The Town FilesSan Carlos, Arizona
Community in Gila County · population 3,987 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $67,200
- Household income
- $56,302
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 99°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 28.5
San Carlos is a community of 3,987 people in Gila County, Arizona. The median home is worth $67,200, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 78% of Arizona towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Arizona towns.
How San Carlos 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 San Carlos is worth $67,200, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $56,302, which is more affordable than 94% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $540 a month. 56.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | San Carlos | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $67,200 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $540 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $56,302 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 56.8% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in San Carlos
| People | San Carlos | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.5 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.6% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 33.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.3% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.4% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.0% | 88.0% |
Weather in San Carlos
July highs average 98.5°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 13.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 137 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of San Carlos since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 1, 2020.
Severe weather in Gila County since 1996
Gila County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2021 | Fire | FM-5389: Telegraph Fire |
| August 26, 2020 | Fire | FM-5340: Griffin Fire |
| June 20, 2020 | Fire | FM-5313: Bush Fire |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Gila County
Gila County had 15,973 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,684 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in San Carlos itself the ACS puts it at 18.2%.
Public schools in San Carlos
4 public schools with 997 students, about 18.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Elementary School | PK-6 | 655 | 12.1 |
| San Carlos Middle School | 6-8 | 310 | — |
| San Carlos Alternative High School | K-12 | 26 | — |
| Biyaagozhoo Center | 3-12 | 6 | — |
Towns near San Carlos
- Globe, AZ15.6 mi · 7,249 people · home $206,700
San Carlos questions
Is San Carlos, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, San Carlos scores better for retirees than 25% of Arizona towns and quieter than 33%. 8.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.5).
How much does a house cost in San Carlos?
The median owner-occupied home in San Carlos is valued at $67,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,302, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $540 a month.
What is the weather like in San Carlos?
July highs average 98.5°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does San Carlos get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of San Carlos 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)