Small-town market profile · Arizona
Safford, AZ area market data
How the Safford area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 40,157
- +4.0% since 2020
- Households
- 12,746
- Median household income
- $67,325
- +31.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $212,000
- Jobs located here
- 9,824
- Highest market score
- 86
- Pet businesses, #8 of 527 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Safford area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Safford area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Safford area has an estimated 40,157 people and 12,746 households. Population estimates show the Safford area grew 4.0% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Safford area is $67,325, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 31.1%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Safford area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 128, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (78).
Of the business types scored in the Safford area, pet businesses (86), gas stations (85) and hair salons (83) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #8 of 527 scored small-town markets.
The Safford area is made up of one county, Graham County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (22% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for hair salons (50% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Safford area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Safford area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 86 | #8 of 527 | 11 | 8.6 | $988K | 112 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 85 | #10 of 536 | 17 | 13.3 | $2.4M | 101 | 13 |
| Hair salons | 83 | #7 of 538 | 15 | 11.8 | $763K | 177 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 81 | #8 of 538 | 34 | 26.7 | $337K | 158 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 80 | #22 of 538 | 22 | 17.3 | $710K | 160 | 16 |
| Insurance agencies | 79 | #55 of 537 | 12 | 9.4 | $2.4M | 192 | 10 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 78 | #25 of 538 | 43 | 33.7 | $1M | 156 | 20 |
| Auto repair and car care | 76 | #39 of 538 | 48 | 37.7 | $326K | 121 | 23 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 75 | #49 of 538 | 82 | 64.3 | $542K | 146 | 52 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 73 | #46 of 481 | 6 | 4.7 | $2.5M | 148 | 10 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 72 | #42 of 529 | 7 | 5.5 | $6.3M | 171 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 72 | #61 of 506 | 7 | 5.5 | $10.3M | 111 | 4 |
| Real estate | 70 | #49 of 536 | 27 | 21.2 | Index only | 178 | 12 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 69 | #62 of 535 | 13 | 10.2 | $836K | 126 | 6 |
| Pizza | 69 | #78 of 520 | 7 | 5.5 | $6.3M | 125 | 24 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 67 | #112 of 537 | 13 | 10.2 | $3.4M | 112 | 24 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 67 | #121 of 536 | 16 | 12.6 | $1.3M | 144 | 4 |
| Tire shops | 66 | #106 of 431 | 6 | 4.7 | $2.6M | 104 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 66 | #110 of 458 | 8 | 6.3 | $1.8M | 104 | 9 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 66 | #116 of 538 | 21 | 16.5 | $3.4M | 101 | 9 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 65 | #141 of 536 | 12 | 9.4 | $1.7M | 133 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | 63 | #142 of 529 | 9 | 7.1 | $8M | 102 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 61 | #121 of 533 | 22 | 17.3 | Index only | 173 | 12 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 61 | #161 of 538 | 76 | 59.6 | $194K | 127 | 30 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 59 | #57 of 177 | 5 | 3.9 | Index only | 107 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 59 | #157 of 526 | 15 | 11.8 | $2.1M | 87 | 14 |
| Gyms | 57 | #182 of 506 | 9 | 7.1 | $1.2M | 93 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 56 | #194 of 507 | 11 | 8.6 | $4M | 97 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 54 | #182 of 426 | 8 | 6.3 | $1.8M | 77 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 54 | #207 of 504 | 12 | 9.4 | $954K | 109 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 53 | #195 of 441 | 9 | 7.1 | $1.7M | 69 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 47 | #272 of 476 | 9 | 7.1 | $3.5M | 74 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 44 | #322 of 526 | 16 | 12.6 | $922K | 94 | 9 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 43 | #260 of 400 | 6 | 4.7 | $2.5M | 78 | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $2.7M | 135 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $2.9M | 171 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $2.7M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $3.7M | 153 | 5 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.8M | 202 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $2.3M | 225 | 6 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $5.2M | 169 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $10.6M | 88 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $593K | 87 | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $5M | 49 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $10.6M | 125 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.6M | 133 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $7.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $20.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $14.9M | Too few | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $20.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 6 |
Household spending in the Safford area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $15.6M | $1,226 | 128 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $41M | $3,217 | 124 |
| Food away from home | $44.4M | $3,484 | 86 |
| Groceries | $72M | $5,647 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.4M | $898 | 89 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.8M | $531 | 91 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.9M | $852 | 87 |
| Medical and dental services | $14.8M | $1,157 | 90 |
| Pets | $10.9M | $853 | 94 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $20.3M | $1,595 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $29M | $2,273 | 116 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $31.7M | $2,486 | 82 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $14.9M | $1,167 | 83 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $208.1M | $16,324 | 98 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Safford area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 40,157+4.0% since 2020
- Households
- 12,746
- Median age
- 35.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.3
- Land area
- 4,622 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 8
- Median household income
- $67,325+31.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $81,219
- Median home value
- $212,000
- Jobs located here
- 9,824
- Daytime population
- 35,369Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Safford area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Safford area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Safford area 1
- Graham County, AZ39,232 people
Other markets based in Arizona 10
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area5,028,754 people
- Tucson, AZ metro area1,060,490 people
- Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ metro area245,480 people
- Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ metro area220,517 people
- Yuma, AZ metro area211,741 people
- Flagstaff, AZ metro area144,508 people
- Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro area125,566 people
- Show Low, AZ area108,415 people
- Payson, AZ area53,795 people
- Nogales, AZ area48,926 people
Questions
How fast is the Safford, AZ area growing?
Population estimates put the Safford area at 40,157 people in 2025, up 4.0% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 12,746 households. Median household income rose 31.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Safford, AZ area spend?
Households in the Safford area spend about $208.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $72M on groceries and $44.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Safford area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 128, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (78).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Safford, AZ area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Safford area are for pet businesses (86), gas stations (85) and hair salons (83). The Safford area ranks #8 of 527 scored small-town markets for pet businesses.
How does the Safford, AZ area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Safford area is $67,325 a year, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $212,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Safford area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (22% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for hair salons (50% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 34 of the 56 business types have a score in the Safford area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Safford area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Safford area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Safford area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.