County profile · Arizona
Santa Cruz County, AZ market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Santa Cruz County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 50,020
- +4.8% since 2020
- Households
- 16,966
- Median household income
- $55,217
- +33.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $233,000
- Jobs located here
- 12,313
- Highest market score
- 78
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #118 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Santa Cruz County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Santa Cruz County. 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
An estimated 50,020 people live in Santa Cruz County, in 16,966 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Santa Cruz County grew 4.8%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Santa Cruz County is $55,217 a year, 32% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 33.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Santa Cruz County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 112, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (72).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Santa Cruz County are for medical and dental practices (78), auto repair and car care businesses (75) and auto repair shops (74). Santa Cruz County ranks #118 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
Santa Cruz County is part of the Nogales area. For its number of households, Santa Cruz County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery and convenience stores (2.7 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (74% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Santa Cruz County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Santa Cruz County with other counties 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 counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 78 | #118 of 2,394 | 37 | 21.8 | $496K | 326 | 18 |
| Auto repair and car care | 75 | #224 of 2,401 | 47 | 27.7 | $389K | 145 | 23 |
| Auto repair shops | 74 | #221 of 2,378 | 23 | 13.6 | $794K | 179 | 18 |
| Pet businesses | 71 | #259 of 2,200 | 16 | 9.4 | $816K | 93 | 4 |
| Spas and skin care | 70 | #206 of 1,769 | 7 | 4.1 | $2M | 230 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 69 | #232 of 2,057 | 11 | 6.5 | $3.6M | 149 | 18 |
| Gas stations | 68 | #457 of 2,358 | 18 | 10.6 | $2.7M | 113 | 18 |
| Hair salons | 66 | #426 of 2,339 | 27 | 15.9 | $521K | 121 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 65 | #457 of 2,385 | 42 | 24.8 | $335K | 158 | 10 |
| Convenience stores | 61 | #710 of 2,261 | 11 | 6.5 | $8.3M | 105 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 60 | #379 of 1,334 | 6 | 3.5 | $2.1M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 60 | #555 of 1,611 | 9 | 5.3 | $833K | 83 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 59 | #533 of 1,707 | 8 | 4.7 | $5M | 104 | 11 |
| Tire shops | 59 | #547 of 1,530 | 7 | 4.1 | $2.6M | 104 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 57 | #701 of 2,176 | 37 | 21.8 | Index only | 129 | 11 |
| Real estate | 55 | #836 of 2,229 | 43 | 25.3 | Index only | 140 | 23 |
| Pizza | 54 | #864 of 2,090 | 12 | 7.1 | $4.5M | 89 | 28 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 53 | #897 of 2,063 | 14 | 8.3 | $3.9M | 104 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 53 | #1,017 of 2,272 | 23 | 13.6 | $1.5M | 121 | 18 |
| Veterinarians | 52 | #703 of 1,485 | 7 | 4.1 | $1.9M | 69 | 4 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 51 | #900 of 1,889 | 13 | 7.7 | $4.2M | 100 | 7 |
| Barbershops | 49 | #711 of 1,356 | 5 | 2.9 | $2.8M | 149 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 47 | #1,282 of 2,222 | 22 | 13.0 | $2.5M | 80 | 28 |
| Gyms | 39 | #1,282 of 1,792 | 16 | 9.4 | $777K | 60 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 38 | #1,569 of 2,088 | 28 | 16.5 | $444K | 67 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 33 | #1,881 of 2,402 | 86 | 50.7 | $1.1M | 31 | 10 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 33 | #1,928 of 2,405 | 195 | 114.9 | $277K | 75 | 72 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 31 | #683 of 777 | 6 | 3.5 | $2.1M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 30 | #2,053 of 2,405 | 99 | 58.4 | $545K | 82 | 37 |
| Grocery stores | 28 | #1,716 of 2,070 | 29 | 17.1 | $3.1M | 34 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 18 | #2,119 of 2,210 | 58 | 34.2 | $436K | 49 | 30 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 17 | #2,000 of 2,087 | 50 | 29.5 | $505K | 40 | 30 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.4 | $4.6M | 181 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.4 | $4.6M | 467 | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.4 | $4.7M | 278 | 11 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.4 | $4.6M | 147 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.4 | $3.3M | 128 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.4 | Index only | 117 | 10 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $8.4M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $4.4M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $6.1M | 255 | 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $19.8M | Too few | 7 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $1.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $9.3M | Too few | 4 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $9.3M | Too few | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $18.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $25.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $18.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $18.4M | Too few | 11 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $39.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Santa Cruz County
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 | $18.3M | $1,076 | 112 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $48.7M | $2,871 | 111 |
| Food away from home | $54M | $3,182 | 78 |
| Groceries | $90.9M | $5,356 | 85 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.1M | $830 | 83 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.5M | $442 | 76 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $12.4M | $733 | 75 |
| Medical and dental services | $18.4M | $1,083 | 84 |
| Pets | $13.1M | $770 | 85 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $25.3M | $1,490 | 72 |
| Vehicle insurance | $34.8M | $2,054 | 105 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $39.7M | $2,340 | 78 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $18.7M | $1,100 | 78 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $260.9M | $15,376 | 92 |
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 Santa Cruz County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 50,020+4.8% since 2020
- Households
- 16,966
- Median age
- 38.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 69%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 1,236 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 40
- Median household income
- $55,217+33.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $71,913
- Median home value
- $233,000
- Jobs located here
- 12,313
- Daytime population
- 42,829Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Santa Cruz County?
These figures cover the whole county. 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 Santa Cruz County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Arizona 8
- Cochise County, AZ125,566 people
- Pima County, AZ1,060,490 people
- Graham County, AZ39,232 people
- Pinal County, AZ469,006 people
- Greenlee County, AZ9,409 people
- Maricopa County, AZ4,559,748 people
- Gila County, AZ53,795 people
- Yuma County, AZ211,741 people
Questions
How fast is Santa Cruz County, AZ growing?
Population estimates put Santa Cruz County at 50,020 people in 2025, up 4.8% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 16,966 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 33.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in Santa Cruz County, AZ spend?
Households in Santa Cruz County spend about $260.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $90.9M on groceries and $54M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Santa Cruz County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 112, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (72).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Santa Cruz County, AZ?
Of the business types scored in Santa Cruz County, medical and dental practices (78), auto repair and car care businesses (75) and auto repair shops (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #118 of 2,394 scored counties.
How does Santa Cruz County, AZ compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Santa Cruz County is $55,217, 32% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $233,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery and convenience stores (2.7 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (74% 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. 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. 32 of the 56 business types have a score in Santa Cruz County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Santa Cruz County. 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.
All markets in Arizona · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Santa Cruz County?
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 Santa Cruz County. 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.