Yavapai County's population as of Census 2020 was 236,209, up 11.9% from 2010 (the fourth-fastest population growth of Arizona's 15 counties). Yavapai County's population is expected to reach 277,268 in 2030 and 347,985 in 2060, according to projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Yavapai County's annual unemployment rate in 2021 was 4.1% (down from 7.3% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Yavapai County hit a high of 15.1% in April 2020. Yavapai County’s unemployment rate of 4.1% in 2021 was lower than the statewide rate of 4.9% and the nationwide rate of 5.3%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Yavapai County gained 2,800 jobs in 2022 for annual job growth of 4.2% (based on average monthly job numbers). The private sector added 2,300 jobs (4.1%) and the government sector gained 500 jobs (4.8%). In the private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 600 (5.8%) while service jobs grew by 1,700 (3.8%).
WAGES: The average annual wage in Yavapai County in 2021 was $48,340 ($23.24 hourly), which was 88% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $55,170 ($26.53 hourly) and 83% of the national average wage of $58,260 ($28.01 hourly). Yavapai County's average wage in 2021 was up 3.4% from 2020.
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2021, Yavapai County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $49,060. This PCPI ranked 6th in the state and was 88.4% of the state average, $55,487, and 76.5% of the national average, $64,143. The 2021 PCPI reflected an increase of 3.9% from 2020. The 2020–2021 state change was 6% and the national change was 7.3%. In 2011, the PCPI of Yavapai County was $30,499 and ranked 8th in the state. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 4.9%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.6% and for the nation was 4.1%.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2021, Yavapai County produced 8,796,885 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 5th in the state and accounted for 2.1% of the state total. In 2011, the total GDP of Yavapai County was 5,504,032 and ranked 6th in the state. In 2021, Yavapai County real GDP grew 5.8%; the 2020–2021 state change was 6.3%. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate for Yavapai County real GDP was 2.5%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.7%.
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
For more info on Yavapai County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2022, Yavapai County's retail sales were up 6.3% on the heels of record-high growth of 13.0% and 18.0% in 2020 and 2021, respectively (with records back to 2009). Restaurant & bar sales were up 11.3% in 2021, following record-high growth of 29.4% in 2021 (rebounding from a COVID-related drop of 7.5% in 2020). Hotel/motel receipts were up 11.7% in 2022, after a record-high jump of 69.9% in 2021 (after a 9.8% COVID-related decline in 2020).
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2022, bank deposits in Yavapai County (as of June 30) were up 13.7% from 2021. That followed strong gains of 17.1% and 13.1% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Growth rates from 2020 through 2022 were the highest of any 3-year period on record (with records back to 1994). Deposits in recent years were helped along by COVID stimulus payments and programs.
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In March 2022, the median price of homes sold in Yavapai County was $534,900, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 30.5% from March 2021. The median days on market in March was 43, down from 47 in March 2021. As of May 2022, there were 3,928 homes listed for sale in Yavapai County, down from 4,041 in June 2021. (Data in this section updated annually; for the most recent monthly data, visit Yavapai County, AZ Real Estate Market.)
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2021, there were 1,905 building permits issued for new single-family homes in Yavapai County, up 10.2% from 2020. New home permits in 2021 were at their highest level since 2006. The average permit value in 2021 was $306,883, up 5.6% from the year prior. For the most recent monthly data, click here.
Yavapai New Residential Construction (building permits & valuation) (2003-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2021, visits to Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park fell by 35.4%, after an increase of 2.2% in 2020. Dead Horse Ranch visits were down 2.7% in 2021, following a 19.9% jump in 2020. Visits to Montezuma Castle were up 72.8% in 2021, rebounding from a 35.7% COVID-related drop in 2020. Visits to Tuzigoot National Monument were up 58.8% in 2021, after falling 20.5% in 2020. Fort Verde visits were up 53.9% in 2021, following a decline of 45.8% in 2020. Jerome State Historic Park visits were up 68.8% in 2021, after falling 46.2% in 2020. Red Rock visits were up 42.0% in 2021, following a COVID-related drop of 13.5% in 2020.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Yavapai County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $1.3 billion in direct spending in 2021, up 66.4% following a COVID-related decline of 24.9% in 2020. Yavapai County's travel industry supported 9,600 jobs countywide in 2021 (up 11.7% after falling 16.2% the year prior) with associated household earnings of $307.7 million (up 18.5% after a 9.2% drop the previous year).