PlainZIP

Scottsdale, AZ · standard

ZIP Code 85251

Maricopa County, Arizona — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

34,390
1,802/sq mi
$92,851
Median income
$554,400
Median home value
60.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Scottsdale pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

Top 24%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 11%
home value, US ZIPs
1,802
people per sq mi
49%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 85251 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 85251 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 19.1 square miles in Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona. The area is home to 34,390 residents, producing a population density of 1,802 people per square mile, and falls within the Phoenix time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 85251 against Arizona and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 85251 sits at $92,851 (28% above the Arizona average), while per-capita income is $85,871. The poverty rate stands at 8.8% and the unemployment rate at 4.1%. On housing, the median home value is $554,400 (64% above the state average) with median rent at $1,867 per month, and 48.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 85251 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 60.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.5, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Maricopa County, so you can benchmark 85251 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 85251

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 85251.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 85251, Scottsdale, AZ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

34,390

Population

19.1

Area (sq mi)

1,802

People / sq mi

Phoenix

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 85251?

38.5

Median Age

50.1%

Male

49.9%

Female

10.2%

Foreign-Born

White 78.1%
African American 2.6%
Asian 2.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.3%
Two or More Ethnicities 11.6%
Hispanic or Latino 14.9%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$92,851

Median Household Income

+28% vs state

$85,871

Per Capita Income

8.8%

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Unemployment Rate

20.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 85251 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$92,851 Top 24% higher than 76% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 74.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 60.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

26,458

Total Housing Units

22,018

Occupied Units

4,440

Vacant Units

1.82

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 48.5%
Renter 51.5%

$554,400

Median Home Value

+64% vs state

$1,867

Median Rent

1979

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+3.7%

YoY Change (2024)

454

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+354%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 85251 have increased 3.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +354% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +9.0% 292
2021 +18.3% 346
2022 +20.8% 418
2023 +4.7% 437
2024 +3.7% 454

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 2,676 business establishments in ZIP 85251, employing approximately 46,575 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,348,077,000.

2,676

Businesses

46,575

Employees

$3.3B

Annual Payroll

18

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 457 17.1%
Retail trade 402 15.0%
Health care and social assistance 347 13.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 313 11.7%
Accommodation and food services 260 9.7%
Finance and insurance 219 8.2%
Other services (except public administration) 200 7.5%
Construction 108 4.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 102 3.8%
Wholesale trade 69 2.6%
Information 53 2.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 45 1.7%
Manufacturing 28 1.1%
Educational services 23 0.9%
Management of companies and enterprises 21 0.8%
Transportation and warehousing 19 0.7%
Industries not classified 6 0.2%
Utilities 4 0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 85251 vs 85257 →

ZIP 85251 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 85251 ranks #6 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 85251 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 85251 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
85257 Scottsdale, AZ 26,755 2.1 mi
85250 Scottsdale, AZ 15,906 3.4 mi
85281 Tempe, AZ 57,348 4.6 mi
85018 Phoenix, AZ 36,065 3.9 mi
85256 Scottsdale, AZ 4,974 4.6 mi
85253 Paradise Valley, AZ 17,047 4.2 mi
85258 Scottsdale, AZ 23,342 5.1 mi
85008 Phoenix, AZ 56,145 4.4 mi
85282 Tempe, AZ 48,671 6.9 mi
85201 Mesa, AZ 46,092 5.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Maricopa County

85225 standard
Chandler, AZ
Pop: 69,810
85032 standard
Phoenix, AZ
Pop: 65,485
85308 standard
Glendale, AZ
Pop: 63,876
85204 standard
Mesa, AZ
Pop: 60,885
85301 standard
Glendale, AZ
Pop: 60,161
85281 standard
Tempe, AZ
Pop: 57,348

Related Areas

Maricopa County Scottsdale, AZ Arizona

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 85251 in? ▼
ZIP code 85251 (Scottsdale) is located in Maricopa County, Arizona. Maricopa County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/maricopa-az.
What is the population of ZIP code 85251? ▼
ZIP code 85251 in Scottsdale, AZ has a population of 34,390 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 85251? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 85251 is $92,851, which is 22% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 85251? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 85251 is $554,400, which is 99% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 85251? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 85251 is White at 78.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 85251? ▼
ZIP code 85251 has 2,676 business establishments employing approximately 46,575 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 85251? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 85251 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (457), Retail trade (402), Health care and social assistance (347). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 85251? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 85251 increased by 3.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 354%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 85251? ▼
In ZIP code 85251, 74.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 60.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 85251? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 85251 is 20.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 85251? ▼
In ZIP code 85251, approximately 48.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 51.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 85251? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 85251 is 8.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Scottsdale, AZ

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.