The Town FilesSunsites, Arizona
Community in Cochise County · population 790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,100
- Household income
- $46,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 67.0
Sunsites is a community of 790 people in Cochise County, Arizona. The median home is worth $149,100, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Arizona towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Arizona towns, quieter than 88% of Arizona towns.
How Sunsites 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 Sunsites is worth $149,100, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $46,500, which is more affordable than 68% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,065 a month. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sunsites | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,100 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,065 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $46,500 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sunsites
| People | Sunsites | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 67.0 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 56.8% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 9.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 20.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 23.2% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Sunsites
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 29.1°F. About 12.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Sunsites since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 16, 1990 about 3.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 1990.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 20, 2022.
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 Sunsites itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Sunsites
1 public school with 132 students, about 18.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearce Elementary School | PK-8 | 132 | 18.9 |
Towns near Sunsites
- Tombstone, AZ20.6 mi · 1,308 people · home $182,600
- Willcox, AZ21.4 mi · 3,213 people · home $158,500
- St. David, AZ22.7 mi · 1,639 people · home $154,200
- Benson, AZ28.7 mi · 5,355 people · home $148,900
Sunsites questions
Is Sunsites, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sunsites scores better for retirees than 97% of Arizona towns and quieter than 88%. 56.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 67.0).
How much does a house cost in Sunsites?
The median owner-occupied home in Sunsites is valued at $149,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,500, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,065 a month.
What is the weather like in Sunsites?
July highs average 92.6°F and January lows 29.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Sunsites get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Sunsites since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 16, 1990. 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)