The Town FilesSierra Vista, Arizona
City in Cochise County · population 45,308 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $254,200
- Household income
- $70,291
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 37.9
Sierra Vista is a city of 45,308 people in Cochise County, Arizona. The median home is worth $254,200, close to the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Arizona towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Arizona towns, better for cycling than 86% of Arizona towns.
How Sierra Vista 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 Sierra Vista is worth $254,200, close to the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $70,291, which is more affordable than 59% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,150 a month. 62.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sierra Vista | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,200 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,150 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $70,291 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 62.0% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Sierra Vista
| People | Sierra Vista | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.0% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 22.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 88.0% |
Weather in Sierra Vista
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 13.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 87 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sierra Vista since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 16, 1971 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 23, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 7, 2023.
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 Sierra Vista itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Sierra Vista
20 public schools with 7,104 students, about 23.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buena High School | 7-12 | 1,750 | 21.1 |
| Joyce Clark Middle School | 6-8 | 563 | 19.4 |
| Leman Academy of Excellence-Sierra Vista (charter) | K-8 | 510 | — |
| Town & Country Elementary School | PK-6 | 428 | 21.4 |
| Coronado Elementary School | K-8 | 419 | 17.5 |
| Huachuca Mountain Elementary School | K-6 | 406 | 16.2 |
| Center for Academic Success #5 - Sierra Vista K-8 (charter) | K-8 | 372 | — |
| Village Meadows Elementary School | K-6 | 359 | 19.9 |
| Berean Academy (charter) | K-12 | 351 | — |
| Pueblo Del Sol Elementary School | K-6 | 343 | 17.2 |
| Carmichael Elementary School | PK-6 | 299 | 19.9 |
| Bella Vista Elementary School | K-6 | 280 | 17.5 |
Towns near Sierra Vista
- Sierra Vista Southeast, AZ9.6 mi · 14,428 people · home $258,800
- Whetstone, AZ10.7 mi · 3,236 people · home $213,900
- Benson, AZ24.1 mi · 5,355 people · home $148,900
- Bisbee, AZ25.3 mi · 4,923 people · home $216,700
Sierra Vista questions
Is Sierra Vista, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sierra Vista scores better for retirees than 47% of Arizona towns and quieter than 13%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Sierra Vista?
The median owner-occupied home in Sierra Vista is valued at $254,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,291, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,150 a month.
What is the weather like in Sierra Vista?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Sierra Vista get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sierra Vista since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 16, 1971. 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)