The Town FilesPatagonia, Arizona
Town in Santa Cruz County · population 804 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $361,500
- Household income
- $39,891
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 53.5
Patagonia is a town of 804 people in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The median home is worth $361,500, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Arizona towns, hipper than 98% of Arizona towns, quieter than 92% of Arizona towns.
How Patagonia 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 Patagonia is worth $361,500, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 9.1 times the median household income of $39,891, which is more affordable than 2% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 49.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Patagonia | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $361,500 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $804 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $39,891 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.1× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 49.8% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.6% | — |
Who lives in Patagonia
| People | Patagonia | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.5 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.3% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.6% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 25.6% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 88.0% |
Weather in Patagonia
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 34.1°F. About 14.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 110 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Patagonia since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 8, 2006.
Severe weather in Santa Cruz County since 1996
Santa Cruz County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| September 12, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3241: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 30, 2002 | Fire | FM-2400: Az-Ryan-Wildfire-4/30/2002 |
| October 27, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1347: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County had 13,675 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,656 a year. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2023; in Patagonia itself the ACS puts it at 11.3%.
Public schools in Patagonia
4 public schools with 220 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia Elementary School | PK-8 | 114 | 12.7 |
| Patagonia Union High School | 9-12 | 80 | 10.0 |
| Patagonia Montessori School (charter) | K-8 | 26 | — |
| CTD - Patagonia High School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Patagonia
- Sonoita, AZ10.4 mi · 803 people · home $460,300
- Rio Rico, AZ14.6 mi · 20,549 people · home $224,100
- Nogales, AZ16.9 mi · 19,770 people · home $186,300
- Tubac, AZ18.9 mi · 1,581 people · home $490,800
- Elephant Head, AZ21.1 mi · 588 people · home $271,700
- Arivaca Junction, AZ23.5 mi · 970 people · home $165,800
- Huachuca City, AZ24.5 mi · 1,626 people · home $126,300
- Sierra Vista, AZ25.4 mi · 45,308 people · home $254,200
Patagonia questions
Is Patagonia, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Patagonia scores better for retirees than 99% of Arizona towns and quieter than 92%. 39.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.5).
How much does a house cost in Patagonia?
The median owner-occupied home in Patagonia is valued at $361,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,891, so homes cost about 9.1 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Patagonia?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 34.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Patagonia get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Patagonia in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)