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 High-density area
- $92,851
- Median income Above-median income area
- $554,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 60.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 85251 (Scottsdale, AZ) rose +3.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 437.4 in 2023 to 453.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 85251 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona, with 34,390 residents across 19.1 square miles, a density of 1,802 people per square mile, in the Phoenix time zone.
ZIP 85251 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $92,851 (28% above the average Arizona ZIP), while per-capita income is $85,871. The poverty rate is 8.8%, with unemployment at 4.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $554,400 (64% above the average Arizona ZIP), with only 48.5% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,867.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 60.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.5, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Maricopa County, so 85251 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 85251
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Scottsdale, AZ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 85251.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
457 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
402 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
347 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
313 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
260 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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
Who lives in ZIP 85251?
38.5
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
10.2%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$85,871
Per Capita Income
8.8%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
20.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 85251 ranks nationally
Scottsdale, AZ 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
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
26,458housing units
26,458
Total Housing Units
22,018
Occupied Units
4,440
Vacant Units
1.82
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$554,400
Median Home Value
+64% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 85281
Tempe (85281)
57,348 residents
- 85008
Phoenix (85008)
56,145 residents
- 85282
Tempe (85282)
48,671 residents
- 85201
Mesa (85201)
46,092 residents
- 85018
Phoenix (85018)
36,065 residents
- 85251
Scottsdale (85251)
34,390 residents
- 85257
Scottsdale (85257)
26,755 residents
- 85258
Scottsdale (85258)
23,342 residents
- 85253 17,047
Paradise Valley (85253)
17,047 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 85251 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 85251 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 85253
Paradise Valley (85253)
$184,979 median income
- 85258
Scottsdale (85258)
$114,111 median income
- 85250
Scottsdale (85250)
$95,761 median income
- 85018
Phoenix (85018)
$93,885 median income
- 85251
Scottsdale (85251)
$92,851 median income
- 85257
Scottsdale (85257)
$86,962 median income
- 85282
Tempe (85282)
$79,036 median income
- 85201 $67,294
Mesa (85201)
$67,294 median income
- 85008 $66,353
Phoenix (85008)
$66,353 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 85251, both outside AZ so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (34,390 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Maricopa County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 85251's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 85251 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Scottsdale, AZ ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.