What are the schools like in Thatcher, AZ?

Thatcher is served primarily by Gila Institute for Technology (79387). The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.0:1.

What is the median household income in Thatcher?

The median household income in Thatcher, AZ is $71,591 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Thatcher, AZ?

Thatcher 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.

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

Q: Is Thatcher, AZ affordable or expensive?

Thatcher's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Thatcher is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $226,900 and the median rent is $960 per month.

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

Thatcher has a violent crime rate of 72.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 649.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Thatcher, AZ a Good Place to Live?

Thatcher is a small town of 5,281 in Arizona, with a median household income of $71,591 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Thatcher stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

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

All Thatcher 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: 93.9

Thatcher's overall cost of living index is 93.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Thatcher costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Thatcher, AZ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$226,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$960	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,591	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Thatcher's violent crime rate is 72.1 per 100,000 residents — 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

72.1 /100k

Property Crime

649.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Thatcher is served primarily by Gila Institute for Technology (79387). The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Thatcher, AZ	National Avg
School District	Gila Institute for Technology (79387)	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

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

Demographics

Metric	Thatcher, AZ	National Avg
Population	5,281	—
Median Age	27.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.1%	6.3%
Under 18	27.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Central, AZ 4 mi Safford, AZ 4 mi Cactus Flats, AZ 4 mi Swift Trail Junction, AZ 7 mi Pima, AZ 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Thatcher

Thatcher, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

85552

Thatcher vs Other Cities

Thatcher, AZ vs Central, AZ Thatcher, AZ vs Safford, AZ Thatcher, AZ vs Cactus Flats, AZ Thatcher, AZ vs Swift Trail Junction, AZ Thatcher, AZ vs Pima, AZ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thatcher, AZ affordable or expensive?

Thatcher's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Thatcher roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $226,900 and median rent is $960/month.

What is the crime rate in Thatcher, AZ?

Thatcher's violent crime rate is 72.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 649.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Thatcher?

Public schools in Thatcher are operated by Gila Institute for Technology (79387). The district has several elementary, several middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.0:1. 17.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Thatcher, AZ a good place to live?

Thatcher, AZ has a population of 5,281, a median household income of $71,591, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Thatcher?

Thatcher 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 Thatcher?

Thatcher, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 85552.

What is the population of Thatcher?

The population of Thatcher, Arizona is 5,281 with a median age of 27.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Thatcher?

Key numbers for living in Thatcher: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $226,900, median household income $71,591, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Thatcher side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.