D

Show Low, AZ

Source:

Affordability Score: 46/100

Population: 17,207 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Show Low, AZ aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 17,207 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (46/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $59,779, median home value of $280,300, median rent of $1,071 per month, and 28.4% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,309 per month (studio $937, 1BR $1,026, 3BR $1,622, 4BR $1,733). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,700 per year, consuming 20% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 5.1% and poverty 12.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$59,779
Median household income
Education D
28.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.7x
Home value $280,300 vs income
Commute B-
22 min
Average commute time
Rent C+
$1,309/mo
2BR fair market rent (26% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$11,700/yr
Center-based infant care (20% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$59,779
▼ 4% vs national
Per Capita Income
$35,378
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Poverty Rate
12.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$280,300
▲ 2% vs national
Median Rent
$1,071/mo
Owner Occupied
74.6%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,309/mo
▲ 9% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$937
1BR
$1,026
2BR
$1,309
3BR
$1,622
4BR
$1,733

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
28.4%
▼ 2 ppt vs national
High School+
56.0%
Median Age
48.7
Avg. Commute
22 min
▼ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,700/yr
20% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,100/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,100/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,580/yr

What This Means

Show Low, AZ receives an overall affordability grade of D (46/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 17,207. Challenges include housing and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Show Low, AZ affordable?
Show Low, AZ receives an overall affordability grade of D (46/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $59,779. Median home value is $280,300.
What is the cost of living in Show Low?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,071/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,309/mo. Infant childcare $11,700/yr. Median home value $280,300.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →