Santa Cruz County, Arizona Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Santa Cruz County is located in Arizona with a total population of 48,209. It is the 12th most populous county out of 15 in Arizona.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Cruz County is 37.9 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Cruz County is $53,614. This is 30% lower than the state median of $76,872. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.2%. This is 58% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 10.5%. This is 103% higher than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $216,100. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $358,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 68.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Cruz County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 82.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 15.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (15.3%) is well below the state average of 53.4%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 4.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (82.7% vs 31.0%). The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

24.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 32.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 77.7%.