1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cochise County household earns $59,742, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Cochise County, AZ: the basics
- Income in Cochise County compared with Arizona
- The Cochise County job picture
- Cochise County housing compared with Arizona
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Cochise County
- The counties around Cochise County
- Cochise County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Cochise County
- A Cochise County household budget, worked through
- Lender oversight for Cochise County
- Checklist for Cochise County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Cochise County, AZ: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cochise County's population at 125,566; only 7 of Arizona's 15 county-level areas are larger. It covers 6,210 square miles of land, or about 20 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 22 Census places inside Cochise County, Sierra Vista leads by population with about 45,155; 7 of the 22 are incorporated.
Income in Cochise County compared with Arizona
At $59,742, the typical Cochise County household income is 9% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Cochise County | Compared with Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -7.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Cochise County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 15.4%, 3 points higher than the state's 12.5%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.446 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Cochise County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Cochise County job picture
The biggest employer of Cochise County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by public administration (13%). Public administration stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Sector | Cochise County | Compared with Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 12.8% | +8.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.6% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | -0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cochise County housing compared with Arizona
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $995 in Cochise County versus $1,543 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. Home values center on $218,300, or 3.7 years of median income. 71% of Cochise County households own their home and 29% rent. The median year built is 1987.
| Cochise County | Arizona | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $995/mo | $1,543/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $218,300 | $394,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 28% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 11% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Cochise County
The table lists the 14 largest of 22 Census places in Cochise County, by population. Together all 22 hold about 103,474 people, so roughly 18% of residents live outside any named place. Sierra Vista Southeast has the highest median household income on the list ($75,417) and Tombstone the lowest ($34,901), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 22 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista | city | 45,155 | $70,291 | $1,150 | 37 mi |
| Douglas | city | 15,981 | $42,019 | $772 | 33 mi |
| Sierra Vista Southeast | CDP | 14,330 | $75,417 | $1,180 | 37 mi |
| Benson | city | 5,417 | $49,346 | $783 | 33 mi |
| Bisbee | city | 4,977 | $47,613 | $866 | 32 mi |
| Willcox | city | 3,222 | $43,929 | $1,024 | 29 mi |
| Whetstone | CDP | 2,971 | $51,625 | $1,604 | 31 mi |
| Pirtleville | CDP | 1,939 | $48,589 | $592 | 35 mi |
| Mescal | CDP | 1,760 | $55,417 | $774 | 40 mi |
| Huachuca City | town | 1,614 | $50,625 | $665 | 36 mi |
| St. David | CDP | 1,098 | $53,188 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Naco | CDP | 1,060 | $57,540 | n/a | 35 mi |
| Tombstone | city | 1,026 | $34,901 | $668 | 20 mi |
| Miracle Valley | CDP | 716 | $54,604 | n/a | 38 mi |
The counties around Cochise County
Six nearby counties, 60 to 119 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Pinal County leads the group on income ($80,266), Grant County trails ($44,958), and Cochise County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in New Mexico. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Cochise County resident follows Arizona rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cochise County | - | $59,742 | $995/mo | 71% |
| Hidalgo County, NM | 60 mi | $48,882 | $814/mo | 81% |
| Santa Cruz County, AZ | 67 mi | $55,217 | $829/mo | 69% |
| Graham County, AZ | 76 mi | $67,325 | $935/mo | 73% |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 102 mi | $71,164 | $648/mo | 53% |
| Grant County, NM | 102 mi | $44,958 | $825/mo | 76% |
| Pinal County, AZ | 119 mi | $80,266 | $1,537/mo | 82% |
Cochise County households compared
College graduates make up 28% of the adult population. 8.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Cochise County | Arizona | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.1% | 33.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 10.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 18.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.4% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 9.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Cochise County
What the Cochise County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 20% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Cochise County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Cochise County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cochise County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,978 gross per month ($59,742 / 12)
- Median rent: $995, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $747 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,245 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $995, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Lender oversight for Cochise County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Cochise County resident can confirm its license with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Arizona guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Cochise County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cochise County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Arizona.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Arizona guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cochise County a high-income county?
Its $59,742 median ranks 10th of 15 Arizona counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Cochise County rent compare with Arizona?
$995 locally versus $1,543 for the state, 36% below.
I own my home in Cochise County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Cochise County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sierra Vista, Douglas, Sierra Vista Southeast, Benson, Bisbee and 17 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Cochise County or elsewhere in Arizona, the same rules apply.