1st Advantage MortgageLa Paz County households have a median income of $49,478 and median rent of $802 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every La Paz County offer.
On this page
- La Paz County by the numbers
- How La Paz County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in La Paz County
- La Paz County income bands
- How La Paz County ranks in Arizona
- Census places in La Paz County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- $4,123 a month: the La Paz County median budget
- Local borrowing considerations for La Paz County
- La Paz County households compared
- A La Paz County borrower's checklist
- Verifying a lender from La Paz County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
La Paz County by the numbers
With an estimated 16,664 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), La Paz County ranks 14th of 15 in Arizona for population. La Paz County spans 4,497 square miles; with 16,664 people, that is 3.7 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes La Paz County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Largest place: Parker, about 3,388 residents (20% of La Paz County); 17 Census places in all.
How La Paz County residents earn a living
Top La Paz County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 20%; second, arts, lodging and food service, 16%. Compared with Arizona, the county leans toward public administration (12% against 5%). Averaged over the five survey years, 10.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 65% of La Paz County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 4% need 45 or more.
| Top industries | La Paz County share | +/- vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.9% | -2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.4% | +6.9 pts |
| Public administration | 11.8% | +7.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -2.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -5.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in La Paz County
La Paz County rent at the median: $802 a month, utilities in ($1,543 in Arizona). About 3 in 10 La Paz County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $135,800; median income $49,478; ratio 2.7. In La Paz County, 72% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| La Paz County | Arizona | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 53.5% | 9.3% | +44.2 pts |
| Vacant units | 34% | 11% | +23.9 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 51% | -23.1 pts |
| Median home value | $135,800 | $394,500 | 66% lower |
| Median gross rent | $802/mo | $1,543/mo | 48% lower |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | +4.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 28% | +2.0 pts |
With 72% of La Paz County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
La Paz County income bands
La Paz County households have a median income of $49,478 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 14th of 15 in Arizona.
| Income band | Share in La Paz County | Difference from Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.1% | +15.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.9% | -13.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -7.1 pts |
Six-figure households (18%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (35%) in La Paz County. 17.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.5%). La Paz County scores 0.463 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. A household earning below the $49,478 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How La Paz County ranks in Arizona
Out of every Arizona county, La Paz County is most unusual on these measures.
- La Paz County ranks the lowest of 15 Arizona counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 4%, against 14% statewide. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
- The housing vacancy rate: 34% in La Paz County, the highest of 15 in Arizona. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
- La Paz County ranks the highest of 15 Arizona counties for median age: 60.2, against 39.0 statewide. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
Census places in La Paz County
14,325 of La Paz County's 16,664 residents live in its 17 Census places (86%); the 14 largest are listed. Salome has the highest median household income on the list ($79,960) and Ehrenberg the lowest ($39,143), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Parker Strip ($646) and steepest in Parker ($964). From Parker to the smallest crossroads, La Paz County residents share this guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker | town | 3,388 | $66,273 | $964 | 24 mi |
| Cienega Springs | CDP | 1,958 | $46,575 | $924 | 34 mi |
| Quartzsite | town | 1,877 | n/a | $836 | 11 mi |
| Bouse | CDP | 1,203 | $47,691 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Bluewater | CDP | 897 | $68,750 | $892 | 33 mi |
| Parker Strip | CDP | 861 | $56,806 | $646 | 38 mi |
| Brenda | CDP | 780 | $53,125 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Salome | CDP | 730 | $79,960 | n/a | 25 mi |
| Ehrenberg | CDP | 697 | $39,143 | $722 | 27 mi |
| La Paz Valley | CDP | 579 | $49,306 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Vicksburg | CDP | 555 | $62,895 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wenden | CDP | 405 | $46,830 | n/a | 29 mi |
| Cibola | CDP | 245 | n/a | n/a | 44 mi |
| Poston | CDP | 105 | n/a | n/a | 28 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Distances run center to center, from Yuma County at 66 miles out to Mohave County at 138. Richest neighbor: Riverside County, $93,074. Poorest: Imperial County, $57,681. La Paz County: $49,478. The list crosses into California, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Paz County | - | $49,478 | $802/mo | 72% |
| Yuma County, AZ | 66 mi | $62,876 | $993/mo | 71% |
| Imperial County, CA | 90 mi | $57,681 | $1,056/mo | 57% |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 93 mi | $89,300 | $1,708/mo | 65% |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 104 mi | $69,613 | $1,351/mo | 75% |
| Riverside County, CA | 113 mi | $93,074 | $1,901/mo | 69% |
| Mohave County, AZ | 138 mi | $57,684 | $1,091/mo | 74% |
$4,123 a month: the La Paz County median budget
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a La Paz County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,123 a month: gross income for a household at the La Paz County median
- Rent at the median, $802, takes 19% of that
- $971: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Homeowners in La Paz County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Local borrowing considerations for La Paz County
A few patterns in the La Paz County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 11% of La Paz County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile homes in La Paz County. At 54% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Age 60.2 at the median. Many La Paz County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
La Paz County households compared
13% of La Paz County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| People and households | La Paz County | Compared with Arizona | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.2 | +21.2 yrs | +18.7 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.5% | -19.9 pts | -8.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 14.9% | +4.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | +0.2 pts | +2.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | -0.9 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Work from home | 11.0% | -7.3 pts | +2.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 17.5% | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.0% | +4.9 pts | +5.6 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 64.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.1% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
A La Paz County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for La Paz County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arizona borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Verifying a lender from La Paz County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with La Paz County borrowers answers to the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. If a La Paz County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for La Paz County borrowers is in the Arizona guide.
Keep exploring
For statewide rules and data, see the Arizona guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical La Paz County household make?
About $49,478 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 38% below the Arizona median.
What do renters pay in La Paz County?
$802 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in La Paz County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 72% of La Paz County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
Is Utting covered?
Yes. Utting is one of 17 Census places in La Paz County, and this guide covers all of them.
Are La Paz 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.