Patagonia, Arizona Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 946, Patagonia's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Patagonia is a small community located in Arizona, within Santa Cruz County. The total population is 946. It ranks as the 212th most populous out of 441 Census-designated places in Arizona.

Age Demographics

The median age in Patagonia is 53.5 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 16.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Patagonia is $39,891. This is 50% lower than the state median of $79,964. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.5%. This is 40% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.5%. The unemployment rate is 11.3%. This is 123% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $361,500. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $394,500. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 49.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 67.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Patagonia is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 40.7%.

Education

43.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 33.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.6%. Notably, 23.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Patagonia, Arizona is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Arizona state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 441 Census-designated places in Arizona. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.