NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Flagstaff, AZ

Metro Market Score 64.4 (Difficult), ranked #305 of 378 metros. 448 establishments, 7,061 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 64.4
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

⚡Rising Wages

Retail Trade employment in Flagstaff contracted year-over-year, placing the growth trend in the bottom quartile at 13.8. Declining job counts can indicate consolidation, population shifts, or reduced local demand. Due diligence on the local economy is especially important here.

Industry Concentration
33.3
LQ: 1.07
Rank #126 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
59.5
$38,685 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 13.8
Employment growth index
Rank #327 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
76.7
YoY wage change index

448 Retail Trade Firms in Flagstaff

448
Establishments
+1.6% YoY
7,061
Total Employment
-2.5% YoY
$38,685
Average Annual Wage
+2.9% YoY
1.07
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Flagstaff vs Arizona Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Arizona overall. The state ranks #32/51 for entry risk.

Measure Flagstaff AZ Statewide
Overall Score 64.4 Difficult 44.9 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #305 of 378 metros #32 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Flagstaff

Administrative and Support Services 21.1 Construction 22.3 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 26.5 Information 27.1 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 32.0 Finance and Insurance 42.6 Healthcare and Social Assistance 47.6 Other Services 53.3 Accommodation and Food Services 67.0

Retail Trade in Other Arizona Metros

Sierra Vista-Douglas 42.9 #69/378 Yuma 50.0 #138/378 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler 58.7 #241/378 Lake Havasu City-Kingman 59.0 #244/378 Tucson 60.5 #260/378 Prescott Valley-Prescott 63.2 #288/378

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Flagstaff's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (86.2) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.