Nogales, AZ · standard
ZIP Code 85621
Santa Cruz County, Arizona - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 23,054
- 32/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $43,464
- Median income Below-median income area
- $193,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 17.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Nogales pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.
- 8th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 42nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 32
- people per sq mi
- 50%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 85621 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 85621 (Nogales, AZ) rose +12.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 202.2 in 2023 to 226.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 85621 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, with 23,054 residents across 731.9 square miles, a density of 32 people per square mile, in the Phoenix time zone.
ZIP 85621 reports a modest median household income of $43,464 (40% below the average Arizona ZIP), while per-capita income is $22,016. Economic pressure is pronounced: 27.3% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 15.0%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $193,200 (43% below the average Arizona ZIP), and median rent is $745; owner occupancy is 49.8%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 17.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.6, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Santa Cruz County, so 85621 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 85621
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Nogales, AZ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 85621.
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
129 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
106 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
102 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
56 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
53 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 85621, Nogales, AZ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
23,054
Population
731.9
Area (sq mi)
32
People / sq mi
Phoenix
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 85621?
36.6
Median Age
47.0%
Male
53.0%
Female
42.9%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$43,464
Median Household Income
-40% vs state ZIP avg
$22,016
Per Capita Income
27.3%
Poverty Rate
15.0%
Unemployment Rate
18.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 85621 ranks among Arizona ZIPs
Nogales, AZ household income vs. every Arizona ZIP code
Median household income among 372 reporting Arizona ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$43,464 14th percentile higher than 14% of 372 Arizona ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Arizona ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,218housing units
8,218
Total Housing Units
7,186
Occupied Units
1,032
Vacant Units
2.99
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$193,200
Median Home Value
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$745
Median Rent
1978
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+12.1%
YoY Change (2024)
227
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+127%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 85621 have increased 12.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +127% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.3% | 149 |
| 2021 | +9.7% | 163 |
| 2022 | +22.5% | 200 |
| 2023 | +1.2% | 202 |
| 2024 | +12.1% | 227 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 655 business establishments in ZIP 85621, employing approximately 7,363 people with a combined annual payroll of $336,209,000.
655
Businesses
7,363
Employees
$336.2M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and warehousing | 129 | 19.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 106 | 16.2% |
| Retail trade | 102 | 15.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 56 | 8.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 53 | 8.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 37 | 5.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 36 | 5.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 31 | 4.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 25 | 3.8% |
| Construction | 18 | 2.8% |
| Manufacturing | 18 | 2.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 13 | 2.0% |
| Information | 12 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 9 | 1.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 0.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 0.5% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 85621 vs 85648 →
ZIP 85621 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 85621
Nogales (85621)
23,054 residents
- 85648
Rio Rico (85648)
19,080 residents
- 85640 441
Tumacacori (85640)
441 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 85621 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 85621 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 85648
Rio Rico (85648)
$61,519 median income
- 85640
Tumacacori (85640)
$55,417 median income
- 85621
Nogales (85621)
$43,464 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 85621 ranks #3 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 85621, both outside AZ so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (23,054 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Santa Cruz County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 85621 in?
ZIP code 85621 (Nogales) is located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Santa Cruz County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/santa-cruz-az.
What is the population of ZIP code 85621?
ZIP code 85621 in Nogales, AZ has a population of 23,054 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 85621?
The median household income in ZIP 85621 is $43,464, which is 43% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 85621?
The median home value in ZIP 85621 is $193,200, which is 31% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 85621?
The largest racial group in ZIP 85621 is Two or More Ethnicities at 63.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 92.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 85621?
ZIP code 85621 has 655 business establishments employing approximately 7,363 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 85621?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 85621 are: Transportation and warehousing (129), Wholesale trade (106), Retail trade (102). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 85621?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 85621 increased by 12.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 127%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 85621?
In ZIP code 85621, 45.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 85621?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 85621 is 18.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 85621?
In ZIP code 85621, approximately 49.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 50.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 85621?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 85621 is 27.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 85621's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 85621 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Nogales, AZ ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.