PlainZIP

Payson, AZ · standard

ZIP Code 85541

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

21,877
11/sq mi
$66,383
Median income
$361,200
Median home value
22.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Payson pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

41th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 25%
home value, US ZIPs
11
people per sq mi
79%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 85541 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 85541 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 2025.6 square miles in Payson, Gila County, Arizona. The area is home to 21,877 residents, producing a population density of 11 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 85541 against Arizona and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 85541 sits at $66,383 (9% below the Arizona average), while per-capita income is $44,466. The poverty rate stands at 10.1% and the unemployment rate at 5.6%. On housing, the median home value is $361,200 (7% above the state average) with median rent at $1,260 per month, and 79.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 85541 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 22.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 61.1, and the average commute is 19 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 85541 sits relative to Arizona and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 85541

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 85541.

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 85541, Payson, 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

21,877

Population

2025.6

Area (sq mi)

11

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 85541?

61.1

Median Age

50.0%

Male

50.0%

Female

4.0%

Foreign-Born

White 84.8%
African American 0.5%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.6%
Hispanic or Latino 11.0%

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?

$66,383

Median Household Income

-9% vs state

$44,466

Per Capita Income

10.1%

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

19.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 85541 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$66,383 41st percentile higher than 41% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 50.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.4%

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

What does housing look like?

16,107

Total Housing Units

11,796

Occupied Units

4,311

Vacant Units

1.95

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 79.1%
Renter 20.9%

$361,200

Median Home Value

+7% vs state

$1,260

Median Rent

1992

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

+2.6%

YoY Change (2024)

279

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+179%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 85541 have increased 2.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +179% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.2% 185
2021 +18.8% 219
2022 +22.5% 269
2023 +1.0% 271
2024 +2.6% 279

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 637 business establishments in ZIP 85541, employing approximately 5,239 people with a combined annual payroll of $223,921,000.

637

Businesses

5,239

Employees

$223.9M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 100 15.7%
Health care and social assistance 94 14.8%
Accommodation and food services 72 11.3%
Retail trade 69 10.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 67 10.5%
Other services (except public administration) 58 9.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 56 8.8%
Finance and insurance 34 5.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 27 4.2%
Information 15 2.4%
Transportation and warehousing 10 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 10 1.6%
Manufacturing 9 1.4%
Wholesale trade 6 0.9%
Educational services 4 0.6%
Utilities 3 0.5%

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

More ZIP Codes in Gila County

85501 standard
Globe, AZ
Pop: 13,345
85550 standard
San Carlos, AZ
Pop: 4,790
85539 standard
Miami, AZ
Pop: 4,520
85544 standard
Pine, AZ
Pop: 2,949
85553 standard
Tonto Basin, AZ
Pop: 1,501
85554 standard
Young, AZ
Pop: 778

Related Areas

Gila County Payson, AZ Arizona

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 85541 in? ▼
ZIP code 85541 (Payson) is located in Gila County, Arizona. Gila County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/gila-az.
What is the population of ZIP code 85541? ▼
ZIP code 85541 in Payson, AZ has a population of 21,877 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 85541? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 85541 is $66,383, which is 13% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 85541? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 85541 is $361,200, which is 30% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 85541? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 85541 is White at 84.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 85541? ▼
ZIP code 85541 has 637 business establishments employing approximately 5,239 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 85541? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 85541 are: Construction (100), Health care and social assistance (94), Accommodation and food services (72). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 85541? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 85541 increased by 2.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 179%. 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 85541? ▼
In ZIP code 85541, 50.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.4% 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 85541? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 85541 is 19.3 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 85541? ▼
In ZIP code 85541, approximately 79.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 85541? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 85541 is 10.1% 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 Payson, 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.