The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 85638 sells for about $314,500, or $203 per square foot.
Prices are up +26.3% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 168 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $918 a month.
ZIP 85638 — Tombstone
The 85638 housing market is characterized by low inventory and slow turnover, with a median sale price of $314,500. Market activity is driven by the area's niche appeal as a historic tourist destination rather than broad residential demand. Prices have seen significant year-over-year growth, though the small number of closed sales suggests a thin market.
This ZIP is best suited for retirees, history enthusiasts, and those seeking a rural, low-density lifestyle, as it lacks the infrastructure and employment density required by typical urban commuters or young families.
Median prices moved up 26.3% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 168 days on market with 11.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 5.6% · poverty 14.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
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 6.9%/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 4.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
ZCTA 85638, Cochise County AZ
Schools serving the area are generally characterized by smaller rural district settings with limited comparative data.
The area faces typical high-desert environmental risks including wildfire potential and seasonal flash flooding.
Economic momentum is driven by tourism related to the historic Tombstone district, with limited large-scale industrial or corporate 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) — Ad Valorem Property Taxation — Class 3 and Class 4 Residential Assessment: Imposes primary and secondary ad valorem taxes based on Limited Property Value (LPV). Formula: Net Assessed Value (NAV) = LPV × Assessment Ratio (10.0% for Class 3 owner-occupied under A.R.S.
Commuting typically requires personal vehicle travel to larger employment hubs like Sierra Vista, as public transit options are minimal.
The area is defined by its historic Old West attractions, local museums, and proximity to high-desert hiking trails and outdoor recreation.
The rental market is limited in depth, with a mix of long-term housing and potential short-term vacation rental presence due to the historic tourism base.
The local economy is heavily reliant on tourism, hospitality, and services catering to visitors of the historic Tombstone district.
Transportation is almost exclusively dependent on private vehicles, with no significant public transit infrastructure serving the area.
There are no major large-scale commercial or residential developments currently under construction in the ZIP code.
Cochise County Assessor manages property valuations, which are generally based on market-comparable sales data.
Parcels are subject to Tombstone Unified School District and Cochise County community college district levies.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by the area's rural classification and wildfire risk exposure.
Data retrieved from Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
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. Source: NCES EDGE public school locations 2023-24.
The primary tourist anchor featuring preserved 19th-century buildings and Old West reenactments.
A world-famous historic site and museum dedicated to the 1881 gunfight.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.