Tucson: A good place to get out and do something

That’s according to the latest WalletHub survey which rated the 100 largest communities across the nation based largely on the opportunities and costs of being physically active. When the financial advice web site weighed everything, Tucson came out No. 8.

Several factors seem to be working in favor of residents of the Old Pueblo.

WalletHub says Tucson has the sixth highest number of public swimming pools per capita of all the cities rated. It also scored sixth on public golf courses as weighed against population. And Tucson had more Little League teams per capita than all but two other communities.

At the other extreme, at least for Arizona, was No. 74, Gilbert, which wasn’t helped by being third from the bottom for public tennis courts, No. 94 for park playgrounds and near the bottom on the number of available basketball hoops.

The WalletHub survey looks beyond the number of official places to work off those holiday calories, including baseball diamonds, ice skating rinks and skateboard parks. There also are ratings on other opportunities like bike rental facilities and sports clubs.

And there are financial considerations. It costs far less to play golf in Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa than it does in Scottsdale.

Looking at things a bit differently, WalletHub found that a higher percentage of Tucson residents say they participate in any physical activity than do their Phoenix area counterparts.

It also turns out there are more fitness trainers and aerobics instructors per capita in Tucson than in the Valley communities. Ditto sporting goods stores.

Finally, WalletHub incorporates the results of a separate study done by Walk Score which rates communities based on their “walkability” index. That includes access to nearby amenities such as entertainment, shopping and parks as well as access to bike lanes and public transit so people can leave their cars at home.

Among Arizona communities, Tucson scored the highest; Gilbert was at the bottom.