Real Estate Investing in Thatcher, Arizona (85552)

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

Graham County • Population: 6,619 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85552 (Thatcher, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Thatcher, AZ (85552)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $352,972
Avg Monthly Rent $1,200
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,561
% Renters 27.3%

Market Analysis: 85552 Thatcher

ZIP 85552 inside Graham County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $353K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 85552 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 85552's metrics run below Graham County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 85552 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 85552 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Thatcher:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,200/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
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)

$370K$321K$271K$221K$171K$121KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 85552 Compare?

Metric 85552 Thatcher Safford, AZ Arizona
Home Value $352,972 $352,972 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,200 $1,200 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85552? 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 85552 (Thatcher, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
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 $352,972
Monthly Rent $1,200
Price-to-Rent 24.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 7.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 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
5.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85552

Population: 6,619

💰 Median Household Income
$72,561
This area
$72,561
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.3%
This area
27.3%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.2%
This area
18.2%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.7 years
This area
28.7 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.5%
Other/Mixed 11.1%
Hispanic/Latino 9.1%
Asian 0.9%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
29.5%
This area
29.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.7%
This area
11.7%
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 85552

C+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$9,410 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

GIFT - Gila Institute for Technology

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
21 Students
👨‍🏫
5.3:1 Class Size
B Good

Thatcher High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$9,410 Per Student
B Good

Thatcher Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
301 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$9,410 Per Student
C+ Average

Jack Daley Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
430 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$9,410 Per Student
C+ Average

Thatcher Elementary School

📚 03 – 06 School
👥
537 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$9,410 Per Student
C Below Average

GIFT - Thatcher High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
D Needs Improvement

Eagle Online Academy

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
42 Students
💰
$9,410 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 · 2.6 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 approach is best for Thatcher, AZ real estate?

Thatcher, AZ investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($353K prices, $1,200/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Thatcher, AZ?

Rental vacancy in Thatcher, AZ is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

How do home values compare in Thatcher, AZ?

Median home price in Thatcher, AZ is near $353K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Thatcher, AZ suited for a house hack?

House hacking in Thatcher, AZ is reasonable to execute. Prices around $353K and rents of $1,200/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is AZ a landlord-friendly state?

AZ law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Thatcher inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 85552 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 85552 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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