Gila County, Arizona: commercial real estate data.
Gila County, Arizona had an estimated 54,073 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 53,272, across 4,758 square miles. County output reached $2.40 bn in 2024, 1,065 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 43 7(a) approvals worth $20.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Gila County
How many people live in Gila County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202453,795
- Households23,645
- Average household size2.28
- Median household income$61,986
- Median age51.1
- Median gross rent$1,030 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$269,400
- Home value to household income4.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over40,390
- Population under 1810,028
- Share under 1818.6 percent
- Population 65 and over16,621
- Share 65 and over30.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6427,146
- Civilian labor force21,024
- Unemployment rate7.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over48.0 percent
- Rank by population among Arizona counties11th of 15
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included965th of 3,222
Gila County is the 11th largest of 15 Arizona counties by population. A median home costs 4.3 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 30.9 percent against 18.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Gila County
Is Gila County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202454,073
- Census 2020 base population53,272
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.50 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202413
- Births, 2024451
- Deaths, 2024900
- Natural change, 2024-449
- Net domestic migration, 2024461
- Net international migration, 20249
- Total net migration, 2024470
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,688
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1332nd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.50 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Gila County
Where are people moving to Gila County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,642
- People arriving, from those returns2,881
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,328
- Net household movement314
- Adjusted gross income arriving$141.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$68.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$86,390
- Average income of a leaving household$55,277
- Largest single originMaricopa County (755 households)
- Largest single destinationMaricopa County (476 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County | 755 | 1,334 | $80.8 m |
| Pinal County | 146 | 292 | $6.8 m |
| Pima County | 46 | 72 | $2.1 m |
| Yavapai County | 44 | 87 | $2.7 m |
| Navajo County | 38 | 65 | $1.7 m |
| San Diego County | 37 | 56 | $2.2 m |
| Los Angeles County | 33 | 59 | $3.7 m |
| Graham County | 24 | 48 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $31,113 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Maricopa County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Gila County
What is the Gila County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.40 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.33 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.9 percent
- GDP change over five years31.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arizona areas BEA publishes13th of 15
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1128th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,562
Output grew 2.9 percent in the latest year and 31.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Gila County
Employment by industry in Gila County
- Covered employment, annual average15,973
- Establishments reporting1,138
- Average annual pay$56,684
- Average weekly wage$1,090
- Retail trade, employment2,016
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,136
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,821
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,968
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,460
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$59,984
- Manufacturing, employment1,166
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$96,368
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment936
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, employment848
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,016 | 125 | $35,136 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,821 | 130 | $24,968 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,460 | 116 | $59,984 |
| Manufacturing | 1,166 | 22 | $96,368 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 936 | 109 | $61,255 |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 848 | 8 | $93,528 |
| Construction | 761 | 144 | $54,119 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 248 | 53 | $49,918 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,016 jobs, 12.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Gila County
How many businesses are in Gila County?
- Establishments, all industries1,065
- Employment at those establishments12,495
- Annual payroll$646.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Gila County
Building permits in Gila County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024151
- Declared construction value permitted$45.6 m
- Single family units authorized149
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units1.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$301,691
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.4
Single-family homes are 98.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Gila County
SBA loans in Gila County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded43
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$20.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$473,200
- Median 7(a) approval$225,000
- 10th percentile approval$18,400
- 90th percentile approval$1,537,600
- Largest single approval$2,235,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)324
- Jobs per approval7.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active23
- Distinct industries receiving approvals31
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer39.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms17
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter26
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals11.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (5)
- Most active lenderZions Bank, A Division of (11)
- 504 approvals recorded8
- 504 gross approval dollars$7.2 m
- Average 504 approval$904,125
- Median 504 approval$596,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved4.8
- Most active CDCArizona Capital Source (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$27.6 m
The average approval of $473,200 sits well above the median of $225,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 39.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gila County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Gila County
Do SBA loans in Gila County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full4
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure32
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 5 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gila County
SBA lending by place in Gila County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Payson, approvals24
- Globe, approvals8
- Pine, approvals4
- Miami, approvals2
- Young, approvals2
- Gilbert, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Payson | 24 | $8,187,300 |
| Globe | 8 | $5,958,700 |
| Pine | 4 | $768,000 |
| Miami | 2 | $2,250,000 |
| Young | 2 | $907,000 |
| Gilbert | 1 | $2,078,600 |
| Star Valley | 1 | $150,000 |
| Tonto Basin | 1 | $48,000 |
Payson accounts for 24 approvals against 8 in Globe. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gila County
How large is Gila County?
- Land area4,758 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arizona counties11th of 15
- Width, east to west98.8 mi
- Height, north to south104.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land11
- Establishments per square mile0.22
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Gila County
Flood risk in Gila County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Gila County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 040028
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Gila County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Gila County (community 040028), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Gila County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 10, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Gila County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Gila County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202453,795
- Households23,645
- Average household size2.28
- Median household income$61,986
- Median age51.1
Common questions
Gila County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Gila County, Arizona?
The Census Bureau estimates 54,073 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 53,795, in 23,645 households, ranking 11th of 15 Arizona counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Gila County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.50 percent since the 2020 census base of 53,272, to 54,073 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 451 births against 900 deaths, with net migration of 470. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Gila County?
$61,986. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $269,400, which is 4.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,030 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Gila County?
1,065 establishments, employing 12,495 people with an annual payroll of $646.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Gila County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,016 jobs, 12.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 15,973 jobs at an average annual pay of $56,684, or $1,090 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Gila County?
43 7(a) approvals totaling $20.3 m since FY2020, across 23 lenders, with a median approval of $225,000, plus 8 504 approvals worth $7.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Gila County?
151 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $45.6 m. Multifamily was 1.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Gila County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Gila County come from?
The largest single origin is Maricopa County, with 755 households. Arriving households report an average income of $86,390 against $55,277 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Gila County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Gila County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Gila County
Cities and places in Gila.
51 Census places lie wholly or partly in Gila County. All 51 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payson | town | 16,622 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Globe | city | 7,195 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| San Carlos | CDP | 4,973 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Central Heights-Midland City | CDP | 2,909 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Star Valley | town | 2,525 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Tonto Basin | CDP | 1,750 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Pine | CDP | 1,740 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Miami | town | 1,405 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Claypool | CDP | 1,259 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Canyon Day | CDP | 1,182 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Strawberry | CDP | 1,094 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Peridot | CDP | 999 | None recorded | 59.9 percent here, 40.1 percent Graham County |
| Mesa del Caballo | CDP | 944 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Six Shooter Canyon | CDP | 811 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Round Valley | CDP | 631 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Roosevelt Estates | CDP | 593 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gisela | CDP | 587 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Icehouse Canyon | CDP | 528 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pinal | CDP | 460 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cedar Creek | CDP | 398 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hayden | town | 331 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wheatfields | CDP | 329 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| East Verde Estates | CDP | 275 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Carrizo | CDP | 249 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Deer Creek | CDP | 242 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Young | CDP | 236 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| East Globe | CDP | 224 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mead Ranch | CDP | 218 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Winkelman | town | 191 | None recorded | 37.7 percent here, 62.3 percent Pinal County |
| Dripping Springs | CDP | 186 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Copper Hill | CDP | 163 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kohls Ranch | CDP | 161 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Whispering Pines | CDP | 151 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Top-of-the-World | CDP | 142 | None recorded | 15.8 percent here, 84.2 percent Pinal County |
| Tonto Village | CDP | 123 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jakes Corner | CDP | 111 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cutter | CDP | 103 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Christopher Creek | CDP | 88 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Beaver Valley | CDP | 74 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Geronimo Estates | CDP | 68 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Freedom Acres | CDP | 48 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hunter Creek | CDP | 45 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Oxbow Estates | CDP | 44 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Flowing Springs | CDP | 38 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| El Capitan | CDP | 28 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rye | CDP | 17 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Washington Park | CDP | 10 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rock House | CDP | 8 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bear Flat | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Haigler Creek | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Roosevelt | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 43 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Gila County, the largest being Gilbert (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby