Santa Cruz County, Arizona: commercial real estate data.
Santa Cruz County, Arizona had an estimated 50,508 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 47,663, across 1,237 square miles. County output reached $2.84 bn in 2024, 1,129 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 26 7(a) approvals worth $16.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Santa Cruz County
How many people live in Santa Cruz County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202448,926
- Households16,966
- Average household size2.88
- Median household income$55,217
- Median age37.9
- Median gross rent$829 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$233,000
- Home value to household income4.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over31,825
- Population under 1812,606
- Share under 1825.8 percent
- Population 65 and over9,427
- Share 65 and over19.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6426,893
- Civilian labor force21,746
- Unemployment rate12.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over59.9 percent
- Rank by population among Arizona counties12th of 15
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1028th of 3,222
Santa Cruz County is the 12th largest of 15 Arizona counties by population. A median home costs 4.2 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.8 percent against 19.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Santa Cruz County
Is Santa Cruz County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202450,508
- Census 2020 base population47,663
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.97 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024861
- Births, 2024578
- Deaths, 2024359
- Natural change, 2024219
- Net domestic migration, 2024-148
- Net international migration, 2024788
- Total net migration, 2024640
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202459
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents412th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.97 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Santa Cruz County
Where are people moving to Santa Cruz County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,159
- People arriving, from those returns2,260
- Tax returns filed by households leaving962
- Net household movement197
- Adjusted gross income arriving$71.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$20.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$61,819
- Average income of a leaving household$53,275
- Largest single originPima County (522 households)
- Largest single destinationPima County (489 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pima County | 522 | 1,048 | $22.8 m |
| Maricopa County | 181 | 366 | $9.1 m |
Households arriving report $8,544 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 Pima 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.
Santa Cruz County
What is the Santa Cruz County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.84 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.72 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years35.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Arizona areas BEA publishes11th of 15
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1019th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$58,128
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 35.2 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.
Santa Cruz County
Employment by industry in Santa Cruz County
- Covered employment, annual average13,675
- Establishments reporting1,240
- Average annual pay$59,656
- Average weekly wage$1,147
- Wholesale trade, employment1,938
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$78,455
- Retail trade, employment1,880
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,189
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,740
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$50,796
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,319
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$27,524
- Health care and social assistance, employment663
- Manufacturing, employment559
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale trade | 1,938 | 210 | $78,455 |
| Retail trade | 1,880 | 150 | $33,189 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,740 | 214 | $50,796 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,319 | 94 | $27,524 |
| Health care and social assistance | 663 | 64 | $58,512 |
| Manufacturing | 559 | 42 | $55,611 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 424 | 25 | $40,137 |
| Construction | 271 | 72 | $52,678 |
Wholesale trade is the largest private sector at 1,938 jobs, 14.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Santa Cruz County
How many businesses are in Santa Cruz County?
- Establishments, all industries1,129
- Employment at those establishments11,201
- Annual payroll$501.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.1
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.
Santa Cruz County
Building permits in Santa Cruz County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024338
- Declared construction value permitted$87.3 m
- Single family units authorized336
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units0.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$258,317
- Units authorized per 1,000 households19.9
Single-family homes are 99.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Santa Cruz County
SBA loans in Santa Cruz County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded26
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$16.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$649,292
- Median 7(a) approval$167,000
- 10th percentile approval$17,500
- 90th percentile approval$1,965,050
- Largest single approval$4,522,800
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)159
- Jobs per approval6.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active14
- Distinct industries receiving approvals23
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer23.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter20
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals3.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (4)
- Most active lenderWells Fargo Bank National Association (6)
- 504 approvals recorded17
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.9 m
- Average 504 approval$700,412
- Median 504 approval$660,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval4.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved6.5
- Most active CDCArizona Capital Source (13)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$28.8 m
The average approval of $649,292 sits well above the median of $167,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 23.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
Santa Cruz County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Santa Cruz County
Do SBA loans in Santa Cruz County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure18
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 2 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.
Santa Cruz County
SBA lending by place in Santa Cruz County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Nogales, approvals15
- Tubac, approvals4
- Rio Rico, approvals4
- Elgin, approvals2
- Patagonia, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Nogales | 15 | $10,001,200 |
| Tubac | 4 | $2,166,100 |
| Rio Rico | 4 | $1,313,000 |
| Elgin | 2 | $3,386,300 |
| Patagonia | 1 | $15,000 |
Nogales accounts for 15 approvals against 4 in Tubac. 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.
Santa Cruz County
How large is Santa Cruz County?
- Land area1,237 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Arizona counties15th of 15
- Width, east to west53.9 mi
- Height, north to south27.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary2
- Residents per square mile of land40
- Establishments per square mile0.91
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.
Santa Cruz County
Flood risk in Santa Cruz County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Santa Cruz County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 040090
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- 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 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County (community 040090), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Santa Cruz 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 8, 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202448,926
- Households16,966
- Average household size2.88
- Median household income$55,217
- Median age37.9
Common questions
Santa Cruz County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Santa Cruz County, Arizona?
The Census Bureau estimates 50,508 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 48,926, in 16,966 households, ranking 12th of 15 Arizona counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Santa Cruz County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.97 percent since the 2020 census base of 47,663, to 50,508 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 578 births against 359 deaths, with net migration of 640. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Santa Cruz County?
$55,217. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $233,000, which is 4.2 times income, and median gross rent is $829 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Santa Cruz County?
1,129 establishments, employing 11,201 people with an annual payroll of $501.0 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 Santa Cruz County?
Wholesale trade is the largest private sector at 1,938 jobs, 14.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 13,675 jobs at an average annual pay of $59,656, or $1,147 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Santa Cruz County?
26 7(a) approvals totaling $16.9 m since FY2020, across 14 lenders, with a median approval of $167,000, plus 17 504 approvals worth $11.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Santa Cruz County?
338 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $87.3 m. Multifamily was 0.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County come from?
The largest single origin is Pima County, with 522 households. Arriving households report an average income of $61,819 against $53,275 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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.
Santa Cruz County
Cities and places in Santa Cruz.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Santa Cruz County. All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rico | CDP | 22,017 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Nogales | city | 19,841 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Tubac | CDP | 1,294 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Patagonia | town | 946 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Sonoita | CDP | 663 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Elgin | CDP | 349 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Tumacacori-Carmen | CDP | 207 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kino Springs | CDP | 173 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Beyerville | CDP | 61 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Amado | CDP | 53 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby