County · Arizona

Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Santa Cruz County had 50,020 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.9% since 2020, slower than Arizona (+6.5%). It holds 10 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 8 census-designated) and 14 census tracts. GEOID 04023.

Santa Cruz County is the county of the Nogales, AZ micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

50,020

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 47,669 · ACS 2020-2024: 48,926

Median household income

$55,217

±$4,149 (90% margin)
Arizona: $79,964

Median home value

$233,000

±$7,183 (90% margin)
Arizona: $394,500

Median gross rent

$829

±$52 (90% margin)
Arizona: $1,543

How many people live in Santa Cruz County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 47,669 residents in Santa Cruz County. The Census Bureau estimates 50,020 for July 1, 2025, up 4.9% since 2020, slower than Arizona (+6.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 48,926 over 1,236 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +245 (47,956)
2021→2022 +644 (48,600)
2022→2023 +604 (49,204)
2023→2024 +561 (49,765)
2024→2025 +255 (50,020)

Santa Cruz County in Arizona. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Santa Cruz County	Arizona	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	48,926	7,378,838	+2,446
Households	16,966±329	2,856,081	+1,113
Average household size	2.88±0.06	2.53	no clear change
Housing units	19,232±52	3,192,839	+898

Santa Cruz County's population since 2000

From 38,381 in 2000 to 50,020 in 2025: up 30.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 38,381
2005 (estimate) 42,961
2010 Census 47,420
2015 (estimate) 46,493
2020 Census 47,669
2025 (estimate) 50,020

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Santa Cruz County?

Santa Cruz County holds 10 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 8 census-designated places. The largest is Rio Rico with 22,017 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Santa Cruz County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Rio Rico	CDP	20,549	22,017±552	$61,348	$224,100	16.6%	100%
Nogales	city	19,770	19,841±21	$43,214	$186,300	28.0%	100%
Tubac	CDP	1,581	1,294±284	$73,359	$490,800	13.4%	100%
Patagonia	town	804	946±271	$39,891	$361,500	7.5%	100%
SonoitaGEOID 0468220	CDP	803	663±227	$119,792	$460,300	0.0%	100%
Tumacacori-CarmenGEOID 0477367	CDP	329	207±197	$55,417	not published	18.4%	100%
AmadoGEOID 0401990	CDP	198	53±49	not published	not published	45.3%	100%
Kino SpringsGEOID 0437935	CDP	166	173±133	not published	$207,100	18.4%	100%
ElginGEOID 0422150	CDP	162	349±261	$90,231	$356,800	1.1%	100%
BeyervilleGEOID 0405970	CDP	72	61±63	$65,469	not published	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Santa Cruz County?

The median resident of Santa Cruz County is 37.9 years old; 25.8% are under 18 and 19.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 82.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 15.3%. 34.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Santa Cruz County	Arizona	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	37.9±0.4	39.0	+1.2
Under 18 years	25.8%±0.3 pts	21.6%	–
65 years and over	19.3%±0.1 pts	18.9%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	82.5%	31.4%	−1.0 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	15.3%±0.1 pts	52.6%	+0.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	4.4%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	3.5%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	3.2%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.2%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	1.2%±0.3 pts	4.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	34.2%±2.0 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	77.7%±1.5 pts	25.7%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	4.3%±0.6 pts	7.9%	–
With a disability	13.3%±1.3 pts	13.8%	–
No health insurance coverage	15.2%±2.0 pts	10.5%	+5.0 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	76.6%±1.8 pts	89.4%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	23.1%±1.8 pts	33.3%	+2.7 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	9.1%±1.2 pts	13.0%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.8%±0.3 pts	3.5%	–

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 Santa Cruz County earn?

Half of Santa Cruz County's 16,966 households earn less than $55,217 a year (±$4,149), against $79,964 in Arizona. In 2015-2019 it was $50,777 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Cruz County	Arizona	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$55,217±$4,149	$79,964	no clear change
Mean household income	$71,913±$3,036	$108,273	–
Per capita income	$26,237±$945	$42,503	no clear change
People below the poverty line	20.2%±2.7 pts	12.5%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	27.2%±5.1 pts	16.2%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	23.9%±2.4 pts	10.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.9%±1.7 pts	91.5%	–

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 Santa Cruz County?

Owners occupy 69.3% of Santa Cruz County's occupied homes and renters 30.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $233,000 by its owner (±$7,183). The median renter pays $829 a month including utilities, and 42.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Cruz County	Arizona	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$233,000±$7,183	$394,500	+$46,919
Median gross rent	$829±$52	$1,543	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	42.6%±6.7 pts	42.2%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,282±$67	$1,803	–
Owner-occupied homes	69.3%±2.5 pts	67.4%	no clear change
Housing units	19,232±52	3,192,839	+898
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.7%±0.5 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.0%±3.7 pts	5.8%	–
Single-family detached homes	70.3%±2.5 pts	64.2%	–
Mobile homes	6.8%±1.3 pts	9.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.2%±0.6 pts	2.8%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	3.3%±0.9 pts	1.4%	–

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 many new homes is Santa Cruz County building?

Builders took permits for 353 new housing units across Santa Cruz County in 2025 (353 single-family), 7.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 155 units
2020 212 units
2021 285 units
2022 329 units
2023 315 units
2024 338 units
2025 353 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Santa Cruz County get to work?

75.9% of Santa Cruz County's workers drive alone and 8.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 12.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Cruz County	Arizona	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	57.3%±1.7 pts	60.6%	–
Unemployment rate	12.2%±1.7 pts	5.1%	+4.5 pts
Drove alone to work	75.9%±3.3 pts	66.8%	–
Carpooled	11.8%±2.8 pts	9.8%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.3 pts	1.0%	–
Walked	1.2%±0.8 pts	1.7%	–
Worked from home	8.7%±2.0 pts	18.4%	+5.2 pts
Mean travel time to work	24.2 min±1.6	25.4 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 are Santa Cruz County's census tracts?

Santa Cruz County is divided into 14 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $30,884 (Tract 9661.03) to $105,673 (Tract 9661.07).

Census tracts of Santa Cruz County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 966004023966000	Patagonia (17%)	2,965	3,594±386	$77,450	$422,000	$925	2.9%
Tract 9661.0104023966101	Tubac (40%)	3,068	2,722±539	$63,516	$324,000	$2,520	9.2%
Tract 9661.0304023966103	Nogales (22%)	1,209	901±224	$30,884	$165,700	$787	29.9%
Tract 9661.0604023966106	Rio Rico (42%)	2,091	2,073±401	$50,976	$224,700	$1,176	24.8%
Tract 9661.0704023966107	Rio Rico (95%)	1,647	1,599±252	$105,673	$296,900	$1,316	3.8%
Tract 9661.0804023966108	Rio Rico	6,249	6,003±872	$48,741	$217,300	$1,067	25.3%
Tract 9661.0904023966109	Rio Rico (63%)	3,261	3,799±541	$60,643	$220,500	$683	14.2%
Tract 9661.1004023966110	Rio Rico (69%)	1,547	2,860±1,014	$101,576	$200,000	not published	4.7%
Tract 9661.1104023966111	Rio Rico (93%)	6,011	5,533±518	$64,080	$231,300	$999	17.9%
Tract 966204023966200	Nogales (97%)	4,751	4,443±752	$51,372	$285,400	$902	19.7%
Tract 9663.0104023966301	Nogales (74%)	4,243	4,235±559	$56,959	$245,100	$823	14.5%
Tract 9663.0204023966302	Nogales	3,379	3,422±529	$34,253	$167,300	$508	40.8%
Tract 9664.0104023966401	Nogales	3,230	3,631±655	$42,772	$163,900	$745	37.5%
Tract 9664.0204023966402	Nogales	4,018	4,111±559	$36,912	$130,800	$627	30.3%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Santa Cruz County compare with Arizona's other counties?

Santa Cruz County's rank among Arizona's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	12th of 15
Growth 2020-2025	6th of 15
Residents per square mile	4th of 15
Median household income	12th of 15
Median home value	8th of 15
Median gross rent	12th of 15
Poverty rate	3rd of 15
Bachelor's degree or higher	6th of 15
Median age	9th of 15

Every county in Arizona

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Santa Cruz County 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.