The Town FilesTonto Basin, Arizona
Community in Gila County · population 1,444 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $269,100
- Household income
- $50,762
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 103°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 61.9
Tonto Basin is a community of 1,444 people in Gila County, Arizona. The median home is worth $269,100, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks quieter than 98% of Arizona towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of Arizona towns, better for retirees than 75% of Arizona towns.
How Tonto Basin 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 Tonto Basin is worth $269,100, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $50,762, which is more affordable than 20% of Arizona towns. 90.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tonto Basin | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,100 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | — | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $50,762 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 90.8% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 30.2% | — |
Who lives in Tonto Basin
| People | Tonto Basin | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.9 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 49.8% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 54.4 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.2% | 88.0% |
Weather in Tonto Basin
July highs average 103.0°F and January lows 32.2°F. About 16.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 145 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Tonto Basin since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 2, 2018.
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 Tonto Basin itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Tonto Basin
1 public school with 80 students, about 20.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonto Basin Elementary | PK-8 | 80 | 20.0 |
Towns near Tonto Basin
- Gisela, AZ17.9 mi · 536 people · home $186,100
- Rio Verde, AZ23.0 mi · 2,210 people · home $774,100
- Payson, AZ27.7 mi · 16,351 people · home $382,400
- Young, AZ28.5 mi · 588 people · home $228,300
- Star Valley, AZ28.8 mi · 2,484 people · home $176,400
- Fountain Hills, AZ29.9 mi · 23,820 people · home $622,900
Tonto Basin questions
Is Tonto Basin, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tonto Basin scores better for retirees than 75% of Arizona towns and quieter than 98%. 49.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.9).
How much does a house cost in Tonto Basin?
The median owner-occupied home in Tonto Basin is valued at $269,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,762, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Tonto Basin?
July highs average 103.0°F and January lows 32.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Tonto Basin get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Tonto Basin 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)