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Living in
San Luis.
About
Life in San Luis
If you're considering San Luis, you're looking at a border city experiencing real growth momentum—population jumped from about 15,000 in 2000 to over 35,000 today. The cost of living is reasonable with median home values around $224,900 and rent averaging $746 monthly, which gives you affordability compared to many Arizona markets. The economy is genuinely tied to cross-border activity: manufacturing, agriculture, and retail dominate, and that Land Port of Entry means steady commercial traffic.
San Luis at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.1%
Foreign-Born
46.7%
Broadband Internet
86.8%
of households
Population Growth
+18.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics46.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in San Luis: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In San Luis, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (97.5%), and 89.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.7%
of residents
65 and Older
10.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
50.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
12.8%
of households
Married Couples
60.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.41
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 52% below AZ average
Rent, home values, and income in San Luis
In San Luis, rent runs 52% below the AZ average, and home values are 43% below the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,337
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $235,142 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 19 pts above AZ average
Unemployment in San Luis
Unemployment in San Luis is 19 percentage points higher than the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What San Luis Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.9 min avg
How San Luis residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In San Luis, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Yuma International Airport / Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (YUM)
Regional airport · few flights86k passengers boarded in 2025
- 142 mi
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Major hub12.7M 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 74% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in San Luis runs 74% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
84.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
511.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
San Luis Police Department
Natural DisastersExcessive Heat most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Yuma County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Yuma County, which includes San Luis, the most common type is excessive heat, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $103,000 |
| 2024 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,500 |
| 2023 | 20 | Excessive Heat | $132,000 |
| 2022 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $210,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Excessive Heat | $528,000 |
| 2020 | 16 | Excessive Heat | $475,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Excessive Heat | $102,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Excessive Heat | $80,000 |
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.
162 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Yuma County, county-wide
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Yuma County, which includes San Luis, is typically good — 197 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
197
per year
Moderate Days
161
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Yuma County, county-wide
Climate105°F summers, 48°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
San Luis has hot summers (avg high 105°F) and warm winters (avg low 48°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
87°/61°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
105°/80°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
90°/66°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
3.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
181
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
17
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°F | 48°F | 0.39" |
| Feb | 73°F | 50°F | 0.38" |
| Mar | 80°F | 55°F | 0.39" |
| Apr | 86°F | 60°F | 0.14" |
| May | 94°F | 67°F | 0.06" |
| Jun | 103°F | 75°F | 0.01" |
| Jul | 107°F | 83°F | 0.24" |
| Aug | 106°F | 83°F | 0.20" |
| Sep | 101°F | 78°F | 0.68" |
| Oct | 90°F | 66°F | 0.13" |
| Nov | 78°F | 54°F | 0.23" |
| Dec | 68°F | 47°F | 0.43" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in San Luis
Uninsured
26.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside San Luis's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Yuma Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14 mi away · Yuma
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.
Education27.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in San Luis
San Luis's student/teacher ratio is 27.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 9.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
9.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
27.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for San Luis
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in San Luis
San Luis Branch Library
1075 N 6th Ave, San Luis
Cities Near San Luis
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to San Luis?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
San Luis FAQ
Is San Luis, Arizona affordable?⌄
San Luis's median rent is $741/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,400/year. Median home value is $224,900.
Is San Luis, Arizona safe?⌄
San Luis's violent crime rate was 85 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 512 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in San Luis, Arizona?⌄
San Luis has an unemployment rate of 23.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in San Luis, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in San Luis is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $741/month and median household income is $59,400/year. The median home value is $224,900. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in San Luis, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in San Luis is 27 minutes, which is about 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