SA Economics
Santa Cruz County economic data, statistics & info
A project of Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) in partnership with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and community sponsors
Santa Cruz County, Arizona
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Census 2020 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 50,794 in 2030 and 53,272 in 2060, according to projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Annual population estimates (Arizona OEO)
Demographics
Santa Cruz County Census Data Library
Labor market
UNEMPLOYMENT: The unadjusted unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County in December 2022 was 7.0%, up from 5.9% in December 2021. Nogales' unemployment rate in December was 9.8% (up from 8.3% a year prior).
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: The number of nonfarm jobs in Santa Cruz County was up by 450 in 2022, for job growth of 3.5% (based on average monthly job numbers). The private sector added 300 jobs (3.2%) while government added 150 jobs (0.0%).
WAGES: The average annual wage in Santa Cruz County in 2021 was $48,834 ($23.48 hourly), which was 89% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $55,170 ($26.53 hourly) and 84% of the national average wage of $58,260 ($28.01 hourly). Santa Cruz County's average wage in 2021 was up 2.2% from 2020.
Monthly unemployment trends
Monthly employment trends
Labor force participation
Unemployed population
Job growth projections
Santa Cruz County businesses & payroll (by industry & employment size)
Personal income & GDP
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2021, Santa Cruz County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $46,828. This PCPI ranked 9th in the state and was 84.4% of the state average, $55,487, and 73% of the national average, $64,143. The 2021 PCPI reflected an increase of 7.1% from 2020. The 2020–2021 state change was 6% and the national change was 7.3%. In 2011, the PCPI of Santa Cruz County was $30,513 and ranked 7th in the state. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 4.4%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.6% and for the nation was 4.1%.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2021, Santa Cruz County produced 2,274,933 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 11th in the state and accounted for 0.5% of the state total. In 2011, the total GDP of Santa Cruz County was 1,499,699 and ranked 13th in the state.
In 2021, Santa Cruz County real GDP grew 2.3%; the 2020–2021 state change was 6.3%. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate for Santa Cruz County real GDP was 1.8%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.7%.
*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)
Nonemployer business establishments & sales (by industry)
Major industry sales & bank deposits
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2022, Santa Cruz County's retail sales were up 21.6% following growth of 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 25.4% in 2022, after rebounding 25.2% in 2021 (from the COVID-related drop of 19.6% the year prior). Santa Cruz County hotel/motel receipts were up 30.7% in 2022 on the heels of a 43.8% jump in 2021, rebounding from a 30.7% drop in 2020. Sales across industries were impacted by record-low border crossings from Mexico into the U.S. at the Nogales port of entry in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. Sales rebounded strongly in 2021 and 2022.
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2022, bank deposits in Santa Cruz County (as of June 30) were up 33.4% from 2021. That was the fastest rate of increase on record (with records back to 1994). Deposits in recent years were helped along by economic stimulus payments and other COVID programs.
Real estate & new home construction
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In November 2022, the median price of homes sold in Santa Cruz County was $350,000, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 50.2% from November 2021. The median days on market in November was 62, down from 73 in November 2021. As of December 2022, there were 757 homes listed for sale in Santa Cruz County, down from 795 in May. (Data in this section updated twice annually; for the most recent monthly data, visit Santa Cruz County, AZ Real Estate Market)
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In the first 6 months of 2022, there were 166 building permits issued for new single-family residential homes in Santa Cruz County, up from 134 in the first half of 2021 (for the most recent monthly data, click here). Annually in 2021, there were 272 permits issued for new SFR homes in Santa Cruz County, up from 188 in 2020. Annual new home permits in 2021 were at their highest level since 2007.
Tourism
Visits & impact
In 2021 and into the first half of 2022, visits to state and national parks in Santa Cruz County mostly rebounded after COVID-related declines in 2020. The exception was Patagonia Lake, which saw visits drop 14.8% in 2021 after increasing 0.2% in 2020. In the first half of 2022, visits to Patagonia Lake were down 5.5% from the same period of 2021.
Visits to Tubac Presidio State Historic Park were up 6.5% in the first half of 2022, compared to the first 6 months of 2021. Annual visits to Tubac Presidio were up 40.2% in 2021 following a 39.7% decline in 2020.
Visits to Tumacacori National Historic Park were up 19.5% for January-June 2022, compared to the same period the year prior. Annual visits to Tumacacori were up 40.6% in 2021, after falling 40.2% in 2020.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Santa Cruz County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $190.8 million in direct spending in 2021, up 60.9% following a 49.5% COVID-related decline in 2020. Santa Cruz County's travel industry supported 1,900 jobs countywide in 2021 (up 11.1% after falling 5.3% the year prior) with associated household earnings of $55.8 million (up 13.2% following a 4.3% drop the previous year).
Cross-border economy
BORDER CROSSINGS: In 2021, pedestrian border crossings from Mexico into the US at the Nogales port of entry in Santa Cruz County were up 23.7% after falling 58.5% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic. The number of personal vehicle passengers through the Nogales port was up by 31.2% in 2021, following a 47.3% drop in 2020. Despite the increases in 2021, both pedestrian and vehicle passenger crossings remained at near-record lows (with the record lows set in 2020, with records back to 1996).
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: In 2021, the value of exports passing through Santa Cruz County's Nogales port of entry totaled $9.8 billion, up 16.1% from 2020. Imports through the port came in at $14.8 billion (up 9.9%). At the separate Nogales Customs District n.e.c., port of entry, the value of exports in 2021 was $95.4 million (up 50%) while imports totaled $292.2 million (down 53. 4%).
A project of Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) in partnership with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and community sponsors
SAEDG is an Arizona State Data Center Affiliate
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