Sierra Vista | Visit Arizona (2024)

FAQs

Why are people leaving Sierra Vista, Arizona? ›

Con: Declining population

People move away for various reasons: Jobs, family, cost of living, chief among them. Regardless of their reason, people moving out means a tougher economy, fewer resources, and less opportunity for social movement. Q: Is Sierra Vista, AZ, a nice place to live?

THE PHANTOM KILLER

In 1967, two young girls were murdered in the town of Sierra Vista, Arizona by a killer who called himself “The Phantom.” During the spring and summer months, residents were gripped with fear after 7-year-old Cindy Clelland's naked, mutilated body was found in a desert area near Fort Huachuca.

Sierra Vista is a safe community, a great place if you're looking to retire. This town does not have much to do for the youth.

Temperatures, generally 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the Phoenix area, remain pleasant year 'round, averaging 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 Celsius), thanks to Sierra Vista's elevation at 4,623 feet.

The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Sierra Vista is 1 in 52. Based on FBI crime data, Sierra Vista is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Arizona, Sierra Vista has a crime rate that is higher than 75% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

The average household income in Sierra Vista is $88,006 with a poverty rate of 10.83%. The median age in Sierra Vista is 37 years: 34.5 years for males, and 40.4 years for females.

Florence State Prison, Arizona, U.S. After being found guilty of 80 of 88 felony charges in one single trial including murder, attempted murder, arson, animal cruelty and drive-by-shootings, Hausner was sentenced to death. He killed himself in prison in 2013.

Francis Hermann (c. 1851 – after 1896) was an English-born American pastor, murderer and suspected serial killer. After being connected to the murder of two female churchgoers in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hermann fled the city and was never seen again. He is also suspected of murdering ex-wives and two of his children.

Sierra Vista has a long and deep relationship with Sonora, Mexico. Located about 20 miles north of the border, the nearest port of entry is at Naco, a 45 mile drive. The community of Naco, Sonora is a small pass-through for those headed south but the port of entry generally yields a quick crossing due to light use.

Is it cheaper to retire in Arizona or California? ›

The overall cost of living in Arizona is significantly lower than in California, with substantial differences in housing and transportation costs. While both states have varied geography, California tends to have a more moderate climate, while Arizona is typically arid with greater temperature extremes.

Groundwater currently supplies water to nearly 70,000 people in homes, businesses, farms, and industries in the Sierra Vista sub-watershed and provides the critical base flow for the San Pedro River.

Offering an extraordinary lifestyle, breathtaking natural beauty, and a relatively low cost of living, Sierra Vista was named as one of Fortune's 50 Best Places to Live for Families in 2023.

Sierra Vista's average high temperature is about 77 degrees, while it dips to an average low of 49 degrees. Sierra Vista also avoids lasting freezes, though snow occasionally dusts the soaring Huachuca Mountains in the winter.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest Sierra Vista racial/ethnic groups are White (56.1%) followed by Hispanic (24.6%) and Two or More (7.1%).

Unbearable Heat:

Arizona in the summer might as well be the surface of the sun. One of the biggest reasons people leave The Grand Canyon State is because they just can't take the heat. Believe it or not, the desert is hot.

Lower Cost of Living

Many people move from California and other high-cost states to Arizona to look for affordable housing and better living conditions. Generally, the cost of living in Arizona is low.

The Sierra Vista facility represents a $7.1 million investment. It will encompass 45,000 square feet, including 25,000 square feet dedicated to hangar space for the Blackstar Spacecraft. The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2026 and will open more than 50 new jobs in Aerospace and Defense.