Santa Cruz County economic data, statistics & information
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Population: 47,669
Santa Cruz County's population as of Census 2020 was 47,669, up 0.5% from 2010. Santa Cruz County's population is projected to reach 56,633 in 2025 and 66,286 in 2055, according to pre-Census 2020 projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Santa Cruz County Census Library
Labor market
UNEMPLOYMENT: Santa Cruz County's unemployment rate in 2020 was 11.4% (up from 8.7% in 2019, due to the COVID pandemic and related economic decline). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County hit a high of 16.9% in April 2020, its highest level since October 2013. Santa Cruz County’s unemployment rate of 11.4% in 2020 was higher than the statewide rate of 7.9% and the nationwide rate of 8.1%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Santa Cruz County lost 650 jobs in 2020 for annual job growth of -4.9%. The private sector declined by 625 jobs (-6.6%), with the loss of 75 goods-producing jobs (-11.1%) and 550 service jobs (-6.3%). Santa Cruz County's government sector lost 25 jobs (-0.7%) in 2020, with federal jobs up by 125 (+7.4%) and state and local government jobs down by 150 (-7.2%).
Note: Labor force, employment, unemployment, and jobs data on this page are updated annually. For the most recent monthly labor market data, visit Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity
Santa Cruz County businesses & payroll (by industry & employment size)
Personal income & wages
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2020, Santa Cruz County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $42,204. This PCPI ranked 8th in the state and was 85% of the state average, $49,648, and 71% of the national average, $59,510. The 2020 PCPI reflected an increase of 10.3% from 2019. The 2019-2020 state change was 8.4% and the national change was 6.2%. In 2010, the PCPI of Santa Cruz County was $29,362 and ranked 7th in the state. The 2010-2020 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 3.7%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.9% and for the nation was 3.9%.
WAGES: The average annual wage in Santa Cruz County in 2020 was $47,766 ($22.96 hourly), which was 89% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $53,396 ($25.67 hourly) and 85% of the national average wage of $56,310 ($27.07 hourly).
BEA regional fact sheet: Santa Cruz County
Major industry sales & GDP
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2020, due to the COVID pandemic, Santa Cruz County's retail sales were down 7.6%, restaurant & bar sales were down 19.6%, and hotel/motel receipts were down 30.7%. Sales across industries were particularly impacted by record-low border crossings from Mexico into the U.S. at the Nogales port of entry.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2020, Santa Cruz County produced $2,037,328 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 11th in the state and accounted for 0.5% of the state total. In 2010, the total GDP of Santa Cruz County was $1,419,558 and ranked 13th in the state. In 2020, Santa Cruz County real GDP fell 1.9%; the 2019-2020 state change was -1.0%. The 2010-2020 compound annual growth rate for Santa Cruz County real GDP was 1.6%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.1%.
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
Nonemployer business establishments & sales (by industry)
Real estate & new home construction
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In May 2021, the median price of homes sold in Santa Cruz County was $178,750, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 6.4% from May 2020. The median days on market in May was 73, down from 115 in May 2020. As of June 2021, there were 887 homes listed for sale in Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz County, AZ Real Estate Market).
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2020, there were 188 permits issued for new single-family homes in Santa Cruz County, up from 143 in 2019. New home permits in 2020 were at their highest level since 2007.
Santa Cruz New Residential Construction (building permits & valuation) (1994-current) (xlsx)
DownloadSanta Cruz County agriculture profile
Tourism
Visits & impact
In 2020, visits to state and national parks in Santa Cruz County were down due to the COVID pandemic and associated declines in travel, with the exception of Patagonia Lake, which saw visits increase by 0.2% for the year. Visits to Tubac Presidio were down 39.7%, while visits to Tumacacori were down 40.2%.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Santa Cruz County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $118.5 million in direct spending in 2020, down 49.5% from 2019. Santa Cruz County's travel industry supported 1,800 jobs (down 15.3%) countywide with earnings of $49.3 million (down 14.3%) in 2020, according to the study.
Census data profile (Santa Cruz County)
Cross-border economy
BORDER CROSSINGS: In 2020, border crossings from Mexico into the US at the Nogales port of entry in Santa Cruz County were down across modes of transportation due to COVID. The number of bus passengers was down 64.2% and was the lowest since 1998. Pedestrian crossings were down 58.5%, while the number of personal vehicle passengers was down 47.3%; both were at record lows (with records back to 1996).
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: In 2020, the value of international trade (imports and exports) passing through Santa Cruz County's Nogales port of entry totaled $22.6 billion, down 15.8% from 2019. Exports totaled $8.5 billion (down 18.1%) while imports came in at $14 billion (down 14.3%).
Santa Cruz County economic indicators (UArizona-EBRC)
Bank deposits
In 2020, bank deposits in Santa Cruz County (as of June 30) were up 20.1% from 2019 - its fastest rate of growth since 1997. Total deposits, which topped $1 billion for the first time ever in 2020, were helped along by the first round of COVID stimulus payments, which went out beginning in April 2020.
Santa Cruz Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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