The Town FilesWhiteriver, Arizona
Community in Navajo County · population 4,520 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $59,500
- Household income
- $37,440
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 30.9
Whiteriver is a community of 4,520 people in Navajo County, Arizona. The median home is worth $59,500, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Arizona towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Arizona towns, more vibrant than 73% of Arizona towns.
How Whiteriver 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 Whiteriver is worth $59,500, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $37,440, which is more affordable than 88% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $568 a month. 50.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Whiteriver | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $59,500 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $568 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $37,440 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 50.9% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Whiteriver
| People | Whiteriver | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.9 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.8% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 30.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.1% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 42.2% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.5% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 46.9% | 88.0% |
Weather in Whiteriver
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 24.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.2 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Whiteriver since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on July 21, 2003.
Severe weather in Navajo County since 1996
Navajo County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 13, 2021 | Flood | DR-4620: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| March 18, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1888: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| January 24, 2010 | Severe Storm | EM-3307: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Navajo County
Navajo County had 28,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,447 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Whiteriver itself the ACS puts it at 9.7%.
Public schools in Whiteriver
6 public schools with 2,323 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alchesay High School | 9-12 | 806 | 24.4 |
| Seven Mile School | PK-5 | 436 | 16.1 |
| Canyon Day Junior High School | 6-8 | 417 | 16.0 |
| Whiteriver Elementary | PK-5 | 398 | 12.8 |
| Cradleboard School | PK-5 | 265 | 14.7 |
| NAVIT - Alchesay High School | 9-12 | 1 | — |
Towns near Whiteriver
- Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ21.5 mi · 4,030 people · home $370,800
- Lake of the Woods, AZ21.7 mi · 3,648 people · home $272,200
- Show Low, AZ29.7 mi · 11,732 people · home $299,600
Whiteriver questions
Is Whiteriver, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Whiteriver scores better for retirees than 22% of Arizona towns and quieter than 14%. 9.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.9).
How much does a house cost in Whiteriver?
The median owner-occupied home in Whiteriver is valued at $59,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,440, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $568 a month.
What is the weather like in Whiteriver?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.1 inches of precipitation a year and 68.2 inches of snow.
Does Whiteriver get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Whiteriver 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)