The Town FilesWillcox, Arizona
City in Cochise County · population 3,213 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,500
- Household income
- $43,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 41.8
Willcox is a city of 3,213 people in Cochise County, Arizona. The median home is worth $158,500, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). It ranks hipper than 96% of Arizona towns, easier by car than 96% of Arizona towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Arizona towns.
How Willcox 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 Willcox is worth $158,500, below the typical Arizona town ($248,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $43,929, which is more affordable than 59% of Arizona towns. Median rent is $1,024 a month. 55.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willcox | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,500 | $248,600 |
| Median rent | $1,024 | $1,050 |
| Median household income | $43,929 | $60,835 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.0× |
| Homeownership | 55.8% | 78.6% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1990 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Willcox
| People | Willcox | Typical Arizona town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 42.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 21.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 18.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 13.8% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.5% | 10.2% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.8% | 88.0% |
Weather in Willcox
July highs average 96.1°F and January lows 28.4°F. About 12.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical Arizona town: 0.2 in). Expect about 119 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willcox since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Arizona town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 23, 2019 about 3.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 23, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 25, 2003.
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 Willcox itself the ACS puts it at 13%.
Public schools in Willcox
5 public schools with 1,087 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willcox High School | 9-12 | 406 | 17.7 |
| Willcox Elementary School | PK-4 | 382 | 15.9 |
| Willcox Middle School | 4-8 | 298 | 14.9 |
| CTD - Willcox High School | 9-12 | 1 | — |
| CTD - Cochise Technology School | 9-12 | — | — |
Willcox questions
Is Willcox, Arizona a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willcox scores better for retirees than 51% of Arizona towns and quieter than 31%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Willcox?
The median owner-occupied home in Willcox is valued at $158,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,929, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,024 a month.
What is the weather like in Willcox?
July highs average 96.1°F and January lows 28.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does Willcox get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willcox since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 23, 2019. 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)