Maricopa County Is The 4th Most Populous County, Leads Nation In Growth

By Mythili Gubbi
Published: Friday, April 19, 2019 - 8:23am
Updated: Thursday, April 25, 2019 - 2:35pm

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neighborhood near 35th Avenue and Filmore Street in Phoenix
The sun rises over a neighborhood near 35th Avenue and Filmore Street in Phoenix in March 2019.

According to the U.S. Census data, Maricopa County grew by 81,000 people in 2018 — the top figure in the nation.

That’s the highest growth in the country, and double that of Clark County, Nevada, which was second on the list.

New residents come from all over, especially neighboring California. Many also come from Texas, Colorado, Washington and Illinois.

“The median age is 33.5, and for the nation, it’s about 29. They are generally a little bit older than the national average,” said Jim Chang, the state demographer, about the migrants who move to Arizona.

Since most migrants to the state live in Maricopa County, the median age there matches the state’s figure.

Chang also added that the migrants tend be better educated than native Arizonans.

Arizona’s growth remains centered in its urban areas, as the numbers held steady in the more rural Apache, Gila, Greenlee and Graham counties. And Santa Cruz and Cochise were the only counties in Arizona to lose population.

“Some are going also to Yavapai County and also to some of the retirement communities in La Paz and Mohave. But in the more rural areas like Apache and Navajo, probably not receiving a lot,” said Chang.

He added it’s part of a trend with Arizona’s growth, which is largely concentrated in urban areas.