CountyScore

Pima County

Arizona · AZ

#14 in Arizona
62.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Pima County, Arizona

Pima ranks solidly above national median

Pima County's composite score of 68.7 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 37%, positioning it well above typical U.S. counties. However, it underperforms Arizona's state average of 73.9, ranking as the weaker performer in this Arizona comparison.

Below Arizona average, but still competitive

Pima's score of 68.7 falls slightly short of the state average, placing it in Arizona's middle tier. Among these seven counties, Pima ranks sixth overall in composite livability.

Income potential drives county economics

Pima's income score of 27.7 reflects a median household income of $67,929, the second-highest among these counties and 22% above the state typical. This stronger earning potential supports a more prosperous regional economy.

Higher housing costs and tax burden

Pima's cost score of 70.3 reflects median home values of $286,900 and rent averaging $1,154 per month—among the steepest in this group. Its tax score of 80.2 reflects an effective rate of 0.783%, the highest in these seven counties.

Best for professionals seeking balance

Pima County suits higher-earning professionals and established families who prioritize stronger incomes and urban amenities over maximum affordability. It offers economic opportunity in exchange for accepting above-average housing and tax costs.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax80.2Cost70.3SafetyComing SoonHealth67.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome27.7Risk0.9WaterComing Soon
🏛80.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠70.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼27.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤67.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡0.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Pima County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Eagle County
Colorado
62.7
Median income: $103,174
El Paso County
Colorado
62.7
Median income: $87,470
Mitchell County
Georgia
62.7
Median income: $51,908
Woodford County
Illinois
62.7
Median income: $85,629
Jefferson County
Kentucky
62.7
Median income: $67,849

Deep Dives

Pima County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Pima County

via TaxByCounty

Pima has Arizona's highest tax rate

At 0.783%, Pima County's effective tax rate ranks among the highest in the nation, exceeding the national median of 0.620% by 26%. The median annual property tax of $2,248 approaches the national median of $2,690, even though Pima homes average $286,900—nearly identical to the national median home value.

Pima County tops Arizona on taxes

Pima County carries Arizona's highest effective property tax rate at 0.783%—35% above the state average of 0.581%. The median tax bill of $2,248 far exceeds the state median of $1,349, making Pima the most expensive county in Arizona for property taxation.

Pima taxes heavily compared to neighbors

Pima's 0.783% rate substantially outpaces Santa Cruz County (0.642%) to the south and Pinal County (0.517%) to the east. A homeowner with a $300,000 home pays roughly $400-700 more annually in Pima than in neighboring counties.

What Pima homeowners pay annually

On a median home valued at $286,900, Pima residents pay approximately $2,248 in annual property taxes—the highest among Arizona's major counties. With a mortgage, taxes rise to $2,293; without one, they drop to $2,162.

Appeal may save you hundreds

Given Pima's high tax rate, even a modest reduction in assessed value can yield substantial annual savings. Many property owners never appeal; filing a formal challenge with the assessor costs nothing and is worth pursuing if you believe your assessment exceeds market value.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Pima County

via CostByCounty

Tucson-area housing remains accessible

Pima County's 20.4% rent-to-income ratio sits slightly above the national median, though its $67,929 household income approaches the national average of $74,755. Renters here pay $1,154 monthly—higher than many Arizona counties—but earn enough to stay within reasonable affordability thresholds.

Pima ranks mid-affordability in Arizona

Pima County's 20.4% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Arizona's 19.4% state average, placing it in the moderate-affordability tier. The $1,154 median rent outpaces the state average of $1,016, reflecting Pima's larger urban market around Tucson.

More expensive than Santa Cruz, cheaper than Yavapai

Pima's $1,154 monthly rent falls between Santa Cruz County's $781 and Yavapai County's $1,258, reflecting its position as Arizona's second-largest metro. Despite higher rents, Pima's $67,929 median income supports the housing costs better than rural neighbors.

Homeownership costs rival renting

In Pima County, renters pay $1,154 monthly while homeowners face $1,122 in monthly costs—almost identical burdens reflecting an expensive housing market. The $67,929 median income means housing claims over 20% of earnings regardless of tenure.

Pima offers urban amenities and balance

Pima County delivers Arizona's second-largest job market with moderate housing costs relative to income, making it ideal for professionals seeking urban services without extreme affordability strain. Compare Pima's $286,900 median home value and $67,929 median income to your current city's cost structure.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Pima County

via IncomeByCounty

Pima exceeds national income benchmark

Pima County's median household income of $67,929 surpasses the U.S. median of $74,755 by 9%, positioning it firmly in the upper-middle tier nationally. As Arizona's second-largest county, Pima's economy benefits from Tucson's diverse employment base.

Pima leads most Arizona counties

At $67,929, Pima County exceeds Arizona's state average of $62,663 by $5,266 annually. The county ranks among Arizona's stronger performers, driven by the University of Arizona, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors.

Pima trails only Pinal among peers

Pima's $67,929 income ranks second in our Arizona group, behind Pinal County ($77,588) but ahead of Yavapai ($66,106). The county's urban core supports stronger household earnings than rural counterparts.

Housing remains achievable at 20.4% ratio

Pima's rent-to-income ratio of 20.4% reflects strong affordability, with median home values of $286,900 attainable for households earning $67,929. The county offers one of the state's better balances between income and housing costs.

Pima households can accelerate wealth-building

Pima residents earning $67,929 are well-positioned to invest beyond basic savings, building retirement accounts and exploring real estate investment. Leveraging the county's strong job market and educational institutions can unlock income growth through credentials and career advancement.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Pima County

via HealthByCounty

Pima County outperforms national health averages

Residents of Pima County live an average of 76.5 years, just 2.2 years below the national average of 78.7 years. At 19.2% reporting poor or fair health, Pima performs better than the U.S. rate of 18%, reflecting strong population-level health outcomes.

Among Arizona's healthiest counties

Pima County's 76.5-year life expectancy ranks in the upper half of Arizona's 15 counties, exceeding the state average of 74.0 years. The county's health metrics reflect the reach of Tucson's medical infrastructure and higher provider density.

Santa Cruz and Pinal counties show advantages

Santa Cruz County residents live 3.4 years longer on average, while Pinal County also tops Pima in life expectancy. However, Pima leads all neighboring counties in primary care provider density at 87 per 100,000, ensuring accessible routine medical care.

Robust provider network supports coverage

Pima County boasts the highest density of primary care providers among Arizona's counties at 87 per 100,000, and an exceptional 241 mental health providers per 100,000. The uninsured rate stands at 11.3%, the lowest in the state, meaning most residents have access to coordinated, continuous care.

Explore your coverage options in Pima

While Pima County leads the state in insurance coverage, nearly 1 in 10 residents still lack health plans and miss out on preventive care. Visit healthcare.gov or contact one of Tucson's many community health centers to confirm your coverage or enroll in affordable insurance.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Pima County

via RiskByCounty

Pima leads Arizona's risk profile

Pima County scores 99.11 on composite risk, the highest in Arizona and well above any national baseline. This score reflects exposure across virtually all hazard types, making Pima the state's most comprehensive disaster-risk county.

Arizona's highest-risk county overall

Pima's 99.11 score ranks it first among Arizona's 15 counties and exceeds the state average of 84.45 by 14.7 points. The county faces elevated exposure to nearly every major disaster type tracked.

Significantly higher than state peers

Pima's 99.11 far exceeds neighboring Santa Cruz County (88.33) and surpasses all other Arizona counties including Pinal (93.83) and Mohave (94.75). Pima stands alone as the state's most at-risk county.

Wildfire, flood, and earthquake threats

Wildfire risk peaks at 99.65, flood risk at 99.52, and earthquake risk at 91.73—all among the state's highest. Pima also faces rare Arizona exposure: hurricane risk at 18.69 and tornado risk at 37.50 add multi-hazard complexity.

Comprehensive insurance is essential

Pima residents face multi-hazard exposure requiring layered protection: separate wildfire and flood policies, plus earthquake coverage, are critical. Review all exclusions in your homeowners policy and consider a comprehensive risk assessment given the county's 99.11 composite score.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.