Tonalea is a small town of 167 in Arizona, with a median household income of $30,972
and a 12.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Tonalea 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 Tonalea is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Tonalea 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
Tonalea's overall cost of living index is 91.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Tonalea costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Tonalea, AZ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$9,999
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,014
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$30,972
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Tonalea's violent crime rate is 358.9 per 100,000 residents
— 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
358.9 /100k
Property Crime
1724.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Tonalea is served primarily by Tonalea Day School.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.0:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Tonalea, AZ
National Avg
School District
Tonalea Day School
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
4.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Tonalea sees average highs of 47.0°F in January
and 94.8°F in July,
with 6.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.5 inches of snow per year.
Tonalea's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Tonalea roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $9,999 and median rent is $1,014/month.
Tonalea's violent crime rate is 358.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1724.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Tonalea are operated by Tonalea Day School.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.0:1. 4.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Tonalea, AZ has a population of 167, a median household income of $30,972, and an unemployment rate of 12.5%.
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.
Tonalea averages 47.0°F in January and 94.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 6.3 inches
with about 35.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Tonalea, Arizona is 167 with a median age of 27.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Tonalea: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $9,999, median household income $30,972, crime index 90 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tonalea side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
