Graham County's composite score of 74.9 nearly reaches the national 75th percentile, far surpassing the median of 50.0. The county demonstrates solid livability across tax, cost, and income dimensions.
2 / 5
Leads most Arizona counties
Graham County scores 74.9, meaningfully above Arizona's 73.9 state average, ranking it among the top performers statewide. Its balanced profile gives it competitive advantage against most peers.
3 / 5
Low taxes fuel strong value proposition
Graham County excels with a tax score of 87.1, an effective rate of 0.540%, and cost score of 77.7 with $890 monthly rents and $202,700 median home values. Strong incomes of $67,326 median household further enhance affordability.
4 / 5
Limited visibility into quality factors
While economics look strong, Graham County lacks published data on schools, safety, health, and water resources—factors essential for comprehensive livability assessment. An income score of 27.3 suggests room for wage growth.
5 / 5
Best for value-seeking middle-income families
Graham County attracts families and workers seeking strong purchasing power through low taxes and reasonable housing costs with solid local incomes. The absence of school and safety data creates some uncertainty for those evaluating quality-of-life factors.
Graham County's composite score of 74.9 nearly reaches the national 75th percentile, far surpassing the median of 50.0. The county demonstrates solid livability across tax, cost, and income dimensions.
Leads most Arizona counties
Graham County scores 74.9, meaningfully above Arizona's 73.9 state average, ranking it among the top performers statewide. Its balanced profile gives it competitive advantage against most peers.
Low taxes fuel strong value proposition
Graham County excels with a tax score of 87.1, an effective rate of 0.540%, and cost score of 77.7 with $890 monthly rents and $202,700 median home values. Strong incomes of $67,326 median household further enhance affordability.
Limited visibility into quality factors
While economics look strong, Graham County lacks published data on schools, safety, health, and water resources—factors essential for comprehensive livability assessment. An income score of 27.3 suggests room for wage growth.
Best for value-seeking middle-income families
Graham County attracts families and workers seeking strong purchasing power through low taxes and reasonable housing costs with solid local incomes. The absence of school and safety data creates some uncertainty for those evaluating quality-of-life factors.
Score breakdown
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🏛87.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Graham County's effective tax rate of 0.540% sits comfortably below the national median of 0.73%, placing it in the lower-tax quartile across all U.S. counties. This favorable rate helps keep homeownership costs manageable despite Arizona's growing real estate market.
Slightly below Arizona state average
Graham County's 0.540% rate is roughly 7% below Arizona's state average of 0.581%, making it one of the more tax-friendly counties in Arizona. Graham residents enjoy property tax burdens closer to the state's lower end.
Lower than Apache, similar to Gila
Graham County (0.540%) has a comparable rate to nearby Gila County (0.539%) but significantly lower than Apache County (0.838%), making southeast Arizona an attractive region for property tax considerations. Homebuyers in this region benefit from moderate tax rates.
Median home costs $1,094 annually
Graham County's median home value of $202,700 results in approximately $1,094 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, you should budget around $1,226 per year when combining property taxes and insurance.
Graham homeowners can reduce tax bills
Graham County homeowners who suspect their property assessment is too high can file a formal appeal with the county assessor at no cost. Many successful appeals result in meaningful annual savings if your home's assessed value exceeds what comparable nearby sales suggest.
At 15.9%, Graham County's rent-to-income ratio ranks well below the national standard, offering renters substantial relief relative to typical American housing costs. With median rent at $890 against a $67,326 household income, Graham ranks among Arizona's most affordable rental markets.
Arizona's most affordable rental option
Graham County's 15.9% rent-to-income ratio significantly beats Arizona's 19.4% state average, making it the state's most renter-friendly county. At $890, its median rent undercuts the state average by 12%, offering real savings for households stretched thin by housing costs elsewhere.
Cheaper than Cochise, pricier than Apache
Graham's $890 median rent sits between Apache's ultra-affordable $647 and Cochise's $939, yet offers competitive homeownership at $202,700—just below Cochise's $207,400. This positions Graham as a rare sweet spot for both renters and buyers seeking Southeast Arizona value.
Renters pay just 16% of income
Graham renters spend $890 monthly—only 15.9% of the $67,326 median income—while homeowners pay $965, or 17.2% of income. Remarkably, renters here enjoy better affordability than homeowners, suggesting strong entry-level rental supply and potentially tight land availability for development.
Graham is Arizona's hidden rental gem
If you prioritize housing affordability while maintaining decent income levels, Graham County's 15.9% rent-to-income ratio and $890 median rent outperform nearly every Arizona county. Weigh this against smaller job markets and compare against nearby Apache and Cochise to determine if savings justify lifestyle trade-offs.
Graham County edges closer to national income levels
Graham County's median household income of $67,326 trails the U.S. median by $7,429, capturing about 90% of typical American household earnings. The Southeast Arizona county performs better than most rural peers nationally.
Third-highest income county in rural Arizona
Graham County ranks fifth overall among Arizona's 15 counties, with median income $4,663 above the state average of $62,663. The strong showing reflects a mix of agriculture, manufacturing, and commuter access to Tucson employment.
Outearns Apache, Cochise, and Gila counties
Graham County's $67,326 income exceeds Apache by $26,988, Cochise by $8,356, and Gila by $8,237. The county ranks among Arizona's more economically stable rural regions outside the Phoenix and Tucson metros.
Best housing affordability in rural Arizona
Graham County's 15.9% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among Arizona's rural counties, offering exceptional housing affordability even at the $202,700 median home value. Households retain maximum income flexibility for investing and savings.
Convert low housing costs into investment gains
Graham County's favorable rent-to-income ratio creates space for residents to invest aggressively—consider allocating 15-20% of household income to retirement and brokerage accounts. The low housing burden is a powerful wealth-building advantage.
Graham County's life expectancy of 73.5 years trails the U.S. average of 78.4 years by nearly 5 years, indicating room for health improvement. The poor or fair health rate of 21.7% is notably higher than the national average of 16%, affecting more than one in five residents.
Slightly below Arizona state average
Graham County's life expectancy of 73.5 years falls 0.5 years below Arizona's 74.0-year state average, placing it near the middle of state rankings. The county's 11.3% uninsured rate beats Arizona's 14.0% state average, suggesting reasonable healthcare coverage access despite rural location.
Health outcomes compete with regional peers
Graham County's 73.5-year life expectancy exceeds Apache County (63.9 years) but trails Greenlee County (75.1 years) and Cochise County (76.1 years). The county's 41 primary care providers per 100,000 matches Apache County but lags Greenlee's 64 per 100K.
Modest healthcare workforce serves residents
Graham County maintains 41 primary care providers and 58 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, requiring residents to access care strategically. The relatively low 11.3% uninsured rate provides a solid foundation for healthcare access, though provider scarcity in this rural county remains a challenge.
Secure your insurance protection
Graham County's strong 11.3% insurance coverage rate shows most residents are protected, but verifying your ongoing coverage ensures continuous access to the county's providers. Visit Healthcare.gov today to confirm your plan is current and meets your family's health needs.
Graham County scores 64.60 on the composite risk scale, placing it in the "Relatively Low" category and well below Arizona's state average of 84.45. The southeastern county enjoys one of Arizona's safer natural hazard profiles.
Safer than most Arizona counties
Graham County ranks among Arizona's lower-risk counties, significantly outperforming the state average. Its 64.60 score positions it as one of the safest areas in the state for natural disaster exposure.
Safer than surrounding counties
Graham County's 64.60 score is substantially lower than Cochise County (92.84) to the east and Apache County (78.78) to the north. Its favorable position makes it one of southeastern Arizona's most protected areas.
Wildfire remains the primary concern
Graham County's main hazard is wildfire risk, which scores 94.27 despite the county's overall low composite rating. Flood risk (67.94) is also present but secondary; together these two hazards drive most of the county's natural disaster exposure.
Wildfire insurance is the priority
While Graham County's overall risk is low, wildfire coverage should still be a priority given the 94.27 risk score. Standard homeowners policies typically exclude wildfire, making supplemental or specialized insurance essential for property protection.