The Town FilesPrescott, Arizona
City in Yavapai County · population 45,827 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $564,100
- Household income
- $70,874
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 59.7
Prescott is a city of 45,827 people in Yavapai County, Arizona. The median home is worth $564,100, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Arizona towns, hipper than 88% of Arizona towns, more walkable than 86% of Arizona towns.
How Prescott 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 Prescott is worth $564,100, above the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 8.0 times the median household income of $70,874, which is more affordable than 4% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,395 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Prescott | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $564,100 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,395 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $70,874 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.0× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.3% | — |
Who lives in Prescott
| People | Prescott | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.7 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.6% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 12.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.9% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 88.0% |
Weather in Prescott
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 16.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Prescott since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 13, 1996 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 15, 1999.
Severe weather in Yavapai County since 1996
Yavapai County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 19, 2022 | Fire | FM-5435: Crooks Fire |
| May 27, 2021 | Fire | FM-5387: Spur Fire |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| May 11, 2018 | Fire | FM-5238: 89 East Fire |
Jobs and pay in Yavapai County
Yavapai County had 71,540 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,666 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Prescott itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Prescott
20 public schools with 5,523 students, about 26.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott High School | 8-12 | 1,466 | 23.3 |
| BASIS Prescott (charter) | K-12 | 599 | — |
| Prescott Mile High Middle School | 6-8 | 546 | 21.0 |
| Abia Judd Elementary School | K-5 | 490 | 15.3 |
| Granite Mountain Middle School | K-8 | 486 | 15.2 |
| Taylor Hicks School | K-5 | 393 | 15.1 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | K-5 | 290 | 15.3 |
| Tri-City College Prep (charter) | 5-12 | 280 | — |
| Skyview School (charter) | K-8 | 214 | — |
| Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy (charter) | 7-12 | 152 | — |
| La Tierra Community School (charter) | K-8 | 139 | — |
| Discovery Gardens Preschool | PK-PK | 137 | 15.2 |
Towns near Prescott
- Prescott Valley, AZ7.3 mi · 46,785 people · home $413,200
- Williamson, AZ9.4 mi · 6,196 people · home $732,300
- Chino Valley, AZ10.5 mi · 13,020 people · home $394,700
- Dewey-Humboldt, AZ12.3 mi · 4,326 people · home $426,900
- Paulden, AZ20.7 mi · 5,567 people · home $353,700
- Clarkdale, AZ24.5 mi · 4,424 people · home $373,600
- Verde Village, AZ27.0 mi · 12,019 people · home $354,200
- Cordes Lakes, AZ27.4 mi · 2,684 people · home $220,300
Prescott questions
Is Prescott, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Prescott scores better for retirees than 68% of Arizona towns and quieter than 24%. 40.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.7).
How much does a house cost in Prescott?
The median owner-occupied home in Prescott is valued at $564,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,874, so homes cost about 8.0 times income. Median rent is $1,395 a month.
What is the weather like in Prescott?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.5 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Prescott get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Prescott since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 13, 1996. The typical Arizona town has had 1.
- 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)