Safford, Arizona Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Safford, Arizona had a total population of 10,239, the 68th largest city in Arizona, with a median household income of $65,647, which is 18% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Safford Quick Facts
How Safford Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,217 | 10,239 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $65,727 | $65,647 | -0.1% |
| Median home value | $191,600 | $199,800 | +4.3% |
How Safford Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 62 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Safford Rankings in Arizona
Explore Arizona Rankings
Other Cities in Graham County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thatcher | 5,439 | $82,917 | 12.1% | $286,300 |
| Pima | 2,995 | $97,960 | 5.1% | $267,300 |
| Swift Trail Junction | 2,859 | $63,074 | 16.2% | $204,800 |
| Bylas | 1,551 | $29,318 | 46.6% | $22,100 |
| Cactus Flats | 1,508 | $58,021 | 11.6% | $313,700 |
| Central | 657 | $97,365 | 2.1% | $480,000 |
| San Jose | 496 | $63,269 | 5.2% | $134,400 |
| Bryce | 379 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Solomon | 321 | $76,583 | 4.7% | N/A |
| Fort Thomas | 313 | $108,542 | 4.8% | $154,700 |
Cities Similar to Safford
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona City | 9,543 | $66,420 | $244,100 | 12.0% | 12.6% |
| Sedona | 9,777 | $73,738 | $786,800 | 50.4% | 14.0% |
| Picture Rocks | 9,448 | $61,634 | $230,300 | 13.3% | 16.8% |
| Tucson Estates | 12,136 | $66,582 | $205,400 | 24.4% | 7.8% |
| Verde Village | 11,930 | $69,331 | $354,200 | 27.4% | 13.1% |
Population Overview
Safford is a small city located in Arizona, within Graham County. The total population is 10,239. It ranks as the 68th most populous out of 441 Census-designated places in Arizona.
Age Demographics
The median age in Safford is 31.0 years. This is 21% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Safford is $65,647. This is 18% lower than the state median of $79,964. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.5%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $199,800. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $394,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 71.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 67.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Safford is White (non-Hispanic), making up 47.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 47.1%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 4.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (47.1% vs 31.4%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.5%.
Education
18.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% lower 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 89.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Safford, 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.
Free data download: Get all Arizona city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Safford, Arizona?
Safford, Arizona has a population of 10,239 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Safford, AZ?
The median household income in Safford is $65,647, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Safford, AZ?
The poverty rate in Safford is 14.1%. This means approximately 1,422 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Safford, Arizona?
Safford's population is 47.6% White, 1.4% Black, 47.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.
What is the median home value in Safford, AZ?
The median home value in Safford is $199,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x.
How educated is Safford, Arizona?
18.1% of adults (25+) in Safford hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.