In Safford, a typical home is worth $199,800 and typical rent is $1,048 a month. Compared with all of Graham County, typical rent is 12% higher and the typical home value is 6% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $233,011 to $285,385.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Safford is in Graham County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Graham County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Benson, the typical home value is $148,900: 25% less than in Safford ($199,800).
2
Nearby, in Benson, the typical rent is $783: 25% less than in Safford ($1,048).
3
Safford has the 8th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 76 cities in Arizona with more than 5,000 people (37%).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Safford
What homes there are in Safford, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Safford
Graham County
Arizona
United States
Kind of home: Safford and its comparisons
Measure
Safford
Graham County
Arizona
United States
Detached house
79%
72%
64%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
4%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
4%
16%
19%
Mobile home
8%
19%
9%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 79% of homes here, against 72% in Graham County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Safford
Graham County
Arizona
United States
Year built: Safford and its comparisons
Measure
Safford
Graham County
Arizona
United States
Before 1960
27%
15%
8%
26%
1960–1979
22%
24%
22%
24%
1980–1999
30%
31%
34%
25%
2000–2009
10%
19%
22%
14%
2010 or later
13%
12%
14%
11%
In Safford, half of the homes were built before 1981; in Graham County, before 1987.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K16%
$100K–$200K34%
$200K–$300K30%
$300K–$500K17%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Safford and its comparisons
Measure
Safford
Under $100K
16%
$100K–$200K
34%
$200K–$300K
30%
$300K–$500K
17%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable
At least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Safford are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Graham County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99942%
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,99929%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Safford and its comparisons
Measure
Safford
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
42%
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
29%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,401 a month
Graham County: $1,448 a month
Without a mortgage
$451 a month
Graham County: $397 a month
Owners with a mortgage
66%
Graham County: 54%
Owning costs about the same in Safford as in Graham County: with a mortgage, $1,401 a month; without one, $451.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Safford+33%
Graham County+53%
Arizona+75%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Safford+47%
Graham County+22%
Arizona+47%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Safford+31%
Graham County+31%
Arizona+36%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Safford and its comparisons
Measure
Safford
Graham County
Arizona
United States
Typical home value
+33%
+53%
+75%
+53%
Typical rent
+47%
+22%
+47%
+33%
Typical household income
+31%
+31%
+36%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Safford rose 33%; in Graham County, it rose 53%.
Rents in Safford rose faster than in Graham County: 47% since 2015–2019, against 22%.
While home values in Safford changed +33% and rent +47%, the typical household income rose 31%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Safford and its comparisons
Measure
Safford
Graham County
Arizona
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.8%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.0%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
5.5%
4.3%
3.4%
People per household
2.74
2.86
2.53
2.53
Drive alone
80%
78%
67%
69%
Carpool
12%
14%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
4%
4%
18%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
By size, households in Safford look like those in Graham County: 2.74 people on average.
To get to work, 80% of workers in Safford drive alone; in Graham County, 78%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Safford?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Safford, worth $199,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Safford, which is $65,647 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $67,809 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Graham County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Safford. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $6,993 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,582
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$196,181
Total interest
$282,259
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,374 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,532 a month
Tight
$1,532 to $1,969 a month
Your payment · 29%
Hard
more than $1,969 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Safford ($65,647 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,329
Property tax
$82
Home insurance
$83
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$88
You need at least $6,993 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,582; principal and interest $1,329.
The city and its county
Safford and Graham County
Safford is in Graham County, Arizona. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Safford
Map of Graham County, Arizona, with Safford marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Safford
Graham County
Other cities with a page
Safford's own numbers
Typical home value
$199,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,048
Typical yearly household income
$65,647
Households that own their home
72%
Effective property tax rate
0.49%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Graham County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,159
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+62%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
8.8%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Graham County.
A typical home in Safford is worth $199,800: 6% below the county and 49% below Arizona. With the typical household income in Safford ($65,647 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Safford3.0 years
Graham3.1 years
Arizona4.9 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Graham County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Graham County rose 94% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Graham County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Graham County, 2016 to 2025
2016: −0.5% −0.5% 2016
2017: +2.3% +2.3% 2017
2018: +5.6% +5.6% 2018
2019: +5.5% +5.5% 2019
2020: +5.9% +5.9% 2020
2021: +14.5% +14.5% 2021
2022: +14.8% +14.8% 2022
2023: +8.7% +8.7% 2023
2024: +4.3% +4.3% 2024
2025: +8.4% +8.4% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Graham County, Arizona and the United States
Period
County
Arizona
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+8.4%
+0.9%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+62%
+55%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+94%
+119%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Safford next to Graham County, Arizona and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Safford$199,800
Graham$212,000
Arizona$394,500
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Safford$1,048
Graham$935
Arizona$1,543
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Safford$65,647
Graham$67,325
Arizona$79,964
United States$80,734
See the full table
Safford next to Graham County and Arizona
Measure
Safford
Graham County
Arizona
U.S.
Typical home value
$199,800 ▼6% below the county
$212,000
$394,500
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,048 ▲12% above the county
$935
$1,543
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$65,647 ▼2% below the county
$67,325
$79,964
$80,734
Households that own their home
72% ▼2 points below the county
73%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$977 ▼4% below the county
$1,013
$1,879
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.49% ▲0.01 points above the county
0.48%
0.48%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
37% ▲7 points above the county
30%
51%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Graham County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Safford
For a typical $199,800 home in Safford, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Safford's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,582a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$6,993
Cash to close
$12,987
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $88
Conventional, 5% down$1,546a month
Down payment
$9,990
Cash to close
$15,984
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $95
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,248a month
Down payment
$39,960
Cash to close
$45,954
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,432a month
Down payment
$29,970
Cash to close
$35,964
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Safford
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,582
$6,993
$196,181
7.18%
FHA MIP · $88
$12,987
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,546
$9,990
$189,810
7.18%
PMI · $95
$15,984
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,248
$39,960
$159,840
7.18%
None
$45,954
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,432
$29,970
$169,830
8.18%
None
$35,964
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Safford is $1,048 a month: 12% above the county. In Safford, 37% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Graham County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,159 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.29 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Graham County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$807
$15.52
$32,280
1 bedroom
$894
$17.19
$35,760
2 bedrooms
$1,159
$22.29
$46,360
3 bedrooms
$1,503
$28.90
$60,120
4 bedrooms
$1,937
$37.25
$77,480
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Safford
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Safford is in ZIP code 85546.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,140: $19 less than the fair market rent for Graham County ($1,159).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Safford, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
85546
$810
$900
$1,140
$1,510
$1,910
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
85546 $1,140$1,510
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Safford when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Safford. These are the largest.
Sunshine Valley Apartments1901 S 20th Ave, Safford 8554672 homes, 70 low-income · Studio: 14 · 1 bd: 46 · 2 bd: 12 · In service since 2016 · For older adults
Pinaleno Foothills Apts2500 S 17th Ave, Safford 8554660 homes, 55 low-income · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 30 · In service since 2007
Mountain View Terrace Apts1901 W Pepper Tree Dr, Safford 8554645 low-income homes · 1 bd: 41 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 2000
Mount Graham Apts2040 S 20th Ave, Safford 8554640 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1994
Casa de Flores Senior Apts1775 S 20th Ave, Safford 8554631 low-income homes · Studio: 8 · 1 bd: 23 · In service since 2007 · For older adults(928) 428-0501
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Graham County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Safford or Graham County. The ones below are statewide in Arizona: they work in Safford the same as in the rest of the state.
Arizona IDA down payment assistance across Arizona: a second loan with no interest and no payments, forgiven after five years.Offered by Arizona Industrial Development Authority (Arizona IDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Safford or Graham County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Safford and all of Graham County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Safford?
The typical home value in Safford is $199,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Graham County it is $212,000.
How much does it cost to rent in Safford?
Typical rent in Safford is $1,048 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Graham County is $1,159.
What is the FHA loan limit in Safford?
Safford uses the FHA limit for all of Graham County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Safford?
The typical homeowner in Safford pays $977 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.49% of the home’s value; in Graham County, the rate is 0.48%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Safford?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Graham County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
