1st Advantage MortgageIn Graham County, Arizona, the typical household earns $67,325 a year and the typical rent is $935. 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
- Graham County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Graham County
- Household income in Graham County
- Jobs and commutes in Graham County
- How Graham County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Graham County
- Who lives in Graham County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Graham County
- A Graham County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Graham County residents
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Graham County at a glance
With an estimated 39,232 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Graham County ranks 13th of 15 in Arizona for population. Spread over 4,622 square miles, that works out to roughly 8.5 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Graham County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Safford is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 10,239 people (26% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Graham County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $935 in Graham County versus $1,543 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 30% of renter households here. With a median value of $212,000, a typical Graham County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 73% of homes.
| Graham County | Arizona | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $935/mo | $1,543/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $212,000 | $394,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 28% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Household income in Graham County
At $67,325, the typical Graham County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 7th of 15.
| Income band | Share in Graham County | Difference from Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.8% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.3% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.2% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -6.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Graham County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 17.3%, 5 points higher than the state's 12.5%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.422 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Graham 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.
Jobs and commutes in Graham County
The biggest employer of Graham County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Graham County workers | vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | +1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.6% | +13.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Public administration | 8.5% | +3.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Graham County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Graham County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Greenlee County at 42 miles out to Hidalgo County at 97. Income ranges from $44,958 in Grant County to $80,266 in Pinal County; 2 of these neighbors top Graham County's median. Some neighbors are in New Mexico. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Graham County resident follows Arizona rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham County | - | $67,325 | $935/mo | 73% |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 42 mi | $71,164 | $648/mo | 53% |
| Cochise County, AZ | 76 mi | $59,742 | $995/mo | 71% |
| Gila County, AZ | 80 mi | $61,986 | $1,030/mo | 78% |
| Pinal County, AZ | 86 mi | $80,266 | $1,537/mo | 82% |
| Grant County, NM | 88 mi | $44,958 | $825/mo | 76% |
| Hidalgo County, NM | 97 mi | $48,882 | $814/mo | 81% |
Places inside Graham County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Graham County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $97,960 at the median in Pima, $29,318 in Bylas. Rent is cheapest in Cactus Flats ($239) and steepest in Pima ($1,162). No Graham County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safford | city | 10,239 | $65,647 | $1,048 | 13 mi |
| Thatcher | town | 5,439 | $82,917 | $939 | 10 mi |
| Pima | town | 2,995 | $97,960 | $1,162 | 3 mi |
| Swift Trail Junction | CDP | 2,859 | $63,074 | $905 | 17 mi |
| Bylas | CDP | 1,551 | $29,318 | $354 | 19 mi |
| Cactus Flats | CDP | 1,508 | $58,021 | $239 | 15 mi |
| Central | CDP | 657 | $97,365 | n/a | 7 mi |
| San Jose | CDP | 496 | $63,269 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Bryce | CDP | 379 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Solomon | CDP | 321 | $76,583 | $697 | 17 mi |
| Fort Thomas | CDP | 313 | $108,542 | n/a | 8 mi |
Who lives in Graham County, in numbers
15% of Graham County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Graham County | Arizona statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.6% | 33.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.0% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 10.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 18.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Graham County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 12.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Graham County
Where the Graham County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Mobile home upkeep. 19% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Consolidating cards in Graham County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Graham County household budget, worked through
Here is the Graham County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,610 before taxes
- Median rent: $935, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,309 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $935, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Graham County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Graham County, check the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Arizona guide.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Graham County-area credit union.
- Verify the Arizona license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
The Arizona guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Graham County earn?
The median is $67,325; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Graham County rent compare with Arizona?
$935 locally versus $1,543 for the state, 39% below.
Should Graham County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Graham County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Graham County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Safford, Thatcher, Pima, Swift Trail Junction, Bylas and 6 more.
Can Graham County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Arizona county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.