Is Tucson, Arizona a nice area?

I lived in Tucson. Stay away from that town if you can. Phoenix is a lot better than Tucson. Not to mention, the people are much nicer and friendlier in Phoenix. Phoenix too is safer. I suggest the surrounding suburbs like Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, etc. 

From what I saw only the areas around U of A are nice, along with the Northern suburbs. Everywhere else, especially South Tucson, is sketchy and has lots of crime, gangs, and drugs. Be careful with cheap apartments. You get what you pay for. I learned that the hard way when I moved to Phoenix. Those cheap apartments are full of people you don't want to be around.

Tucson is very desolate if you like that kind of area. 500,00 people and it's a very old community and kind looks shabby.

Whaaat has best answer

There are some nice parts and there are some pretty crappy parts.  A friend of mine did two semesters there and in that short time had her truck broken into twice and then stolen (and recovered minus wheels and radio).  The break-ins were at her apartment complex, which seemed like a decent part of town.  The truck was stolen from a hospital parking lot.  

I don't like it but it's not the worst city ever.

The Sonoran desert is really beautiful, with dramatic rock formations and giant saguaro cactus.  And you don't have to shovel snow off your driveway in the winter. Oh, and great Mexican food!

And those are about the only good things about Tucson.  It has high crime, and homes are cheap there because nobody makes any money.  If you look up any list of 'worst cities to live in', Tucson ranks in the worst 20 or 30.

The worst thing (for me) is the climate.  The winter weather is just wonderful, but it's totally unlivable for 8 months of the year.  If you visit Tucson in January, you might thing 'Hmmm, not a bad place!'  If you visit in August you'll think "Wow!  How do people live here?"

A lot of meth heads. If you want to live in Arizona try Mesa or maybe Scottsdale. Phoenix is somewhat ghetto too but has nice parts. 

TOO HOT! its a desert

Sad news, it's rated as one of the worst places to live in South West US.  They have high crime, poor economic growth, a great number of homeless people, problems with drugs, and some of the lowest property values in the US.