Prescott, Arizona Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Prescott is a mid-sized community located in Arizona, within Yavapai County. The total population is 47,400. It ranks as the 26th most populous out of 441 Census-designated places in Arizona.

Age Demographics

The median age in Prescott is 59.7 years. This is 53% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 12.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.6% 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 Prescott is $70,874. This is 11% lower than the state median of $79,964. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.8%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.5%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $564,100. Housing costs are 43% higher than the state median of $394,500. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 68.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Prescott is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (82.8% vs 52.6%). The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (10.0%) is well below the state average of 31.4%.

Education

39.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% 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 95.7%. Notably, 16.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Prescott, 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.