$287,616Average Value$208Average Price per Sq Ft43Homes For Sale
Bisbee is considered the quirkiest town in Arizona
Bisbee’s home market was the driving force in its transition from a booming copper mining town to a quirky hub for creatives. The area boomed in the 1870s when copper stores were discovered in the canyon. A century later, in the 1970s, the mines were closed. Workers left, leaving entire neighborhoods of empty homes. Young people flocked to Bisbee and swept up the advantageously priced homes, giving the town its hippie culture that still thrives today. “Bisbee is just this small little town, but it has got an amazing culture,” says Realtor Michelle Hagele with Long Realty, a long-time resident of Cochise County. “There’s a strong LGBTQ+ community, a strong biker culture, lots of quirky, artistic people, and they all get along. It’s an amazing place.” This artistic, foodie town is complete with a backdrop of the scenic Mule Mountains at an elevation that maintains cooler temperatures than Arizona’s lower deserts.
Bisbee is a tight-knit community and a family-friendly neighborhood.
The locals of Bisbee can join in on the farmers market happening weekly in Vista Park.
1/2
Live at the base of the canyon or climb to the top
The city of Bisbee consists of three main areas: Old Bisbee, Warren and San Jose. The overall median home price is about $240,000, but it’s more useful to look at each area individually. First is Old Bisbee, the historic, main part of town built in Tombstone Canyon. Old Bisbee’s cottages, adobe-style and wood-facade homes are typical of the Old West, but their expressive color schemes are unique. Prices range from under $150,000 to over $600,000. The long staircases that lead to homes up the canyon walls are a defining feature of Old Bisbee. The typical rule of thumb is “the more stairs, the lower the price,” while large homes around downtown Old Bisbee are on the higher end of the range. On the south side of the copper mines, homes in Warren and Lowell also range from under $150,000 to over $600,000 for eclectic 1910s mansions. San Jose is to the southwest, built around the Cochise County offices. Its homes can cost $120,000 to $375,000.
Residents can find the occasional bungalow style home in the Bisbee neighborhood.
Homes in the lower end of Bisbee sit on sizable lots with plenty of space.
1/2
Downtown Old Bisbee’s foodie culture
Bisbee’s vibrant artistic and culinary culture radiates from downtown. Some streets may look like a forgotten saloon town, but almost every building is home to a restaurant, bar, boutique, art studio or event space. “Old Bisbee is the cool part of town. It has a real foodie culture,” Hagele says. “Within a small area, you can walk to all these boutiques and restaurants.” In the heart of downtown, around the historic Copper Queen Hotel, there are dive bars like St. Elmo and spots like Bisbee Coffee Company roasting select beans, while Café Roka offers traditional fine dining. The winding streets extend west to more eateries like High Desert Market. Local art is guaranteed to be found on the walls of these establishments. There’s a Safeway in Huachuca Terrace for essentials, about 10 miles south of downtown Bisbee.
Buildings in Bisbee have been repurposed as shops and restaurants for locals and tourists.
Locals can grab a fresh cup of coffee to start your day at the Bisbee Coffee Company.
1/2
Community art installations and stair climbing events
The people of Bisbee make everything community centric. Local art is displayed all over town and on landmark locations like the Art Wall, an ever-changing collective mural between two downtown buildings. Local artists hang their recent canvas paintings and drawings on the wall, reflecting the town’s dynamic art scene. The community gathers for events throughout the year, but none are bigger than the Bisbee 1000 — also called The Great Stair Climb. This unique race celebrates Bisbee’s bounty of stairs. The course takes participants over 4 miles through town, climbing nine staircases that total over 1000 steps.
Colorful park spaces and hiking in the Mule Mountains
Bisbee is dotted with small park spaces. They’re usually equipped with a playground, a bit of grass and some locally painted decorations. These include quirky historical murals and human-sized checkerboards at City Park, cartoon paintings of desert animals at Garfield Park and abstract sculptures at Grassy Park. The surrounding canyon and Mule Mountains provide miles of hiking trails. People can even hike around the old Queen Copper Mine and the Lavender Pit Mine. Cooler temperatures at this elevation allow for comfortable year-round hiking. The mountains become greener during Southeast Arizona's monsoon season. The region receives most of its annual rainfall in these summer months. Warm winds bring these heavy fronts from the West Coast, awakening plant life across the landscape.
Grassy Park near Bisbee is a green space for relaxation.
Bisbee resident play sports at the maintained courts of Higgins Park.
1/2
The oldest high school football rivalry in Arizona
The Bisbee Unified School District serves local students and earns a C-plus grade from Niche. Kids begin at Greenway Primary School and continue at Lowell Junior High, which both earn a C-plus. All finish at Bisbee High, rated a B-minus. Bisbee High’s baseball team plays at Warren Ballpark. Built in 1909, it’s almost five years older than Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Bisbee’s football rivalry with Douglas High is even older. It’s the oldest rivalry game in Arizona, first played in 1906. The winner gets the Copper Pick Trophy, which has been fought over since being cast in 1944.
The seat of Cochise County
Bisbee has a few larger employers like Copper Queen Community Hospital. It’s also the seat of Cochise County, and the Cochise County offices are in the San Jose community. With the Mexican border just over 10 miles south, many locals work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Naco is the nearest crossing, but because Border Patrol agents aren’t allowed to live near the station where they work, most typically commute to the Douglas crossing, less than 30 miles east. Sierra Vista, Cochise County’s most populous city, is 25 miles northwest. It’s home to Fort Huachuca, a prominent U.S. Army base. Tucson is the closest major city, almost 100 miles northwest. Tucson International Airport is the closest major airport.
Written By
Ed Coombs
Photography Contributed By
Piter Beyt
Video By
Conar McDaniel
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Catherine Donovan,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Bisbee, AZ sell after 86 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Bisbee, AZ over the last 12 months is $239,500, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Affordable and move-in ready! This charming 3-bedroom Bisbee cottage was remodeled in 2021 and has a brand-new 2025 roof. Enjoy a fully fenced yard for privacy. Inside, the original living room opens to a bright, spacious great room with plenty of natural light. Make this lovely home yours!
Welcome to this charming 3 bedroom 2 bathroom cottage in Warren. This home has been meticulously maintained by current owner over the years. With newer flooring, paint, updated basement and other upgrades. Enjoy quiet evenings inn your gorgeous backyard with built in fireplace. Best of all it has a detached 1 bedroom 1 bathroom guest home. Live in the main house, rent out the guest house and get
Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to become the proud owner of Arizona's most storied hotel. The Copper Queen boasts a bar & restaurant and 48 meticulously remodeled rooms and suites, each appointed with private bathrooms. Every space is adorned with period antiques, vibrant wallpaper, sumptuous curtains, and luxurious bedding, evoking the opulence of a bygone era. The hotel has
HARD TO FIND IN-TOWN LOT in MAMIE subdivision, Bisbee near the Courthouse! Super potential for a great home in OLD BISBEE!. .068 of an acre is big enough for one, two or three story home with all utilities on the lot. Lot size is: 31.34' wide x 94.17'' deep. Have fun building your turn-of-the-19th/20th century home (or modern one) in the UNIQUE Mountain Town. Live the casual Bisbee lifestyle in
OLD BISBEE Large single-level two-bedroom, one-bath home with its own dedicated parking lot. The property includes a fully fenced courtyard shared only with the Airbnb guests in the detached unit next door. Inside, you'll find Saltillo tile throughout, four newer mini-splits, and an eat-in kitchen that opens to a private covered side porch. The home sits in a great spot with views of downtown and
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
