Census-designated place · Arizona
Rio Rico, Arizona
Rio Rico, census-designated place, in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Rio Rico had 22,017 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±552). GEOID 0460180.
Residents, 2020-2024
22,017
±552 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 20,549
Median household income
$61,348
±$6,370 (90% margin)
Arizona: $79,964
Median home value
$224,100
±$7,866 (90% margin)
Arizona: $394,500
Median gross rent
$1,091
±$64 (90% margin)
Arizona: $1,543
Where is Rio Rico and what county is it in?
Rio Rico is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It covers 63.1 square miles of land, 326 residents per square mile in 2020.
Rio Rico is in the Nogales, AZ micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Rio Rico, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Rio Rico's population at 22,017 (±552). The 2020 Census counted 20,549 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Rio Rico is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Rio Rico | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 22,017 ±552 | 48,926 | +2,436 |
| Households | 7,185 ±344 | 16,966 | +1,002 |
| Average household size | 3.06 ±0.14 | 2.88 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,474 ±353 | 19,232 | +901 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Rio Rico?
The median resident of Rio Rico is 34.6 years old; 29.6% are under 18 and 12.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 87.1%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 11.2%. 31.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Rio Rico | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 ±0.9 | 37.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 29.6% ±2.0 pts | 25.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.5% ±1.2 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±1.6 pts | 48.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 87.1% ±1.9 pts | 82.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 11.2% ±1.8 pts | 15.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 31.8% ±3.9 pts | 34.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 81.2% ±2.6 pts | 77.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.3% ±1.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| With a disability | 10.4% ±2.2 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.8% ±2.7 pts | 15.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 79.6% ±3.0 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.1% ±3.1 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.1% ±2.1 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.0% ±2.5 pts | 89.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Rio Rico earn?
Half of Rio Rico's 7,185 households earn less than $61,348 a year (±$6,370), against $55,217 in Santa Cruz County and $79,964 in Arizona. In 2015-2019 it was $63,350 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rio Rico | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,348 ±$6,370 | $55,217 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $77,779 ±$4,987 | $71,913 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,148 ±$1,672 | $26,237 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.6% ±4.8 pts | 20.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.9% ±7.9 pts | 27.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.6% ±4.4 pts | 23.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.5% ±1.3 pts | 93.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.5% ±2.8 pts | 87.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Rio Rico?
Owners occupy 85.0% of Rio Rico's occupied homes and renters 15.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $224,100 by its owner (±$7,866). The median renter pays $1,091 a month including utilities, and 57.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rio Rico | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $224,100 ±$7,866 | $233,000 | +$44,049 |
| Median gross rent | $1,091 ±$64 | $829 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 57.9% ±14.7 pts | 42.6% | +30.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,248 ±$76 | $1,282 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.0% ±4.1 pts | 69.3% | +6.7 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 15.0% ±4.1 pts | 30.7% | – |
| Housing units | 7,474 ±353 | 19,232 | +901 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.6% ±5.8 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 88.0% ±3.5 pts | 70.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% ±1.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.4% ±1.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 11.1% ±3.2 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.7% ±1.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Rio Rico work and get to work?
84.0% of Rio Rico's workers drive alone and 6.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 10.5%.
| Measure | Rio Rico | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.1% ±2.8 pts | 57.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.5% ±2.8 pts | 12.2% | +4.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 84.0% ±4.1 pts | 75.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.7% ±2.9 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.7% ±2.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.3 min ±3.0 | 24.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Rio Rico?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Rio Rico, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $48,741 (Tract 9661.08) to $105,673 (Tract 9661.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9661.08Santa Cruz County | 6,003 | $48,741 |
| Tract 9661.11Santa Cruz County | 5,533 | $64,080 |
| Tract 9661.09Santa Cruz County | 3,799 | $60,643 |
| Tract 9661.10Santa Cruz County | 2,860 | $101,576 |
| Tract 9661.07Santa Cruz County | 1,599 | $105,673 |
| Tract 9661.06Santa Cruz County | 2,073 | $50,976 |
| Tract 9661.01Santa Cruz County | 2,722 | $63,516 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Rio Rico) · Census block assignment files
How does Rio Rico compare with other places in Arizona?
Rio Rico ranks 113th of 196 places in Arizona with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 42nd | 210 |
| Residents per square mile | 112th | 210 |
| Median household income | 113th | 196 |
| Per capita income | 150th | 209 |
| Median home value | 121st | 189 |
| Median gross rent | 87th | 168 |
| Poverty rate | 63rd | 164 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 96th | 175 |
| Median age | 158th | 208 |
| Owner-occupied share | 67th | 206 |
| Work from home | 112th | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 65th | 206 |
Rio Rico's figures with every place in Arizona (CSV)
Every place in Arizona, sortable · Compare Rio Rico with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Rio Rico?
12 of the 57 figures for Rio Rico on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Rio Rico are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.