A project of Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) in partnership with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and community sponsors
Santa Cruz County's population as of Census 2020 was 47,669, up 0.5% from 2010. Santa Cruz County's population is expected to reach 50,794 in 2030 and 53,272 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 Santa Cruz County in February 2024 was 5.9%, down from 6.7% in February 2023. Nogales' unemployment rate in February 2024 was 8.0% (down from 9.1% in February 2023). Patagonia's unemployment rate in February 2024 was 4.0% (down from 4.8% in February 2023). See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent monthly and annual Santa Cruz County, city, and town Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment data).
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: The number of nonfarm jobs in Santa Cruz County was up by 375 in 2023 for job growth of 2.9% (based on average monthly job numbers). All the gains were in the private sector (375 jobs, 4.0%) while the number of overall government jobs was unchanged (with the gain of 75 state and local government jobs offset by the loss of 75 federal jobs). See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent monthly and annual Santa Cruz County Nonfarm Payroll Employment by industry/sector.
WAGES: The average annual wage in Santa Cruz County in 2022 was $52,388 ($25.19 hourly), which was 89.4% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $58,620 ($28.18 hourly) and 84.6% of the national average wage of $61,900 ($29.76 hourly). Santa Cruz County's average wage in 2022 was up 7.3% from 2021. See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent Santa Cruz County Employment and Wages (average hourly and annual, by occupation).
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2022, Santa Cruz County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $47,898. This PCPI ranked 9th in the state and was 82% of the state average, $58,442, and 73.2% of the national average, $65,470. The 2022 PCPI reflected an increase of 1.7% from 2021. The 2021–2022 state change was 3.6% and the national change was 1.6%. In 2012, the PCPI of Santa Cruz County was $30,573 and ranked 8th in the state. The 2012–2022 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 4.6%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.9% and for the nation was 4%.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2022, Santa Cruz produced 2,505,106 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 11th in the state and accounted for 0.5% of the state total. In 2022, Santa Cruz real GDP grew 0.4%; the 2021–2022 state change was 3.2%. (NOTE: Updated GDP spreadsheets coming soon!)
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
For more info on Santa Cruz County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)
In 2023, Santa Cruz County's retail sales were up 8.1% following growth of 21.6% in 2022 and 14.6% in 2021 (after a COVID-related decline of 7.6% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Restaurant & bar sales were up 10.8% in 2023, after increasing 25.4% in 2022 and 25.2% in 2021 (rebounding from the COVID-related drop of 19.6% in 2020). Santa Cruz County hotel/motel receipts were up 5.3% in 2023, on the heels of a 30.7% gain in 2022 and a 43.8% jump in 2021 (rebounding from a 30.7% drop in 2020).
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In May 2023, the median price of homes sold in Santa Cruz County was $282,100, according to National Association of Realtors. That was down 6.9% from May 2022. The median days on market in May was 64, up from 43 in May 2022. As of June 2023, there were 758 homes listed for sale in Santa Cruz County, up by one from 757 in December. (Data in this section updated annually; for the most recent monthly data, visit Santa Cruz County, AZ Real Estate Market)
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2022, there were 319 building permits issued for new single-family residential homes in Santa Cruz County, up 11.9% from 285 in 2021. Annual new home permits in 2022 were at their highest level since 2007. For the most recent monthly data, click here.
TOURISM VISITOR COUNTS: In 2022, visits to Patagonia Lake State Park were up 5.2%. This followed a 14.8% drop in visitors in 2021 (after increasing 0.2% in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic). Visits to Tubac Presidio State Historic Park were down 2.3% in 2022, after increasing 40.2% in 2021 (following a 39.7% COVID-related decline in 2020). Visits to Tumacacori National Historic Park were up 16.3% in 2022. Annual visits to Tumacacori were up 40.6% in 2021, after falling 40.2% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.
TRAVEL IMPACTS: According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Santa Cruz County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $258.2 million in direct spending countywide in 2022, up 35.1% from 2021 (the year 2021 saw a 60.9% increase, rebounding from a 49.5% COVID-related drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Travel-related direct spending in 2022 was at its highest level since 2015. Santa Cruz County's travel industry supported 2,000 jobs countywide in 2022 (up 6.2% from the year prior) with household earnings of $63.9 million (up 16.4% from 2021), according to the study.
BORDER CROSSINGS: In 2022, pedestrian border crossings from Mexico into the US at the Nogales port of entry in Santa Cruz County were up 46.1%, on the heels of a 23.7% jump in 2021 (rebounding from a decline of 58.5% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). The number of personal vehicle passengers through the Nogales port was up 51.6% in 2022, after increasing 31.2% in 2021 (rebounding from a 47.3% drop in 2020). Despite the increases in 2021 and 2022, both pedestrian and vehicle passenger crossings in 2022 remained considerably below pre-COVID levels. (See downloadable spreadsheets below for current and historical border crossing data for bus passengers, buses, pedestrians, personal vehicle passengers, personal vehicles, truck containers [empty and loaded], and trucks at the Nogales Port of Entry.)
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: In 2022, the value of international trade (imports and exports) passing through Santa Cruz County's Nogales port of entry totaled $29.1 billion, up 16.4% from 2021. Exports totaled $10.4 billion, up 4.9%, while imports came in at $18.6 billion, up 23.9%.
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2023, bank deposits in Santa Cruz County (as of June 30) were down 14.2% from a year prior, after increasing 33.4% in 2022. The jump in 2022 was the fastest rate of increase on record (with records back to 1994).
BANKRUPTCY FILINGS: In 2022, there were 62 bankruptcy filings in Santa Cruz County, down 16.2% from 74 in 2021. Filings fell steeply in 2020, 2021, and 2022, helped along by COVID programs, including mortgage relief and the eviction moratorium. Bankruptcy filings in Santa Cruz County peaked at 150 in 2019, the year before the start of the pandemic.
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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