to cash in on. However, there are a few differences between the two communities that should be looked at:
Population & Size: Marana is bigger than Sahuarita but is still considered a small city. Marana, Arizona has a current population of over 55,000 people while Sahuarita, Arizona has a population of under 35,000 people.
Crime Rate: Sahuarita has a lower crime rate than Marana but with both communities sitting below the national average, it's not looking too bad for either place.
Prices: The real estate market in Marana, Arizona can be pricier than Sahuarita with the median home price in Marana being over $50,000 higher.
However, this is only a brief overview of the excellent and not-so-excellent qualities you’ll find in these two communities. If you are looking to purchase a home in either Marana or Sahuarita, Arizona, and to get a more immersive and encompassing look at each community, reach out to one of the many capable and eager real estate agents in Tucson, Arizona!
