Fort Defiance, AZ

Full City Profile · Arizona · Apache County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
3,614 Population 564/sq mi density
$56,250 Median Income $21,230 per capita
$37,800 Home Value $394,556 Zillow
$802 Median Rent 11.2% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.7 / 5.0
$56,250 median income, 10.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$37,800 home value, $802/mo rent
C
Education
2.4 / 5.0
17.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Fort Defiance, AZ

At a Glance

Median Income
$56,250
25% below
$21,230 per capita
Home Value
$37,800
87% below
Zillow: $394,556
Median Rent
$802/mo
31% below
11.2% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
17.2%
49% below
92.1% high school+
Unemployment
10.5%
192% above
8.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.6%
14% above
24.5% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F

How Fort Defiance Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Fort Defiance's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
75%
Home Value
13%
Rent
69%
Poverty
70%
Bachelor's
51%
Unemployment
292%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Fort Defiance a Good Place to Live?

B
3.4 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Fort Defiance residents earn a median household income of $56,250 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $21,230. The unemployment rate stands at 10.5% (192% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 630 business establishments, including 62 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Fort Defiance is $37,800 , 87% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $394,556. Median rent is $802/month, with 11.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1979.

Education

17.2% of adults in Fort Defiance hold a bachelor's degree or higher (49% below the national average). 92.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 3.3/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Fort Defiance has an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 11.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 14.

Data Overview

People

Population3,614
Median Age32.5 yrs
Density564/mi²
Male / Female45% / 55%
Foreign Born1.8%
Veterans6.0%

Economy

C+
Median Income$56,250
Per Capita$21,230
Unemployment10.5%
Poverty8.7%
County GDP$2,948M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,092

Housing

A+
Home Value$37,800
Rent$802
Ownership51.5%
Zillow$394,556
Housing Units1,170
Rent Burden11.2%

Health

Obesity36.6%
Diabetes16.4%
Smoking24.5%
Heart Disease8.0%
Premature Death27,851/100K

Climate

Avg Temp49°F
Rain11.3 in/yr
AQI14 (Good)
Elevation6,799 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+17.2%
High School+92.1%
Graduate+6.5%
School Score3.3/10

Community

2024 VoteR 40% / D 59%
Commute17 min
Broadband57.3%
Internet Speed15 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries8

Did You Know?

The median home in Fort Defiance was built in 1979.
The nearest airport is Four Corners Regional (83 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.514 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
11.2% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 23 fatal vehicle crashes.