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Living in
Gold Canyon.
Gold Canyon is an unincorporated community in Pinal County, AZ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Gold Canyon
Gold Canyon is a community of 12,488 people in Arizona. The median household income is $93,377, median rent runs about $1,542 per month, and median home values are around $508,100. Unemployment is low at 4.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Gold Canyon at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
66.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Foreign-Born
6.7%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
+7.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.7% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Gold Canyon: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gold Canyon, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (43.5%), and 1.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
6.3%
of residents
65 and Older
54.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
8.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.6%
of households
Married Couples
68.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.04
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 about average for AZ
Rent, home values, and income in Gold Canyon
In Gold Canyon, home values are 29% above the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,918
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
94.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Vacant Homes
21.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $478,186 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AZ
Unemployment in Gold Canyon and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pinal County, which includes Gold Canyon, is close to the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
Gold Canyon: Pinal County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pinal County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Gold Canyon is about 3% of Pinal County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Gold Canyon Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metro area
Commute32.8 min avg
How Gold Canyon residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gold Canyon, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 40% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
Small hub1.0M passengers boarded in 2025
- 32 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 66% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, which covers Gold Canyon, runs 66% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
111.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
457.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Pinal County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersDust Storm most common — 46 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Pinal County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Pinal County, which includes Gold Canyon, the most common type is dust storm, with 46 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | Dust Storm | $1.9M |
| 2024 | 48 | Heat | $1.1M |
| 2023 | 55 | Excessive Heat | $91,000 |
| 2022 | 79 | Dust Storm | $3.0M |
| 2021 | 74 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.8M |
| 2020 | 53 | Excessive Heat | $152,000 |
| 2019 | 41 | Excessive Heat | $152,000 |
| 2018 | 65 | Dust Storm | $1.0M |
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
Pinal County, county-wide
Gold Canyon is about 3% of Pinal County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality67 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Pinal County, which includes Gold Canyon, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
67
Good Days
62
per year
Moderate Days
269
per year
Unhealthy Days
8
per year
Pinal County, county-wide
Gold Canyon is about 3% of Pinal County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate104°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gold Canyon has hot summers (avg high 104°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
85°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
104°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
88°/60°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
10.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
168
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
8
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
40
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 43°F | 1.54" |
| Feb | 70°F | 44°F | 1.65" |
| Mar | 77°F | 48°F | 1.33" |
| Apr | 85°F | 53°F | 0.52" |
| May | 93°F | 60°F | 0.26" |
| Jun | 103°F | 69°F | 0.05" |
| Jul | 105°F | 77°F | 1.37" |
| Aug | 104°F | 76°F | 1.50" |
| Sep | 99°F | 71°F | 1.07" |
| Oct | 88°F | 60°F | 0.71" |
| Nov | 76°F | 50°F | 1.01" |
| Dec | 66°F | 42°F | 1.54" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gold Canyon
Uninsured
6.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Gold Canyon's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Banner Goldfield Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Apache Junction
Honorhealth Four Peaks Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.3 mi away · Mesa
Agave Ridge Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 10.4 mi away · Mesa
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.
Education20.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gold Canyon
Gold Canyon's student/teacher ratio is 20.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 40.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, 25 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gold Canyon
Gold Canyon has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (25 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
25 mi awayTonto National Monument
National Monument
28 mi awaySaguaro National Park
National Park
89 mi awayMontezuma Castle National Monument
National Monument
90 mi awayCities Near Gold Canyon
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gold Canyon?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gold Canyon FAQ
Is Gold Canyon, Arizona affordable?⌄
Gold Canyon's median rent is $1,542/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $93,377/year. Median home value is $508,100.
Is Gold Canyon, Arizona safe?⌄
Gold Canyon is policed by the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 112 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 457 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gold Canyon, Arizona?⌄
Pinal County, which includes Gold Canyon, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gold Canyon, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in Gold Canyon is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,542/month and median household income is $93,377/year. The median home value is $508,100. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gold Canyon, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in Gold Canyon is 33 minutes, which is longer 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