1st Advantage MortgageIn Yavapai County, Arizona, the typical household earns $69,613 a year and the typical rent is $1,351. 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
- Yavapai County by the numbers
- How much Yavapai County households make
- Yavapai County housing compared with Arizona
- Employment and commuting in Yavapai County
- The communities that make up Yavapai County
- How Yavapai County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the Yavapai County median
- Yavapai County households compared
- Before borrowing in Yavapai County
- Licensing and complaints for Yavapai County
- A Yavapai County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Yavapai County by the numbers
Yavapai County is home to about 245,480 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 4th most populous of 15 county-level areas in Arizona. Land area is 8,123 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 30 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 27 places in the county (10 incorporated, 17 census-designated); the largest is Prescott Valley, with about 49,179 residents, or 20% of the county.
How much Yavapai County households make
The median household income in Yavapai County is $69,613; statewide it is $79,964, so Yavapai County runs 13% below Arizona as a whole.
| Households earning | Yavapai County | +/- vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -3.3 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.0%, the same as the state's 12.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.451 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Yavapai County median.
Yavapai County housing compared with Arizona
A typical Yavapai County rental runs $1,351 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Arizona. By the Census definition, 46% of Yavapai County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $425,200, or 6.1 years of median income. 75% of Yavapai County households own their home and 25% rent. The median year built is 1995.
| Home costs | Yavapai County | Arizona | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,351/mo | $1,543/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $425,200 | $394,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.0% | 9.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | 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).
Employment and commuting in Yavapai County
The biggest employer of Yavapai County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.3% in Yavapai County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Yavapai County share | +/- vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.1% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.0% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.1% | -2.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Yavapai County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Yavapai County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 27 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 88% of Yavapai County residents live in one of the 27. Incomes vary by place: $107,885 at the median in Bagdad, $42,817 in Spring Valley. Rent is cheapest in Bagdad ($626) and steepest in Village of Oak Creek (Big Park) ($1,786). This guide covers each of the 27 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott Valley | town | 49,179 | $74,569 | $1,580 | 15 mi |
| Prescott | city | 47,400 | $70,874 | $1,395 | 8 mi |
| Chino Valley | town | 13,602 | $61,237 | $1,248 | 12 mi |
| Cottonwood | city | 12,580 | $48,448 | $1,120 | 35 mi |
| Camp Verde | town | 12,521 | $69,203 | $1,059 | 41 mi |
| Verde Village | CDP | 11,930 | $69,331 | $1,173 | 34 mi |
| Sedona | city | 9,777 | $73,738 | $1,448 | 47 mi |
| Wickenburg | town | 8,059 | $67,600 | $991 | 46 mi |
| Village of Oak Creek (Big Park) | CDP | 6,356 | $80,878 | $1,786 | 48 mi |
| Williamson | CDP | 6,310 | $89,398 | $1,142 | 6 mi |
| Lake Montezuma | CDP | 4,929 | $64,455 | $1,238 | 44 mi |
| Paulden | CDP | 4,795 | $91,741 | $1,098 | 18 mi |
| Clarkdale | town | 4,758 | $46,563 | $1,321 | 31 mi |
| Dewey-Humboldt | town | 4,501 | $66,535 | $1,340 | 20 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Yavapai County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Maricopa County at 89 miles out to Pinal County at 137. Maricopa County leads the group on income ($89,300), La Paz County trails ($49,478), and Yavapai County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yavapai County | - | $69,613 | $1,351/mo | 75% |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 89 mi | $89,300 | $1,708/mo | 65% |
| Coconino County, AZ | 94 mi | $72,966 | $1,473/mo | 60% |
| Mohave County, AZ | 100 mi | $57,684 | $1,091/mo | 74% |
| La Paz County, AZ | 104 mi | $49,478 | $802/mo | 72% |
| Gila County, AZ | 116 mi | $61,986 | $1,030/mo | 78% |
| Pinal County, AZ | 137 mi | $80,266 | $1,537/mo | 82% |
Budget math at the Yavapai County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Yavapai County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,801 a month: gross income for a household at the Yavapai County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,351 uses 23%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $969 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Yavapai County's.
Yavapai County households compared
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Yavapai County | Arizona statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.3% | 33.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | 10.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 18.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Yavapai County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Before borrowing in Yavapai County
What the Yavapai County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 17% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Yavapai County's median age is 55.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Licensing and complaints for Yavapai County
The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Arizona license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Arizona: Arizona personal loans.
A Yavapai County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Arizona license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Arizona guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Yavapai County earn?
The median is $69,613; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Yavapai County?
$1,351 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
Which towns does the Yavapai County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 27 Census places: Prescott Valley, Prescott, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, Camp Verde.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Yavapai County or elsewhere in Arizona, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Yavapai County?
Start with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.