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Living in
Flagstaff.
About
Life in Flagstaff
If you're considering Flagstaff, understand you're moving to a genuine mountain town where winter is real—average snowfall hits 97 inches annually, and the city regularly ranks among America's snowiest. This isn't Arizona heat; summers average a pleasant 80°F and winters hover around 45°F, which is a major draw if you're escaping the desert lowlands but also means you'll deal with seasonal weather seriously. The economy is reasonably stable with Northern Arizona University anchoring the job market, plus solid employers in distribution and research, and unemployment sits at a healthy 3.9%.
Flagstaff at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
25.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.2%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Flagstaff: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Flagstaff, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (28.1%), and 8.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.3%
of residents
65 and Older
9.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.0%
of households
Married Couples
35.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.26
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% above AZ average
Rent, home values, and income in Flagstaff
In Flagstaff, rent runs 7% above the AZ average, and home values are 40% above the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,181
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $650,175 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AZ
Unemployment in Flagstaff
Unemployment in Flagstaff is close to the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Flagstaff Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.5 min avg
How Flagstaff residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Flagstaff, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG)
Regional airport · few flights83k passengers boarded in 2025
- 123 mi
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Major hub25.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 52% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Flagstaff runs 52% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
500.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,110.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Flagstaff Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
94.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Coconino County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Coconino County, which includes Flagstaff, the most common type is flash flood, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 34 | Heavy Snow | $1.0M |
| 2023 | 42 | Heavy Snow | $8.2M |
| 2022 | 56 | Flash Flood | $23.9M |
| 2021 | 50 | Flash Flood | $350,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | High Wind | $35,000 |
| 2019 | 31 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2018 | 43 | Flash Flood | $100,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Coconino County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Coconino County, which includes Flagstaff, is typically good — 256 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
256
per year
Moderate Days
107
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Coconino County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Flagstaff has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/29°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/48°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/32°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
22.6"
Annual Snowfall
90.1"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
202
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
82
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 18°F | 2.05" |
| Feb | 46°F | 20°F | 2.17" |
| Mar | 52°F | 24°F | 1.88" |
| Apr | 59°F | 28°F | 0.89" |
| May | 68°F | 35°F | 0.77" |
| Jun | 79°F | 43°F | 0.30" |
| Jul | 82°F | 51°F | 2.61" |
| Aug | 79°F | 51°F | 3.04" |
| Sep | 74°F | 43°F | 1.84" |
| Oct | 64°F | 32°F | 1.52" |
| Nov | 52°F | 23°F | 1.55" |
| Dec | 43°F | 17°F | 1.90" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Flagstaff
Flagstaff has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
10.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Flagstaff Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
The Guidance Center
Psychiatric
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Flagstaff
Flagstaff's student/teacher ratio is 16.4:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 52.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
30
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Flagstaff
Public · 4-year · 22,903 students · in-state tuition $13,439 · 59% graduate · median earnings $59,083 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Walnut Canyon National Monument, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Flagstaff
Flagstaff has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Walnut Canyon National Monument (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Walnut Canyon National Monument
National Monument
7 mi awaySunset Crater Volcano National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayWupatki National Monument
National Monument
29 mi awayTuzigoot National Monument
National Monument
37 mi awayMontezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
41 mi awayGrand Canyon National Park
National Park
63 mi awayPublic Libraries in Flagstaff
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library
300 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff
East Flagstaff Community Library
3000 N 4th St Ste 5, Flagstaff
Cities Near Flagstaff
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Flagstaff?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Flagstaff FAQ
Is Flagstaff, Arizona affordable?⌄
Flagstaff's median rent is $1,645/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $71,512/year. Median home value is $552,900.
Is Flagstaff, Arizona safe?⌄
Flagstaff's violent crime rate was 501 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2110 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Flagstaff, Arizona?⌄
Flagstaff has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Flagstaff, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in Flagstaff is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,645/month and median household income is $71,512/year. The median home value is $552,900. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Flagstaff, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in Flagstaff is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from