Apache County's population as of Census 2020 was was 66,021, down 7.7% from 2010 (the second largest population decline of Arizona's 15 counties). Apache County's population is projected to drop to 63,169 by 2055, according to pre-Census 2020 projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Apache County's unemployment rate in 2020 was 12.8% (up from 10.1% in 2019, due to the COVID pandemic and related economic decline). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Apache County hit a high of 17.6% in July 2020, its highest since January 2014. Apache County’s unemployment rate of 12.8% in 2020 was higher than the statewide rate of 7.9% and the nationwide rate of 8.1%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Apache County lost 925 jobs in 2020 for annual job growth of -5.1%. The private sector declined by 625 jobs (-8.1%), with the loss of 25 goods-producing jobs (-4.2%) and 600 service jobs (-8.5%). Apache County's government sector lost 300 jobs (-2.9%), with federal jobs up by 125 (+4.9%) and state and local government jobs down by 425 (-5.4%).
Note: Labor force, employment, unemployment, and jobs data on this site are updated annually. For the most recent monthly labor market data, visit Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2019, Apache County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $35,189. This PCPI ranked 10th in the state and was 76% percent of the state average, $46,058, and 62% of the national average, $56,490. The 2019 PCPI reflected an increase of 2.7% from 2018. The 2018-2019 state change was 3.3% and the national change was 3.5%. In 2009, the PCPI of Apache County was $26,371 and ranked 10th in the state. The 2009-2019 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 2.9%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.3% and for the nation was 3.7%.
WAGES: The average annual wage in Apache County in 2020 was $48,256 ($23.20 hourly), which was 90% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $53,396 ($25.67 hourly) and 86% of the national average wage of $56,310 ($27.07 hourly).
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2020, Apache County's retail sales were up 3.7%. Despite the COVID pandemic, Apache County's restaurant & bar sales were up 0.3% and hotel/motel receipts were up 4.4% in 2020.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2019, Apache County produced $2.9 billion in current-dollar total GDP. This GDP ranked 10th in the state and accounted for 0.8% of the state total. In 2009, the total GDP of Apache County was $2.5 billion and ranked 10th in the state. In 2019, Apache County real GDP fell 3.5%; the 2018-2019 state change was 3.1%. The 2009-2019 compound annual growth rate for Apache County real GDP was -0.4%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.4%.
In May 2021, the median price of homes sold in Apache County was $65,000, according to National Association of Realtors. That was down 53.6% from May 2020. The median days on market in May 2021 was 92, down from 144 in January. As of June 2021, there were 675 homes listed for sale in Apache County (Apache County, AZ Real Estate Market). In 2020, there were 82 building permits issued for new homes in Apache County.
In 2020, visits to state and national parks in Apache County were down due to the COVID pandemic and associated declines in travel. Visits to Canyon de Chelly were down 83.3%, Hubbell Trading Post visits were down 77.3%, and Petrified Forest visits were down 40.3%. Despite the drop in visits to national parks in Apache County, visits to Lyman Lake State Park were up 90.5% in 2020.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Apache County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $96.1 million in direct spending in 2020, down 22.2% from 2019. Apache County's travel industry supported 1,300 jobs (down 13.3%) countywide with earnings of $33.9 million (down 11.9%) in 2020, according to the study.
Check out Arizona Office of Tourism for research and marketing resources for the Arizona tourism industry.
In 2020, bank deposits in Apache County (as of June 30) were up 16.4% from 2019. The year 2020 was the fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth in bank deposits, with deposits totaling $257.9 million. Apache County bank deposits more than doubled from 2015 to 2020.
Apache Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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