1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pinal County household earns $80,266, and 11% 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
- Pinal County, AZ: the basics
- What Pinal County households earn
- The Pinal County job picture
- Housing costs in Pinal County
- The communities that make up Pinal County
- Pinal County and the counties next door
- Pinal County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Pinal County borrowers
- What a median Pinal County budget can carry
- Licensing and complaints for Pinal County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pinal County, AZ: the basics
With an estimated 469,006 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Pinal County ranks 3rd of 15 in Arizona for population. Packed into 5,367 square miles, that is close to 87 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). San Tan Valley is the biggest of its 43 Census places, at roughly 109,189 people (23% of the county total).
What Pinal County households earn
At $80,266, the typical Pinal County household income is 22% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Pinal County | +/- vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.5% | -1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.8% | +1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -3.3 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.1% of Pinal County residents in poverty, against 12.5% across Arizona. A household earning below the $80,266 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Pinal County job picture
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Pinal County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 68% drive to work alone and 30% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 3.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Pinal County workers | vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.2% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Pinal County
Renters in Pinal County pay a median of $1,537 a month, in line with Arizona's $1,543. By the Census definition, 47% of Pinal County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $349,000, about 4.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 82%.
| Measure | Pinal County | Arizona | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,537/mo | $1,543/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $349,000 | $394,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.8% | 9.3% | 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).
The communities that make up Pinal County
43 Census places fall mainly inside Pinal County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 533,409 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $141,978 at the median in Queen Creek, $30,282 in Casa Blanca. Median rent ranges from $395 in Casa Blanca to $2,774 in Saddlebrooke. Names with links open a city guide. The other 41 places are covered here.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Tan Valley | CDP | 109,189 | $96,713 | $2,085 | 21 mi |
| Queen Creek | town | 71,867 | $141,978 | $2,210 | 26 mi |
| Maricopa | city | 67,163 | $96,391 | $1,998 | 38 mi |
| Casa Grande | city | 60,905 | $69,983 | $1,386 | 23 mi |
| Marana | town | 56,938 | $112,606 | $1,818 | 34 mi |
| Apache Junction | city | 41,058 | $60,975 | $1,146 | 34 mi |
| Florence | town | 25,570 | $79,644 | $1,302 | 11 mi |
| Eloy | city | 17,433 | $55,736 | $978 | 18 mi |
| Coolidge | city | 16,636 | $67,023 | $1,314 | 9 mi |
| Gold Canyon | CDP | 13,107 | $93,377 | $1,542 | 31 mi |
| Saddlebrooke | CDP | 13,085 | $88,686 | $2,774 | 38 mi |
| Arizona City | CDP | 9,543 | $66,420 | $990 | 21 mi |
| San Manuel | CDP | 3,491 | $48,314 | $708 | 47 mi |
| Sacaton | CDP | 3,429 | $49,327 | n/a | 25 mi |
Pinal County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 60 to 119 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $55,217 in Santa Cruz County to $89,300 in Maricopa County; 1 of these neighbors top Pinal County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinal County | - | $80,266 | $1,537/mo | 82% |
| Pima County, AZ | 60 mi | $70,315 | $1,212/mo | 65% |
| Gila County, AZ | 68 mi | $61,986 | $1,030/mo | 78% |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 72 mi | $89,300 | $1,708/mo | 65% |
| Graham County, AZ | 86 mi | $67,325 | $935/mo | 73% |
| Santa Cruz County, AZ | 101 mi | $55,217 | $829/mo | 69% |
| Cochise County, AZ | 119 mi | $59,742 | $995/mo | 71% |
Pinal County households compared
22% of Pinal County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.9%, against 10.5% for Arizona.
| Residents | Pinal County | Arizona | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.5% | 33.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 10.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.9% | 18.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Pinal County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.5% |
| 60+ min | 13.0% |
What the numbers mean for Pinal County borrowers
A few patterns in the Pinal County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 30% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Pinal County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 16% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Tight rental budgets. With 47% of Pinal County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
What a median Pinal County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Pinal County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $80,266 a year is $6,689 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,537 uses 23%
- Under a 43% cap, $2,876 total minus rent leaves $1,339
Two-income households and single earners in Pinal County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Pinal County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Pinal 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
Quick steps for Pinal County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Pinal County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Arizona.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Pinal County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Pinal County household make?
About $80,266 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24).
Is Pinal County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,537 against $1,543 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Pinal County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers San Tan Valley, Queen Creek, Maricopa, Casa Grande, Marana and 38 more.
Are Pinal 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Pinal County?
Start with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.