Real Estate Investing in Pima, Arizona (85543)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Graham County • Population: 4,878 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 85543 (Pima, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Pima, AZ (85543)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $341,790
Avg Monthly Rent $1,188
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,717
% Renters 25.4%

Market Analysis: 85543 Pima

Investors eyeing 85543 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $342K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 85543 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Pima have seen price recovery that 85543 has not matched. Graham County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 85543 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Pima averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 85543 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Pima:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,188/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Safford, AZ Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Safford, AZ metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$363K$311K$259K$207K$155K$103KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85543 Compare?

Metric 85543 Pima Safford, AZ Arizona
Home Value $341,790 $341,790 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.3% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,188 $1,188 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85543? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85543 (Pima, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Safford, AZ metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $341,790
Monthly Rent $1,188
Price-to-Rent 24.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
15.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85543

Population: 4,878

💰 Median Household Income
$67,717
This area
$67,717
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.4%
This area
25.4%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.8%
This area
17.8%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.3 years
This area
36.3 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.8%
This area
15.8%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.5%
Other/Mixed 16.9%
Hispanic/Latino 12.4%
Black/African American 1.6%
👶 Under 18
29.5%
This area
29.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.6%
This area
16.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 85543

C+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
14.7:1 Avg Class Size
$10,261 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Pima Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
518 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$10,379 Per Student
B Good

Pima High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
351 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,379 Per Student
C+ Average

Pima Junior High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
192 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,379 Per Student
C Below Average

Dan Hinton Accommodation School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
👥
72 Students
C Below Average

Discovery Plus Academy

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter Limited Data
👥
111 Students
💰
$9,789 Per Student
C Below Average

GIFT - Pima High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
1 Students
D Needs Improvement

Gila Valley Learning Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
19 Students
💰
$10,379 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 1,553 Off-Campus Students
C+
Eastern Arizona College
5,076 students · 11.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,553 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Pima, AZ?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Pima, AZ reflects its $342K prices and $1,188/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within AZ.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Pima, AZ?

Occupancy in Pima, AZ runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,188/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is Pima, AZ good for house hacking?

Pima, AZ is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $342K price point reasonable to enter.

Which real estate strategy fits Pima, AZ?

For Pima, AZ, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

What is the typical rental rate in Pima, AZ?

Rent in Pima, AZ is around $1,188/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $342K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 85543 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85543 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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