What are the schools like in Safford, AZ?

Safford is served primarily by Safford Unified District (4218). The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.0:1.

What is the median household income in Safford?

The median household income in Safford, AZ is $64,860 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Safford, AZ?

Safford has an average high temperature of 62.0°F in January and 99.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 8.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.2 inches.

Safford, AZ Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Safford, AZ affordable or expensive?

Safford's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Safford is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $178,400 and the median rent is $885 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Safford, AZ?

Safford has a violent crime rate of 59.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 244.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Safford, AZ a Good Place to Live?

Safford is a small city of 10,112 in Arizona, with a median household income of $64,860 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Safford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Safford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Safford 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: 92.0

Safford's overall cost of living index is 92.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Safford costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Safford, AZ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$178,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$885	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,860	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Safford's violent crime rate is 59.2 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

59.2 /100k

Property Crime

244.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Safford is served primarily by Safford Unified District (4218). The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Safford, AZ	National Avg
School District	Safford Unified District (4218)	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	20.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Safford sees average highs of 62.0°F in January and 99.0°F in July, with 8.8 inches of annual precipitation and 0.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Safford, AZ
Average High — January	62.0°F
Average High — July	99.0°F
Annual Precipitation	8.8"
Annual Snowfall	0.2"

Demographics

Metric	Safford, AZ	National Avg
Population	10,112	—
Median Age	31.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	20.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.1%	6.3%
Under 18	25.2%	22.2%
65 and over	15.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Solomon, AZ 4 mi Thatcher, AZ 4 mi Cactus Flats, AZ 5 mi Central, AZ 6 mi San Jose, AZ 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Safford

Safford, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

85546

Safford vs Other Cities

Safford, AZ vs Solomon, AZ Safford, AZ vs Thatcher, AZ Safford, AZ vs Cactus Flats, AZ Safford, AZ vs Central, AZ Safford, AZ vs San Jose, AZ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Safford, AZ affordable or expensive?

Safford's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Safford roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $178,400 and median rent is $885/month.

What is the crime rate in Safford, AZ?

Safford's violent crime rate is 59.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 244.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Safford?

Public schools in Safford are operated by Safford Unified District (4218). The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.0:1. 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Safford, AZ a good place to live?

Safford, AZ has a population of 10,112, a median household income of $64,860, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Safford?

Safford averages 62.0°F in January and 99.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 8.8 inches with about 0.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Safford?

Safford, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 85546.

What is the population of Safford?

The population of Safford, Arizona is 10,112 with a median age of 31.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Safford?

Key numbers for living in Safford: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $178,400, median household income $64,860, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Safford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.