Gila County, Arizona

Gila County's population as of Census 2020 was 53,272, down 0.6% from 2010. From 2020 to 2025, the countywide population increased by 1.1% to 53,908, according to estimates by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). Gila County's population is expected to reach 56,044 in 2030 before declining to 54,931 in 2060, according to OEO projections.

PERSONAL INCOME: In 2024, Gila County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $57,097. This PCPI ranked 7th in the state and was 86.8% of the state average, $65,798, and 78% of the national average, $73,204. The 2024 PCPI reflected an increase of 6.6% from 2023. The 2023–2024 state change was 4.4% and the national change was 4.6%. Back in 2014, the PCPI of Gila County was $33,800 and ranked 7th in the state. The 2014–2024 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 5.4%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 5.6% and for the nation was 4.7%.

 
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2024, Gila County produced $2.4 billion in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 13th in the state and accounted for 0.4% of the state total. Back in 2014, the total GDP of Gila County was $1.8 billion and ranked 11th in the state. In 2024, Gila County real GDP grew 1%; the 2023–2024 state change was 4.5%. The 2014–2024 compound annual growth rate for Gila County real GDP was -0.1%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.0%.

For more info on Gila County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)

MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES

• In 2025, Gila County's retail sales totaled $518.1 million, up 0.8% from the year prior following increases of 8.9% in 2021, 5.8% in 2022, 9.3% in 2023, and 0.4% in 2024. Retail sales were at a record high in 2025 (with records back to 2009). 
• Gila County's restaurant & bar sales totaled $127.3 million in 2025, up 5.6% from the year prior after growing 16.8% in 2021, 4.6% in 2022, 11.2% in 2023, and 0.3% in 2024. Restaurant & bar sales were at a record high in 2025 (with records back to 2009). 
• Hotel/motel receipts in Gila County totaled $38.6 million in 2025, up 2.7% from the year prior on the heels of a 5.9% decline in 2024. That followed  growth of 4.3% in 2022 and 11.0% in 2023 (that was after record-high gains of 23.3%, 22.1%, and 33.8% in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively).  
• Bucking statewide and nationwide trends, Gila County's restaurant & bar and hotel/motel industries did not decline in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic.

BANK DEPOSITS

• In 2025, bank deposits in Gila County (as of June 30) totaled $928.9 million, down 1.3% from a year prior, after falling 7.6% in 2023 and 0.5% in 2024. That followed growth of 17.4% in 2020, 3.9% in 2021, and 8.4% in 2022. Deposits in those years were helped along by stimulus payments and other COVID programs. 
• Deposits in 2025 were down 9.2% from the peak in 2022. 

HOUSING MARKET DATA

• According to data from Realtor.com, the Gila County housing market in June 2026 shows steady growth and improved affordability for renters.
• The median listing price for homes is $515,000, up 4.3% from last year. The median sold price is $452,500, a 1.2% annual increase. There are 945 active listings, which is a slight 3.0% decrease year-over-year, suggesting a healthy but slightly tightening inventory.
• Homes are spending a median of 59 days on the market, unchanged from last year. The median price per square foot is $303, nearly flat compared to the previous year, indicating price stabilization after earlier growth.
• For renters, the market has become more affordable. The median rent has dropped by 14.1% to $1,800 per month, and the number of available rental properties has increased by 15.4% to 43 listings. This shift gives renters more options and negotiating power.
• Market conditions currently favor buyers, with homes selling for about 3.1% below asking price and a sale-to-list price ratio of 97%. City-level data shows wide variation: Payson has a median listing price of $549,950 and a median rent of $2,400, while Miami offers more affordable options with a median listing price of $215,000 and a median rent of $1,200.
• Overall, Gila County’s housing market in 2026 is marked by steady price growth for sellers, increased rental inventory, and a shift toward more favorable conditions for buyers and renters.
• For the most recent housing market data and trends (median listing home price, median listing home price per square foot, median sold home price, sale-to-list price ratio, median days on market, and more) for Gila County, visit Gila County, AZ Real Estate Market.)

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION

• According to U.S. Census Bureau data, new residential construction in Gila County slowed in 2025, with permits issued for 174 new housing units, down from 216 in 2024, a decrease of 42 units, or 19.4%. All permitted units in 2025 were single-family homes, with single-family permits declining from 214 to 174, a drop of 40 units, or 18.7%. Multifamily construction fell from 2 units in 2024 to none in 2025.
• The decline in 2025 followed a strong rebound in 2024, when total residential permits increased from 152 units in 2023 to 216 units, a gain of 64 units, or 42.1%. Single-family construction accounted for nearly all of that growth, rising from 150 permits in 2023 to 214 permits in 2024, an increase of 64 units, or 42.7%. Multifamily activity remained limited at 2 units in both years.
• Recent construction trends have been marked by fluctuations rather than sustained growth. In 2023, total residential permits fell to 152 units from 213 in 2022, a decline of 61 units, or 28.6%. Single-family permits decreased from 205 to 150 units, down 26.8%, while multifamily permits dropped from 8 units to 2 units, a decline of 75.0%. The previous year had seen moderate growth, with total permits increasing from 196 units in 2021 to 213 units in 2022, a gain of 17 units, or 8.7%. Single-family construction rose from 188 to 205 units during that period, while multifamily permitting remained unchanged at 8 units.
• Overall, residential construction in Gila County remains heavily concentrated in single-family housing. Since 2021, multifamily activity has accounted for only a small share of total permits, ranging from 8 units in 2021 and 2022 to 2 units in 2023 and 2024, before falling to zero in 2025. Although permit activity rebounded sharply in 2024, the decline in 2025 suggests that homebuilding activity moderated after reaching its highest level in several years. 
• For the most recent monthly data for the current year, click here. 

See downloadable spreadsheet below for annual building permit data.