What it's like to live in Cottonwood
Cottonwood is a small city in Arizona with rent below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cottonwood deals with household incomes below the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
- Very hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Cottonwood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cottonwood
Based on Cottonwood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,240
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,800 a year
- 44% of Cottonwood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$64,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $32,410
- Homes cost 6.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 21% below US
$1,120/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,120 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $324,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $324,100 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Yavapai County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Yavapai County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 54% below US
152 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 851/100k · Cottonwood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 99°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 24% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Tuzigoot National Monument (3 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Cottonwood's strongest points are rent below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,120/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Cottonwood
All Arizona guides →Moving to Verde Village →
4 mi away · pop. 11,930
Rent $1,173/mo · Income $69,331
Compare with Cottonwood →Moving to Camp Verde →
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Rent $1,059/mo · Income $69,203
Compare with Cottonwood →Moving to Prescott Valley →
22 mi away · pop. 49,179
Rent $1,580/mo · Income $74,569
Compare with Cottonwood →Moving to Chino Valley →
24 mi away · pop. 13,602
Rent $1,248/mo · Income $61,237
Compare with Cottonwood →Not sure Cottonwood is the one?
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