1st Advantage MortgageThe median Gila County household earns $61,986, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Arizona license first.
On this page
- Gila County at a glance
- Household income in Gila County
- Jobs and commutes in Gila County
- Gila County housing compared with Arizona
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Gila County
- More Gila County figures
- What the numbers mean for Gila County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Gila County's medians
- A Gila County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Gila County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Gila County at a glance
With an estimated 53,795 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Gila County ranks 11th of 15 in Arizona for population. It covers 4,758 square miles of land, or about 11 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Gila County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Payson is the biggest of its 49 Census places, at roughly 16,622 people (31% of the county total).
Household income in Gila County
The median household income in Gila County is $61,986; statewide it is $79,964, so Gila County runs 22% below Arizona as a whole. Only 8 Arizona counties post a higher median.
| Band | Gila County | Compared with Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.0% | +7.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.3% | +7.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.0% | -8.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -5.8 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.9%, 4 points higher than the state's 12.5%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Gila County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Gila County residents work in education and health care and 13% in arts, lodging and food service. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 1% for Arizona. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.4% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Gila County | Gap to Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.8% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -3.9 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +3.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Gila County housing compared with Arizona
Renters in Gila County pay a median of $1,030 a month, 33% below the Arizona figure of $1,543. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $269,400, a typical Gila County house costs 4.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 78% of Gila County households own their home and 22% rent. The median year built is 1986.
| Measure | Gila County | Arizona | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,030/mo | $1,543/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $269,400 | $394,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 28% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Gila County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Pinal County is closest, 68 miles from center to center; the sixth, Yavapai County, is 116 miles off. Maricopa County leads the group on income ($89,300), Navajo County trails ($54,606), and Gila County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gila County | - | $61,986 | $1,030/mo | 78% |
| Pinal County, AZ | 68 mi | $80,266 | $1,537/mo | 82% |
| Graham County, AZ | 80 mi | $67,325 | $935/mo | 73% |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 98 mi | $71,164 | $648/mo | 53% |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 102 mi | $89,300 | $1,708/mo | 65% |
| Navajo County, AZ | 114 mi | $54,606 | $858/mo | 73% |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 116 mi | $69,613 | $1,351/mo | 75% |
Towns and communities in Gila County
49 Census places fall mainly inside Gila County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 51,986 residents, leaving about 3% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $19,572 in Gisela to $69,170 in Globe. Rent is cheapest in San Carlos ($540) and steepest in Pine ($1,375). Live in one of these Gila County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payson | town | 16,622 | $67,710 | $1,345 | 43 mi |
| Globe | city | 7,195 | $69,170 | $858 | 28 mi |
| San Carlos | CDP | 4,973 | $56,302 | $540 | 36 mi |
| Central Heights-Midland City | CDP | 2,909 | $61,400 | $994 | 27 mi |
| Star Valley | town | 2,525 | $65,426 | n/a | 40 mi |
| Tonto Basin | CDP | 1,750 | $50,762 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Pine | CDP | 1,740 | $59,432 | $1,375 | 55 mi |
| Miami | town | 1,405 | $40,875 | $954 | 27 mi |
| Claypool | CDP | 1,259 | $57,900 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Canyon Day | CDP | 1,182 | $36,207 | $869 | 44 mi |
| Strawberry | CDP | 1,094 | $60,492 | n/a | 57 mi |
| Peridot | CDP | 999 | $34,375 | n/a | 39 mi |
| Mesa del Caballo | CDP | 944 | $57,475 | $1,198 | 44 mi |
| Six Shooter Canyon | CDP | 811 | $57,902 | $923 | 29 mi |
More Gila County figures
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 10.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Gila County | All of Arizona | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.7% | 33.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 10.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 18.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.1% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
What the numbers mean for Gila County borrowers
Where the Gila County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 20% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 51, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Debt-to-income at Gila County's medians
How much room does a median Gila County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $61,986 a year is $5,166 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,030, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- $778: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,294 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Gila County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
A Gila County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Gila County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Gila County-area credit union.
- A Arizona license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Gila County residents
The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Arizona license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Arizona: Arizona personal loans.
Related local guides
The Arizona guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gila County a high-income county?
Its $61,986 median ranks 9th of 15 Arizona counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Gila County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,030 against $1,543 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Gila County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Gila County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Gila County?
By population: Payson, Globe, San Carlos, Central Heights-Midland City, Star Valley. The county has 49 Census places in all.
Are Gila County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.