The Town FilesSafford, Arizona
City in Graham County · population 10,129 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,800
- Household income
- $65,647
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 99°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 31.0
Safford is a city of 10,129 people in Graham County, Arizona. The median home is worth $199,800, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Arizona towns, more of a college town than 94% of Arizona towns, more vibrant than 88% of Arizona towns.
How Safford 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 Safford is worth $199,800, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $65,647, which is more affordable than 71% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,048 a month. 71.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Safford | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,800 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,048 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $65,647 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 71.5% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Safford
| People | Safford | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.0 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 88.0% |
Weather in Safford
July highs average 99.0°F and January lows 30.3°F. About 8.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 142 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Safford since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 31, 2015 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 31, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 12, 1958.
Severe weather in Graham County since 1996
Graham County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1660: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 12, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3241: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 14, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1586: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Graham County
Graham County had 10,751 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,182 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Safford itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Safford
9 public schools with 2,992 students, about 23.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safford High School | 9-12 | 846 | 24.2 |
| Dorothy Stinson School | PK-6 | 563 | 20.1 |
| Ruth Powell Elementary School | PK-6 | 523 | 22.7 |
| Lafe Nelson School | K-6 | 462 | 25.7 |
| Safford Middle School | 7-8 | 411 | 22.8 |
| Triumphant Learning Center (charter) | K-8 | 96 | — |
| Mt Graham High School | 9-12 | 90 | 18.0 |
| GIFT - Safford High School | 9-12 | 1 | — |
| GIFT - Mt. Graham High School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Safford
- Thatcher, AZ4.3 mi · 5,231 people · home $286,300
- Swift Trail Junction, AZ7.4 mi · 2,810 people · home $204,800
- Pima, AZ9.4 mi · 2,847 people · home $267,300
- Clifton, AZ27.5 mi · 3,933 people · home $66,000
Safford questions
Is Safford, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Safford scores better for retirees than 12% of Arizona towns and quieter than 11%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.0).
How much does a house cost in Safford?
The median owner-occupied home in Safford is valued at $199,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,647, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,048 a month.
What is the weather like in Safford?
July highs average 99.0°F and January lows 30.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Safford get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Safford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 31, 2015. 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)