The Town FilesTombstone, Arizona
City in Cochise County · population 1,308 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,600
- Household income
- $34,901
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 64.2
Tombstone is a city of 1,308 people in Cochise County, Arizona. The median home is worth $182,600, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Arizona towns, hipper than 94% of Arizona towns, better for cycling than 93% of Arizona towns.
How Tombstone 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 Tombstone is worth $182,600, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $34,901, which is more affordable than 21% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $668 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tombstone | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,600 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $668 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $34,901 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.0% | — |
Who lives in Tombstone
| People | Tombstone | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.2 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 48.4% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 6.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 20.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.1% | 88.0% |
Weather in Tombstone
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 37.6°F. About 13.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 101 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 29 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Tombstone since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 29, 2017 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 19, 1992.
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 Tombstone itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Tombstone
3 public schools with 627 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tombstone High School | 9-12 | 453 | 16.2 |
| Walter J Meyer School | PK-8 | 174 | 15.8 |
| CTD - Tombstone High School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Tombstone
- Whetstone, AZ12.7 mi · 3,236 people · home $213,900
- St. David, AZ14.2 mi · 1,639 people · home $154,200
- Huachuca City, AZ16.8 mi · 1,626 people · home $126,300
- Sierra Vista, AZ17.6 mi · 45,308 people · home $254,200
- Benson, AZ19.9 mi · 5,355 people · home $148,900
- Sierra Vista Southeast, AZ20.3 mi · 14,428 people · home $258,800
- Sunsites, AZ20.6 mi · 790 people · home $149,100
- Miracle Valley, AZ23.7 mi · 571 people · home $86,600
Tombstone questions
Is Tombstone, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tombstone scores better for retirees than 55% of Arizona towns and quieter than 70%. 48.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.2).
How much does a house cost in Tombstone?
The median owner-occupied home in Tombstone is valued at $182,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,901, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $668 a month.
What is the weather like in Tombstone?
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 37.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Tombstone get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Tombstone since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 29, 2017. 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)