Cottonwood is a small city of 12,314 in Arizona, with a median household income of $43,273
and a 2.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cottonwood stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cottonwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cottonwood city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.9
Cottonwood's overall cost of living index is 94.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cottonwood costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cottonwood, AZ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$265,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$996
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,273
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Cottonwood's violent crime rate is 223.2 per 100,000 residents
— 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
223.2 /100k
Property Crime
1168.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cottonwood is served primarily by Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (79397).
Metric
Cottonwood, AZ
National Avg
School District
Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (79397)
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cottonwood sees average highs of 60.9°F in January
and 101.1°F in July,
with 12.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Cottonwood's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cottonwood roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $265,700 and median rent is $996/month.
Cottonwood's violent crime rate is 223.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1168.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cottonwood are operated by Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (79397).
The district has several elementary, several middle, and 7 high schools.
25.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cottonwood, AZ has a population of 12,314, a median household income of $43,273, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Cottonwood averages 60.9°F in January and 101.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.0 inches
with about 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cottonwood, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 86326.
The population of Cottonwood, Arizona is 12,314 with a median age of 54.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cottonwood: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $265,700, median household income $43,273, crime index 57 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cottonwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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