The Town FilesMescal, Arizona
Community in Cochise County · population 1,751 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,300
- Household income
- $55,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 53.9
Mescal is a community of 1,751 people in Cochise County, Arizona. The median home is worth $191,300, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Arizona towns, quieter than 86% of Arizona towns, hipper than 82% of Arizona towns.
How Mescal ranks
Percentile among Arizona towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arizona towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mescal is worth $191,300, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $55,417, which is more affordable than 62% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 90.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mescal | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,300 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $774 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $55,417 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 90.0% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.1% | — |
Who lives in Mescal
| People | Mescal | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.9% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 25.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 26.9% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in Mescal
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 32.9°F. About 15.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Mescal since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, unrated, struck on July 12, 1956 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 12, 1956.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 20, 2003.
Severe weather in Cochise County since 1996
Cochise County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| June 11, 2017 | Fire | FM-5183: Lizard Fire |
| June 12, 2011 | Fire | FM-2919: Monument Fire |
| May 9, 2011 | Fire | FM-2907: Horseshoe Two Fire |
Jobs and pay in Cochise County
Cochise County had 34,954 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,877 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Mescal itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Mescal
- J-Six Ranchettes, AZ1.7 mi · 647 people · home $200,000
- Benson, AZ7.3 mi · 5,355 people · home $148,900
- St. David, AZ13.8 mi · 1,639 people · home $154,200
- Vail, AZ15.5 mi · 13,604 people · home $414,600
- Rincon Valley, AZ17.8 mi · 5,612 people · home $547,300
- Whetstone, AZ19.2 mi · 3,236 people · home $213,900
- Corona de Tucson, AZ20.3 mi · 9,240 people · home $382,700
- Huachuca City, AZ23.9 mi · 1,626 people · home $126,300
Mescal questions
Is Mescal, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mescal scores better for retirees than 89% of Arizona towns and quieter than 86%. 35.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.9).
How much does a house cost in Mescal?
The median owner-occupied home in Mescal is valued at $191,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,417, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Mescal?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 32.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Mescal get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Mescal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events). The typical Arizona town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)