Why homebuyers are moving to Oro Valley, AZ

Close up of part of a cactus

Tucked in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the town of Oro Valley is one of Arizona’s fastest growing communities. Several minutes outside of Tucson, this beautiful community has received a long list of accolades in the past few years, including being named Arizona’s safest city by Safe Home and Arizona’s best small city by WalletHub. As a result, families and young professionals are flocking to this scenic suburb, eager to take advantage of the growing tech sector, the warm climate, the local attractions and so much more! Below are just a few reasons why Oro Valley is becoming one of the Southwest’s most desirable locations.

Quality Education

Oro Valley is located within Tucson’s Amphitheater Unified School District, which offers exceptional public schools in the area. At the elementary level, Innovation Academy provides STEM-focused education to K-5 students and is the only school in southern Arizona to earn STEM certification from Cognia. The town is also home to the BASIS Oro Valley charter school, which is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 high schools in the country and the BASIS Oro Valley Primary school, which brings the same high-quality learning to K-6 students.

Outdoor fun

The stunning peaks of the Santa Catalina Range are the backdrop to Oro Valley, and there’s a variety of places to take in their beauty. Naranja Park is the perfect spot to enjoy the views and it also offers trails, ponds and an archery range suitable for all skill levels. Residents also love to hike at Honey Bee Canyon Park, with its 77 acres of beautiful open space.

Oro Valley is also close to some state and national parks, including Coronado National Forest, Catalina State Park and the famous Saguaro National Park, all wonderful places to hike and camp.

If you’d rather enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of your car, take a trip on the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, which passes through stunning rock formations, forests, waterfalls and overviews of the Tucson area.

Golfing is also a big part of life in the valley, with highly-rated courses at El Conquistador, The Views Golf club and many more!

Top-notch dining

Whether its grabbing a slice at Zpizza or enjoying a tamale from the authentic El Charro Café, there’s no shortage of options for quality food in Oro Valley.

Local favorites include Keg Steakhouse & Bar, with its famous Keg Burger, the locally-sourced Harvest Restaurant and Caffe Torino, an exquisite destination for authentic Italian cuisine.

Thinking about building your dream home in Oro Valley? Take a look at two of our exceptional communities in the area, Vistoso Crossing and Richmond American at Vistoso Highlands.

More about Vistoso Crossing

  • Ranch and two-story homes from the upper $200s
  • 3 to 6 bedrooms, approx. 1,860 – 2,630 sq. ft.
  • Popular Seasons™ Collection floor plans

More about Richmond American at Vistoso Highlands

  • Ranch-style homes from the low $400s
  • 3 to 6 bedrooms, approx. 2,980 – 4,010 sq. ft.
  • Gated community