The Town FilesWhetstone, Arizona
Community in Cochise County · population 3,236 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,900
- Household income
- $51,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 46.0
Whetstone is a community of 3,236 people in Cochise County, Arizona. The median home is worth $213,900, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Arizona towns, easier by car than 76% of Arizona towns, quieter than 73% of Arizona towns.
How Whetstone 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 Whetstone is worth $213,900, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $51,625, which is more affordable than 49% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,604 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Whetstone | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,900 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,604 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $51,625 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Whetstone
| People | Whetstone | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 31.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 46.3 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 88.0% |
Weather in Whetstone
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 32.9°F. About 15.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whetstone since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 29, 2017 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 7, 2022.
Severe weather in Cochise County since 1996
Cochise County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4524: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3442: Covid-19 |
| June 11, 2017 | Fire | FM-5183: Lizard Fire |
| June 12, 2011 | Fire | FM-2919: Monument Fire |
| May 9, 2011 | Fire | FM-2907: Horseshoe Two Fire |
Jobs and pay in Cochise County
Cochise County had 34,954 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,877 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Whetstone itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Towns near Whetstone
- Sierra Vista, AZ10.7 mi · 45,308 people · home $254,200
- Benson, AZ13.7 mi · 5,355 people · home $148,900
- Sierra Vista Southeast, AZ18.9 mi · 14,428 people · home $258,800
Whetstone questions
Is Whetstone, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Whetstone scores better for retirees than 92% of Arizona towns and quieter than 73%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Whetstone?
The median owner-occupied home in Whetstone is valued at $213,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,625, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,604 a month.
What is the weather like in Whetstone?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 32.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Whetstone get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whetstone since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 29, 2017. 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)