1st Advantage MortgageSanta Cruz County households have a median income of $55,217 and median rent of $829 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Santa Cruz County
- How much Santa Cruz County households make
- What it costs to live in Santa Cruz County
- Work, industries and travel time in Santa Cruz County
- The communities that make up Santa Cruz County
- The counties around Santa Cruz County
- Room for a loan payment in Santa Cruz County
- Who lives in Santa Cruz County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Santa Cruz County
- A Santa Cruz County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Santa Cruz County residents
- More guides for Santa Cruz County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Santa Cruz County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Santa Cruz County's population at 48,926; only 11 of Arizona's 15 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,236 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 40 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (2 incorporated, 8 census-designated); the largest is Rio Rico, with about 22,017 residents, or 45% of the county.
How much Santa Cruz County households make
Santa Cruz County households have a median income of $55,217 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 12th of 15 in Arizona.
| Yearly household income | Santa Cruz County | Gap to Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.5% | +12.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -8.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Santa Cruz County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. Census counts 20.2% of Santa Cruz County residents in poverty, against 12.5% across Arizona. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.436 here. A household earning below the $55,217 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Santa Cruz County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $829 in Santa Cruz County versus $1,543 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $233,000, about 4.2 times the median household income. Owners occupy 69% of homes. Median construction year: 1991.
| Santa Cruz County | Arizona | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $829/mo | $1,543/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $233,000 | $394,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% | 9.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Santa Cruz County
The biggest employer of Santa Cruz County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by retail trade (10%). Public administration stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Santa Cruz County averages 12.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). About 76% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Santa Cruz County workers | vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 10.0% | +5.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | -0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Santa Cruz County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Santa Cruz County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Santa Cruz County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 45,604 residents, leaving about 7% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $119,792 at the median in Sonoita, $39,891 in Patagonia. Rent is cheapest in Nogales ($737) and steepest in Tubac ($2,295). This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rico | CDP | 22,017 | $61,348 | $1,091 | 9 mi |
| Nogales | city | 19,841 | $43,214 | $737 | 12 mi |
| Tubac | CDP | 1,294 | $73,359 | $2,295 | 14 mi |
| Patagonia | town | 946 | $39,891 | $804 | 6 mi |
| Sonoita | CDP | 663 | $119,792 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Elgin | CDP | 349 | $90,231 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Tumacacori-Carmen | CDP | 207 | $55,417 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Kino Springs | CDP | 173 | n/a | $677 | 11 mi |
| Beyerville | CDP | 61 | $65,469 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Amado | CDP | 53 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
The counties around Santa Cruz County
Distances run center to center, from Cochise County at 67 miles out to Greenlee County at 151. Pinal County leads the group on income ($80,266), Hidalgo County trails ($48,882), and Santa Cruz County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in New Mexico. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Santa Cruz County resident follows Arizona rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County | - | $55,217 | $829/mo | 69% |
| Cochise County, AZ | 67 mi | $59,742 | $995/mo | 71% |
| Pima County, AZ | 69 mi | $70,315 | $1,212/mo | 65% |
| Pinal County, AZ | 101 mi | $80,266 | $1,537/mo | 82% |
| Graham County, AZ | 112 mi | $67,325 | $935/mo | 73% |
| Hidalgo County, NM | 126 mi | $48,882 | $814/mo | 81% |
| Greenlee County, AZ | 151 mi | $71,164 | $648/mo | 53% |
Room for a loan payment in Santa Cruz County
Here is the Santa Cruz County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,601 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $829 uses 18%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,150 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Santa Cruz County, in numbers
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Santa Cruz County | Arizona | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.1% | 33.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 23.4% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.2% | 10.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 18.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 12.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 11.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Santa Cruz County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Santa Cruz County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 50% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Santa Cruz County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Santa Cruz County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Santa Cruz County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Santa Cruz County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Santa Cruz 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.
More guides for Santa Cruz County
The Arizona guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Santa Cruz County?
$55,217 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $79,964 for Arizona. It ranks 12th of 15 in the state.
Is Santa Cruz County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $829 against $1,543 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Santa Cruz County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Rio Rico, Nogales, Tubac, Patagonia, Sonoita.
Is the fit check different in Santa Cruz County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Santa Cruz County check a lender's license?
With the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.