A project of Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) in partnership with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and community sponsors
Graham County's population as of Census 2020 was 38,533, up 3.5% from 2010. Graham County's population is expected to reach 41,015 in 2030 and 48,265 in 2060, according to projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
See spreadsheets for county, city, town & place data.
UNEMPLOYMENT: The unadjusted unemployment rate in Graham County in February 2024 was 3.3%, the same level as February 2023. City and town unemployment rates in February 2024 were:
See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent monthly and annual Graham County, city, and town Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment data).
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: The number of nonfarm jobs in Graham County was up by 375 in 2023 for job growth of 3.7% (based on average monthly job numbers). All the gains were in the private sector (375 jobs, 5.2%) while the number of overall government jobs was unchanged (with the gain of 25 federal jobs offset by the loss of 25 state and local government jobs). See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent monthly and annual Graham County Nonfarm Payroll Employment by industry/sector.
WAGES: The average annual wage in Graham County in 2022 was $50,539 ($24.30 hourly), which was 86.2% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $58,620 ($28.18 hourly) and 81.6% of the national average wage of $61,900 ($29.76 hourly). Graham County's average wage in 2022 was up 6.4% from 2021. See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent Graham County Employment and Wages (average hourly and annual, by occupation).
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2022, Graham County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $40,981. This PCPI ranked 15th in the state and was 70.1% of the state average, $58,442, and 62.6% of the national average, $65,470. The 2022 PCPI reflected an increase of 5% from 2021. The 2021–2022 state change was 3.6% and the national change was 1.6%. In 2012, the PCPI of Graham County was $26,585 and ranked 12th in the state. The 2012–2022 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 4.4%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.9% and for the nation was 4%.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2022, Graham produced 1,633,997 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 14th in the state and accounted for 0.3 percent of the state total. In 2022, Graham real GDP fell 8.2 percent; the 2021–2022 state change was 3.2 percent. (NOTE: Updated GDP spreadsheets coming soon!)
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
For more info on Graham County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)
In 2023, Graham County's retail sales were up 11.6%, following growth of 14.0% in 2022. Restaurant & bar sales in Graham County were up 11.4% in 2023 after increasing 5.3% the year prior. Hotel/motel receipts in Graham and Greenlee counties combined were up 9.1% in 2023, following growth of 37.6% in 2022 and 18.9% in 2021 (strong growth in recent years reflects a rebound from a COVID-related drop of 25.1% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic).
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In May 2023, the median price of homes sold in Graham County was $254,950, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 0.4% from May 2022. The median days on market in May was 55, up from 26 in May 2022. As of May 2023, there were 195 homes listed for sale in Graham County, down from 234 in December. (Data in this section updated annually; for the most recent monthly data, visit Graham County, AZ Real Estate Market)
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2022, there were 128 building permits issued for new single-family homes in Graham County, down from 174 in 2021 and 177 in 2020.
In 2022, visits to Roper Lake State Park were down 37.3%. This was on the heels of an 11.2% drop in 2021 (after increasing 21.7% in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic).
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Graham County and neighboring Greenlee County's combined travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $93.8 million in direct spending in 2022, up 16.5% from 2021 (the year 2021 saw a 65.9% increase, rebounding from a 43.0% COVID-related drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Travel-related direct spending in 2022 was at a record high (with records back to 1998, not adjusted for inflation). The Graham and Greenlee county travel industry supported 919 jobs in the region in 2022 (up 0.9% from the year prior) with household earnings of $19.4 million (up 5.8% from 2021), according to the study.
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2023, bank deposits in Graham County (as of June 30) were up 0.1% from the year prior, after increasing 10.3% in 2022, 3.4% in 2021, and 43.7% in 2020. The 2020 jump was the fastest rate of increase since 2006 and was helped along by economic stimulus payments and other COVID programs.
BANKRUPTCY FILINGS: In 2022, there were 26 bankruptcy filings in Graham County, up from 22 the year prior. Filings peaked at 62 in 2018 before falling steeply in 2019, 2020, and 2021, helped along by COVID programs, including mortgage relief and the eviction moratorium, in the latter two years.
A project of Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) in partnership with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and community sponsors
SAEDG is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation and an Arizona State Data Center Affiliate
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