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Living in
Sierra Vista Southeast.
Sierra Vista Southeast is an unincorporated community in Cochise County, AZ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Sierra Vista Southeast
Life in Sierra Vista Southeast is quieter and more affordable than most Arizona communities, which appeals especially to retirees and families seeking lower cost of living—median household income sits around $75,000 and median home values hover near $258,800, making homeownership genuinely accessible. The area skews older (median age 52.7) and more established, with nearly 60% of households being married couples and a strong veteran presence (24% of residents), so you're moving into a community with deep roots and stable family networks rather than a transient one. Winters here are genuinely cold—expect frosts from November through mid-April, occasional hard freezes, and rare snow—but summers are dry until monsoons hit in July and August, bringing torrential rains that dump nearly half the annual rainfall in just two months; the high elevation (around 4,835 feet) keeps things cooler than lower desert communities.
Sierra Vista Southeast at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
49.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Foreign-Born
6.4%
Broadband Internet
86.5%
of households
Population Growth
-10.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sierra Vista Southeast: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sierra Vista Southeast, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (37.1%), and 11.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
29.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.0%
of households
Married Couples
48.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.35
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 24% below AZ average
Rent, home values, and income in Sierra Vista Southeast
In Sierra Vista Southeast, rent runs 24% below the AZ average, and home values are 34% below the AZ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,765
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
85.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above AZ average
Unemployment in Sierra Vista Southeast
Unemployment in Cochise County, which includes Sierra Vista Southeast, is 0.9 percentage points higher than the AZ average.
Unemployment rate
Sierra Vista Southeast: Cochise County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cochise County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Sierra Vista Southeast Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.2 min avg
How Sierra Vista Southeast residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sierra Vista Southeast, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 62 mi
Tucson International Airport (TUS)
Small hub1.9M 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 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, which covers Sierra Vista Southeast, runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
137.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
607.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Cochise County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 69 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cochise County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cochise County, which includes Sierra Vista Southeast, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 69 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69 | Drought | $107,000 |
| 2024 | 41 | Thunderstorm Wind | $154,000 |
| 2023 | 43 | Heat | $250,000 |
| 2022 | 44 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.9M |
| 2021 | 47 | Flash Flood | $659,000 |
| 2020 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $70,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $511,000 |
| 2018 | 35 | Drought | $189,000 |
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
Cochise County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cochise County, which includes Sierra Vista Southeast, is typically good — 255 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
255
per year
Moderate Days
106
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Cochise County, county-wide
Climate92°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sierra Vista Southeast has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
16.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.7"
Hot Days/Year
87
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
45
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
58
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 30°F | 0.78" |
| Feb | 64°F | 33°F | 0.64" |
| Mar | 71°F | 38°F | 0.48" |
| Apr | 78°F | 43°F | 0.25" |
| May | 85°F | 50°F | 0.20" |
| Jun | 94°F | 60°F | 0.54" |
| Jul | 92°F | 63°F | 3.53" |
| Aug | 90°F | 62°F | 3.31" |
| Sep | 87°F | 57°F | 1.31" |
| Oct | 80°F | 47°F | 0.59" |
| Nov | 70°F | 37°F | 0.53" |
| Dec | 62°F | 30°F | 0.85" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sierra Vista Southeast
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Sierra Vista Southeast's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Canyon Vista Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Sierra Vista
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.
Education17.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sierra Vista Southeast
Sierra Vista Southeast's student/teacher ratio is 17.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 32.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sierra Vista Southeast (within 15 miles)
Cochise County Community College District
7.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,096 students · in-state tuition $2,304 · 21% graduate · median earnings $44,447 (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: Coronado National Memorial, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sierra Vista Southeast
Sierra Vista Southeast has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Coronado National Memorial (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Coronado National Memorial
National Memorial
7 mi awayTumacácori National Historical Park
National Historical Park
50 mi awaySaguaro National Park
National Park
61 mi awayChiricahua National Monument
National Monument
64 mi awayFort Bowie National Historic Site
National Historic Site
66 mi awayCities Near Sierra Vista Southeast
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sierra Vista Southeast?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sierra Vista Southeast FAQ
Is Sierra Vista Southeast, Arizona affordable?⌄
Sierra Vista Southeast's median rent is $1,180/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $75,417/year. Median home value is $258,800.
Is Sierra Vista Southeast, Arizona safe?⌄
Sierra Vista Southeast is policed by the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 138 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 607 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sierra Vista Southeast, Arizona?⌄
Cochise County, which includes Sierra Vista Southeast, has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sierra Vista Southeast, Arizona?⌄
The cost of living in Sierra Vista Southeast is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,180/month and median household income is $75,417/year. The median home value is $258,800. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sierra Vista Southeast, Arizona?⌄
The average commute in Sierra Vista Southeast 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