The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 85634 sells for about $185,000, or $142 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 98 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $950 a month.
ZIP 85634
The housing market in 85634 is characterized by low turnover and high affordability relative to the national average, driven by its remote desert location. Market conditions remain stable with limited inventory and minimal new construction, reflecting the area's status as a niche, rural residential market.
This ZIP is best suited for retirees, remote workers seeking isolation, and those employed in local public services or border-related industries who prioritize affordability over proximity to urban amenities.
Median prices moved up 2.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 98 days on market with 14.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 9.2% · poverty 43.6% — elevated distress and economic pressure.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 9.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 9.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net outflow — more people moved out than in
ZCTA 85634, Pima County AZ
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime data for this remote rural area is not determinable at the ZIP level, though regional trends in Pima County suggest lower violent crime rates compared to urban Tucson centers.
Schools serving this area are part of the Ajo Unified School District, which faces challenges typical of isolated rural districts with limited tax bases.
The area is subject to extreme heat and high wildfire risk due to its Sonoran Desert location; flood risk is localized to seasonal wash areas.
Economic momentum is limited, with the area primarily serving as a remote residential enclave; major infrastructure is focused on highway maintenance rather than new development.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Arizona) — Senior Property Valuation Protection Option (Senior Freeze): Provides a 'freeze' on the valuation of the property for tax purposes, limiting the growth of the property tax burden for eligible seniors. State (Arizona) — Arizona Property Tax Assessment: The tax is calculated by applying an assessment ratio to the property's Limited Property Value (LPV). For primary residential property (Class 3), the assessment ratio is 10%. State (Arizona) — Arizona Property Tax Assessment: Property tax is calculated using the formula: (Full Cash Value or Limited Property Value) x Assessment Ratio = Net Assessed Value. The Net Assessed Value is then multiplied by the local tax rate. For primary residential property (Class 3), the assessment ratio is 10%. State (Arizona) — Delinquent Property Tax Lien Sale and 3-Year Redemption Foreclosure: The county treasurer sells a tax lien certificate via public auction to the investor bidding the lowest annual rate of interest (ranging from 16% down to 0% per annum under A.R.S. § 42-18114). State (Arizona) — Statutory Residential Homestead Exemption: Exempts up to $400,000 of equity in an owner-occupied primary dwelling from attachment, execution, and forced sale arising from unsecured civil judgment liens.
Commuting is highly car-dependent, with residents facing long drives of over two hours to reach the primary employment hubs in the Tucson metropolitan area.
Recreation is dominated by the surrounding Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, offering extensive hiking and desert exploration.
The rental market is thin with limited inventory, primarily serving local workers and seasonal visitors; vacancy pressure is low due to the lack of new supply.
The local economy is heavily reliant on government services, border patrol operations, and tourism related to the nearby national monuments.
Transportation is limited to state highway access; there is no public transit infrastructure connecting this remote area to the Tucson metro core.
There are no major commercial or residential developments currently in the pipeline for this ZIP code.
Pima County Assessor manages property valuations, which are generally updated annually based on market sales data.
Parcels are primarily served by the Ajo Unified School District and Pima County Community College District.
Property insurance premiums are rising due to increased wildfire and extreme heat risk, making coverage for older structures more expensive.
Arizona is a deed-of-trust state, primarily utilizing non-judicial foreclosures with a standard 90-day notice period.
Arizona law requires sellers to provide a Residential Seller's Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS) covering all material facts about the property.
Data retrieved from Census Reporter/ACS 2024 ZCTA profiles.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A major protected area featuring unique desert flora and hiking trails.
The historic center of Ajo featuring Spanish Colonial architecture and local shops.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.