Flagstaff is a mid-sized city of 76,177 in Arizona, with a median household income of $65,652
and a 6.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Flagstaff stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Flagstaff is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Flagstaff 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: 91.3
Flagstaff's overall cost of living index is 91.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Flagstaff costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Flagstaff, AZ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$466,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,469
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
43.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$65,652
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Flagstaff's violent crime rate is 463.2 per 100,000 residents
— 22% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
463.2 /100k
Property Crime
2232.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Flagstaff is served primarily by Flagstaff Unified District (4192).
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Flagstaff, AZ
National Avg
School District
Flagstaff Unified District (4192)
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
52.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Flagstaff sees average highs of 43.4°F in January
and 82.0°F in July,
with 22.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 90.1 inches of snow per year.
Flagstaff's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Flagstaff roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $466,600 and median rent is $1,469/month.
Flagstaff's violent crime rate is 463.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2232.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Flagstaff are operated by Flagstaff Unified District (4192).
The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 52.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Flagstaff, AZ has a population of 76,177, a median household income of $65,652, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%.
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.
Flagstaff averages 43.4°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.6 inches
with about 90.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Flagstaff, AZ is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 86004, 86005, 86011.
The population of Flagstaff, Arizona is 76,177 with a median age of 25.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Flagstaff: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $466,600, median household income $65,652, crime index 116 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Flagstaff side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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