Greenlee County's population as of Census 2020 was 9,563, up 13.3% from 2010. Since 2010, Greenlee County has experienced the second-fastest population growth of Arizona's 15 counties (behind Maricopa County). Greenlee County's population is expected to reach 9,915 in 2030 and 11,258 in 2060, according to projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Greenlee County's annual unemployment rate in 2022 was 2.9%, down from 4.1% in 2021 and 5.3% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Greenlee County gained 125 jobs in 2022 for annual job growth of 2.5% (based on average monthly job numbers). All the gains were in the private sector (2.8%) while government-sector job numbers stabilized. In the private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 75 (2.1%) while service jobs grew by 50 (5.6%).
WAGES: The average annual wage in Greenlee County in 2021 was $55,208 ($26.54 hourly), which was more than 100% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $55,170 ($26.53 hourly) and 95% of the national average wage of $58,260 ($28.01 hourly).
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2021, Greenlee County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $48,079. This PCPI ranked 8th in the state and was 86.6% of the state average, $55,487, and 75% of the national average, $64,143. The 2021 PCPI reflected an increase of 11.4% from 2020. The 2020–2021 state change was 6% and the national change was 7.3%. In 2011, the PCPI of Greenlee County was $31,169 and ranked 6th in the state. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 4.4%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.6% and for the nation was 4.1%.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2021, Greenlee County produced 2,172,860 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 12th in the state and accounted for 0.5% of the state total. In 2011, the total GDP of Greenlee County was 1,731,038 and ranked 12th in the state. In 2021, Greenlee County real GDP grew 27.4%; the 2020–2021 state change was 6.3%. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate for Greenlee County real GDP was 2.1%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.7%.
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
For more info on Greenlee County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2022, Greenlee County's retail sales more than doubled from the year prior with growth of 118.3%. That followed a rebound of 23.0% in 2021 from the 21.5% drop in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic. Restaurant & bar sales were up 32.6% in 2022, after rebounding 9.0% in 2021 from the 17.5% decline the year prior. Hotel/motel receipts in Greenlee and Graham counties combined were up 37.6% in 2022, following an 18.9% rebound in 2021 from a COVID-related drop of 25.1% in 2020.
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2022, bank deposits in Greenlee County (as of June 30) were up 16.2% from 2021. The year 2022 was the fourth consecutive year of strong, double-digit growth. Deposits in recent years were helped along by COVID stimulus payments and programs.
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In March 2023, the median list price of homes for sale in Greenlee County was $142,516, according to National Association of Realtors. That was down 10.9% from March 2022. As of May 2023, there were 18 homes listed for sale in Greenlee County, down from 27 in May 2022. (Data in this section updated annually; for the most recent monthly data, visit Greenlee County, AZ Real Estate Market.)
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2021, there were 23 building permits issued for new homes in Greenlee County, up from 11 in 2020.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Greenlee and Graham County's combined travel industry (including business and leisure travel in both counties) generated $80.4 million in direct spending in 2021, up 65.9% following a 43% COVID-related decline in 2020. Greenlee and Graham County's travel industry supported 910 jobs between the two counties in 2021 (up 10.8% after a 19.1% drop the year prior) with associated household earnings of $18.3 million (up 13% after declining 7.1% the previous year).