Below Average CostVery SafeTombstone Unified District (4168)
Median Income
$50,967
household / year
Median Home Value
$182,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,145
gross / month
Cost of Living
94
national avg = 100
Is Whetstone, AZ a Good Place to Live?
Whetstone is a small town of 2,724 in Arizona, with a median household income of $50,967
and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Whetstone stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Whetstone is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Whetstone 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: 94.2
Whetstone's overall cost of living index is 94.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Whetstone costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Whetstone, AZ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$182,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,145
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,967
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Whetstone's violent crime rate is 178.7 per 100,000 residents
— 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
178.7 /100k
Property Crime
1148.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Whetstone is served primarily by Tombstone Unified District (4168).
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Whetstone, AZ
National Avg
School District
Tombstone Unified District (4168)
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Whetstone sees average highs of 59.5°F in January
and 91.4°F in July,
with 15.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Whetstone's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Whetstone roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $182,400 and median rent is $1,145/month.
Whetstone's violent crime rate is 178.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1148.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Whetstone are operated by Tombstone Unified District (4168).
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 25.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Whetstone, AZ has a population of 2,724, a median household income of $50,967, 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.
Whetstone averages 59.5°F in January and 91.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.1 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Whetstone, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 85616.
The population of Whetstone, Arizona is 2,724 with a median age of 50.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Whetstone: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $182,400, median household income $50,967, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Whetstone side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.