Real Estate Investing in Safford, Arizona (85546)

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

Graham County • Population: 20,735 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85546 (Safford, 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: 13.7% 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 Safford, AZ (85546)?

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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 $289,791
Avg Monthly Rent $1,080
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,627
% Renters 24.0%

Market Analysis: 85546 Safford

The 85546 ZIP covers a section of Safford that demands careful diligence. Prices near $290K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $290K asset, 85546 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 85546 sits on the difficult end of the AZ spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 85546 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 85546 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 Safford:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,080/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)

$306K$260K$215K$170K$125K$80KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85546 Compare?

Metric 85546 Safford Safford, AZ Arizona
Home Value $289,791 $289,791 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.3% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,080 $1,080 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85546? 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 85546 (Safford, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
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 $289,791
Monthly Rent $1,080
Price-to-Rent 22.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
13.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85546

Population: 20,735

💰 Median Household Income
$61,627
This area
$61,627
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.0%
This area
24.0%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.6%
This area
12.6%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.9 years
This area
34.9 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.7%
This area
13.7%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 74.3%
Other/Mixed 22.5%
Hispanic/Latino 19.0%
Black/African American 2.7%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.1%
This area
14.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.4%
This area
13.4%
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 85546

C+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
22.2:1 Avg Class Size
$11,233 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Dorothy Stinson School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
563 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,369 Per Student
C+ Average

Lafe Nelson School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
462 Students
👨‍🏫
25.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,369 Per Student
C+ Average

Ruth Powell Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
523 Students
👨‍🏫
22.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,369 Per Student
C+ Average

Safford Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
22.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,369 Per Student
C+ Average

Safford High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
846 Students
👨‍🏫
23.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,369 Per Student
C+ Average

Mt Graham High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
90 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,369 Per Student
C Below Average

GIFT - Mt. Graham High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

GIFT - Safford High School

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

Triumphant Learning Center

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
96 Students
💰
$10,419 Per Student

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Solomon Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 2250 South Stevens Ave., Solomon
👥
179 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,534 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 · 13.6 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 median home value in Safford, AZ?

Median home price in Safford, AZ is near $290K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What type of investing works in Safford, AZ?

Safford, AZ investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($290K prices, $1,080/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is Safford, AZ landlord-friendly?

Rental owners in Safford, AZ deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

How tight is the rental market in Safford, AZ?

Occupancy in Safford, AZ runs reliable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,080/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking make sense in Safford, AZ?

House hacking in Safford, AZ is a challenging. With home values around $290K and rents at $1,080/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

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