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Gila County, AZ: population growth, jobs and income

Gila County lost 325 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.6%).

Gila County had an estimated 53,801 residents in 2025, up 0.9% (463 more people) since 2020. That is slower than Arizona as a whole (+6.1%), and the 11th fastest growth of 15 counties in Arizona.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the Gila County report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Gila County, ranked against Arizona and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$1,030/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes27.8%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months1262025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration added 136 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.

Private employers had 12,495 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +11.9% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 4.1% in 2025, 1.5 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 153 new homes in 2025, or 2.8 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $61,986 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +32.1% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,613th.

Part of the Payson, AZ micro area.

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Gila County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
202553,801−325
202454,126+86
202354,040+138
202253,902+380
202153,522+184
202053,338–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in Gila County

Gila County grew by 463 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+2,828).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths−434−2,402
International migrationfrom and to other countries−23+27
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties+136+2,828
Census adjustmentbalancing residual−4+10
Total change−325+463

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn ArizonaAmong U.S. counties
Population growth11th of 151,613th of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents8th of 151,473rd of 3,108
Private-sector job growth5th of 15545th of 3,092
Median household income9th of 151,873rd of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate4th of 151,617th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents13th of 151,174th of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

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The County Growth and Demographics Report for Gila County, AZ as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

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Neighbouring counties

Over 2020–25, Gila County's population change (+0.9%) was ahead of 1 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 5.

5 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Gila County's $61,986 (2020–24).

Gila County, AZ and its 6 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
Gila County, AZ This county53,801+0.9%2.52.8$61,986
Graham County, AZ40,157+4.0%−5.75.6$67,325
Pinal County, AZ539,380+25.4%39.514.9$80,266
Navajo County, AZ109,946+3.0%3.64.0$54,606
Yavapai County, AZ252,552+6.5%13.06.8$69,613
Maricopa County, AZ4,689,558+5.5%0.26.7$89,300
Coconino County, AZ144,368−0.6%−6.14.4$72,966

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 15 Arizona counties · Every state

Questions

Is Gila County growing?

Yes. Its population grew 0.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 463 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Arizona as a whole changed +6.1% over the same years. That ranks 11th of 15 counties in Arizona for population growth.

How many people moved to Gila County?

On net, about 136 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in Gila County?

It averaged 4.1% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of Gila County?

About 53,801 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in Gila County?

Private employers there had 12,495 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +11.9% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in Arizona

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Arizona county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

Gila County data alerts

Email me when Gila County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Gila County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.