RANK #681 / 1001 NAT · #6 / 11 AZ · POP 108,415
1YR FORECAST: -1.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Navajo County, Arizona, is often recognized for its diverse landscapes, including portions of the Petrified Forest National Park, the Painted Desert, and one of North America's largest ponderosa pine forests. Situated in northeastern Arizona, the county is about a four-hour drive from Phoenix and Albuquerque, with Interstate 40 providing a major transportation artery. The community feel varies across its towns like Show Low, Holbrook, and Winslow, with a significant portion of the county encompassing tribal lands of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and White Mountain Apache Tribe. Outdoor recreation is a major draw, offering opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and winter sports.
Life in Navajo County offers a blend of rural charm and outdoor access. The economy, historically tied to industries like timber and ranching, is seeing shifts. While traditional sectors like healthcare, education, and retail remain significant employers, there is a growing focus on diversifying the economic landscape. Recent developments indicate investment in renewable energy projects, particularly solar facilities, which are expected to create construction jobs and contribute to the local tax base. These projects aim to provide long-term economic benefits and support local services and schools.
Navajo County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.0% YoY, population +0.6%, wages +3.2%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 15.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
SE Cygnus Solar Energy Facility
SE Cygnus
|
$650M | Planned |
|
West Camp Wind Farm
AES Corporation
|
$504M | Planned |
|
Hashknife Energy Center (Solar & Battery Storage)
Invenergy
|
$475M | Under Construction |
|
Lark Point Solar Power Plant with Battery Facility
Lark Point Solar
|
$450M | Approved |
|
Papermill Wind Project
BluEarth Renewables
|
$340M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 31/100, Navajo County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $54,606 combined with job growth of -2.6% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Navajo County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $201,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $858/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Navajo County is attracting residents (population +0.6% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -2.6%. Housing values changed +1.0% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.54% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Navajo County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.