City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Oro Valley, AZ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Oro Valley - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

47,595
Residents
$105,342
Median income
$440,400
Median home
$1,839
Median rent (state)

Oro Valley - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Oro Valley places in the 81st percentile for household income and the 56th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

81st
percentile, household income
81st
percentile, home value
77th
percentile, median rent
56th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Oro Valley, AZ

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 47,595 residents in Oro Valley, a small city within Arizona. The typical household in Oro Valley brings in $105,342 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.7%. Typical homes in Oro Valley are valued around $440,400, and the median resident age is 54.6 years. 57.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 47.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 161 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 27% from five years earlier. Oro Valley reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1199.7 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Arizona scores 100.7 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,839 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Arizona run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 21.6 minutes, with 71.6% driving alone and 20.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 93.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

47,595 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$105,342 /yr

Poverty 3.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Oro Valley compare to other US cities?

Here's how Oro Valley stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 81% higher than other cities
Home value 81% pricier than other cities
Median rent 77% pricier than other cities
Safety 56% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Arizona and the picture shifts: Oro Valley ranks #20 of 61 Arizona cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Oro Valley's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Arizona, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

81stIncome percentile
56thSafety percentile

81st percentile nationally for median household income · 56th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Oro Valley's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Oro Valley's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 53 Avg. percentile National median
Oro Valley's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Oro Valley's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$440,400 19th percentile more affordable than 19% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Oro Valley $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Oro Valley, AZ Oro Valley, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Oro Valley, AZ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Oro Valley, AZ median $105,342/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Oro Valley, AZ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Oro Valley, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 57.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
47,595
Median Income
$105,342
Median Home Value
$440,400
Median Age
54.6
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Labor force participation
47.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
57.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1199.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
51.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1148.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
47,000 residents47,500 residents48,000 residents48,500 residents49,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 47,218 residents 48,085 residents ▲ +1.8%
Oro Valley's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
161
housing units authorized
Single-Family
161
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 221
2020 385
2021 340
2022 198
2023 126
2024 161

Permit volume decreased 27% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.6 minutes
Drive Alone
71.6%
Carpool
5.7%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
20.0%
Other
1.7%

Based on 18,465 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arizona - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$34
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arizona state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arizona state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Oro Valley sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.7
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,839/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arizona

Prescott Valley
48,048 people
Prescott
46,744 people
Sierra Vista
45,203 people
Catalina Foothills
51,756 people
Bullhead City
42,193 people
Marana
54,487 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Oro Valley's 47,595 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Middletown, CT
47,646 people
Glenview, IL
47,682 people
Mansfield, OH
47,686 people
Wauwatosa, WI
47,718 people
Wilson, NC
47,740 people
Roswell, NM
47,823 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Oro Valley's $105,342 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Prinsburg, MN
$105,323 median income
East Franklin, NJ
$105,363 median income
Forestdale, MA
$105,368 median income
Sinking Spring, OH
$105,368 median income
Hamel, IL
$105,313 median income
Siglerville, PA
$105,313 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Oro Valley, AZ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Oro Valley, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.8% 10.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.6% White 80.8% Black or African American 1.4% Asian 3.6% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 3.8% Two or more races 10.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Oro Valley compares to nearby Arizona cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Oro Valley (this city) 47,595 $105,342
Prescott Valley 48,048 $70,793
Prescott 46,744 $69,151
Sierra Vista 45,203 $69,783
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Oro Valley, AZ?

What is the population of Oro Valley, AZ? +

Oro Valley, AZ counts 47,595 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Oro Valley, AZ? +

Oro Valley households earn a median of $105,342 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Oro Valley? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Oro Valley; the closest available measure is the Arizona state average, a cost of living index of 100.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arizona vary by metro area.

Is Oro Valley, AZ safe? +

Oro Valley has a total crime rate of 1199.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Oro Valley, AZ? +

The median home value in Oro Valley is $440,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.