Southeast Arizona 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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Population & demographics
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.
Annual population estimates (Arizona OEO)
Demographics
Labor market
UNEMPLOYMENT
The annual unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County in 2024 was 6.1%, down from 6.7% in 2023. Nogales' unemployment rate in 2024 was 8.4% (down from 9.2% in 2023). Patagonia's unemployment rate in 2024 was 7.7% (down from 8.5% in 2023). See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent monthly 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 down by 225 in 2024 for job growth of -1.7%, according to data from Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (based on average monthly job numbers). The private sector lost 200 jobs or 2.0% while the number of government jobs was down by 25 or 0.7% from 2023 to 2024. See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent monthly Santa Cruz County nonfarm payroll employment by industry/sector.
WAGES
The average annual wage in Santa Cruz County in 2024 was $56,285 ($27.06 hourly), which was 85.6% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $65,740 ($31.61 hourly) and 82.9% of the national average wage of $67,920 ($32.66 hourly). Santa Cruz County's average annual wage was up 4.0% from 2023 to 2024, compared to wage growth of 4.3% statewide and 3.7% nationally. See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent Santa Cruz County employment and wages (average hourly and annual, by occupation).
Unemployment trends (monthly)
Labor force participation
Unemployed population
Employment trends (monthly)
Job growth projections (by industry)
Job growth projections (by occupation)
Wages by occupation
Major industry sales, GDP & personal income
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES
- In 2024, Santa Cruz County's retail sales were up 6.8% following growth of 14.6% in 2021, 21.6% in 2022, and 8.1% in 2023 (after a COVID-related decline of 7.6% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic).
- Restaurant & bar sales were up 6.1% in 2024, after increasing 25.2% in 2021, 25.4% in 2022, and 10.8% in 2023 (rebounding from the COVID-related drop of 19.6% in 2020).
- Santa Cruz County hotel/motel receipts were up 3.0% in 2024 after gains of 43.8% in 2021, 30.7% in 2022, and 5.3% in 2023 (rebounding from a 30.7% drop in 2020).
- Retail, restaurant/bar, and lodging receipts in Santa Cruz County were at record highs in 2024. Growth rates are not adjusted for inflation; annual sales are based on tax processing month, not sales month.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
- In 2023, Santa Cruz County produced $2.6 billion in current-dollar total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This GDP ranked 11th in the state (of Arizona's 15 counties) and accounted for 0.5% of the state total. From 2022 to 2023, Santa Cruz County real GDP grew 0.8%; for all Arizona, real GDP grew 3.0%.
- Back in 2013, the total GDP of Santa Cruz County was $1.5 billion and ranked 12th in the state. The 2013–2023 compound annual growth rate for Santa Cruz County real GDP was 2.1%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.5%.
PERSONAL INCOME
- In 2023, Santa Cruz County, had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $49,416. This PCPI ranked 10th in the state and was 79% of the state average, $62,543, and 70.8% of the national average, $69,810. The 2023 PCPI reflected an increase of 5.8% from 2022. The 2022–2023 state change was 6.1% and the national change was 5.4%.
- In 2013, the PCPI of Santa Cruz was $30,379 and ranked 9th in the state. The 2013–2023 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 5%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 5.4% and for the nation was 4.6%.
For more info on Santa Cruz County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)
Real estate & new home construction
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET
For the most recent housing market data and trends (median listing home price, median listing home price per square foot, median sold home price, sale-to-list price ratio, median days on market, and more), select a geography:
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION
In 2024, there were 336 building permits issued for new single-family residential homes in Santa Cruz County, up 11.6% from 301 in 2023. The number of building permits issued countywide in 2024 was the highest since 2007. For the most recent monthly data for the current year, click here. See downloadable spreadsheets below for current and historical annual building permit data.
Bank deposits & bankruptcy filings
BANK DEPOSITS
In 2024, bank deposits in Santa Cruz County (as of June 30) were down 1.4% from a year prior, after falling 14.2% in 2023. That followed an increase of 33.4% in 2022, the fastest rate of increase on record (with records back to 1994).
BANKRUPTCY FILINGS
In 2024, there were 94 bankruptcy filings from Santa Cruz County, up sharply from 61 in 2023. Filings fell steeply from 2020 through 2023, initially helped along by COVID programs including mortgage relief, eviction moratoriums, penalty-free early retirement withdrawals, student loan deferrals, and tax credits. Despite the jump in 2024, bankruptcy filings in Santa Cruz County remained considerably below the peak of 150 in 2019, the year before the start of the pandemic.
Tourism, travel & cross-border economy
TOURISM VISITOR COUNTS
- In 2024, visits to Patagonia Lake State Park in Santa Cruz County totaled 235,502, down 3.1% from the year prior, according to data from Arizona Office of Tourism. That followed annual increases of 14.1% in 2023 and 5.2% in 2022. In 2024, visits to Patagonia Lake were down 0.8% from 2019, the year prior to the COVID pandemic.
- Visits to Tubac Presidio State Historic Park totaled 7,256 in 2024, up 15.9% from the year prior (after falling 5.4% in 2023 and 2.3% in 2022; that followed a 39.7% COVID-related decline in 2020 and a 40.2% rebound in 2021). Annual visits in 2024 were down 9.7% from 2019, the year prior to the pandemic.
- Visits to Tumacacori National Historic Park totaled 35,256 in 2024, down 6.9% from the year prior, on the heels of a 2.4% decline in 2023 (that followed increases of 16.3% in 2022 and 40.6% in 2021, rebounding from a 40.2% drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Annual visits in 2024 were down 11.2% from the pre-pandemic year 2019.
See downloadable spreadsheets, below, for annual Santa Cruz County national and state park visitor counts by attraction.
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 $287.9 million in direct spending countywide in 2023, up 10.7% from 2022 (that followed annual increases of 61.2% in 2021 and 36.4% in 2022, rebounding from a 49.5% COVID-related drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Travel-related direct spending in 2023 was at its highest level since 2014. Santa Cruz County's travel industry supported 1,900 jobs countywide in 2023 (up 4.7% from the year prior) with household earnings of $58.1 million (up 9.3% from 2022), according to the study.
BORDER CROSSINGS
- Pedestrian crossings: In 2024, pedestrian crossings into the United States at the Nogales Port of Entry totaled 3.3 million, up 11.0% from the year prior. That followed annual growth of 23.7% in 2021, 46.1% in 2022, and 14.4% in 2023 (after a COVID-related drop of 58.5% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Despite strong increases in recent years, pedestrian crossings through the Nogales port in 2024 were still down 4.7% from 2019, the year prior to the pandemic.
- Vehicle passenger crossings: The number of vehicle passengers entering the United States through the Nogales port in 2024 totaled 7.4 million, up 2.9% from the year prior. That followed growth of 31.2% in 2021, 51.6% in 2022, and 0.8% in 2023 (that was after a COVID-related decline of 47.3% in 2020). Vehicle passenger crossings through the Nogales port in 2024 were up 8.8% from 2019, the year prior to the pandemic.
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 2024, the value of international trade (imports and exports) passing through Santa Cruz County's Nogales port of entry totaled $34.5 billion, up 8.2% from the year prior. That followed growth of 10.6% in 2021, 16.4% in 2022, and 9.7% in 2023 (after a COVID-related decline of 15.8% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). The total value of trade through the Nogales port in 2024 was up 28.7% from 2019, the year prior to the pandemic.
- In 2024, exports totaled $10.9 billion, up 5.0% from 2023, while imports came in at $23.6 billion, up 9.8%.
See downloadable spreadsheets below for current and historical international trade data (imports, exports, and total trade) for the Nogales port of entry.
Santa Cruz County travel impacts
Travel spending in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County agriculture profile
2022 Census of Agriculture
For 2022 Census of Agriculture summary highlights for Arizona and all 15 counties, click here.
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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