PlainZIP

Benson, AZ · standard

ZIP Code 85602

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

9,464
5/sq mi
$53,008
Median income
$203,200
Median home value
26.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Benson pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

18th pct
household income, US ZIPs
44th pct
home value, US ZIPs
5
people per sq mi
73%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 85602 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 85602 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 1931.4 square miles in Benson, Cochise County, Arizona. The area is home to 9,464 residents, producing a population density of 5 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 85602 against Arizona and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 85602 sits at $53,008 (27% below the Arizona average), while per-capita income is $32,345. The poverty rate stands at 12.2% and the unemployment rate at 6.5%. On housing, the median home value is $203,200 (40% below the state average) with median rent at $786 per month, and 73.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 85602 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 26.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 54.2, and the average commute is 33 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 85602 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 85602

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 85602.

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 85602, Benson, 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

9,464

Population

1931.4

Area (sq mi)

5

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 85602?

54.2

Median Age

50.3%

Male

49.7%

Female

3.0%

Foreign-Born

White 83.1%
African American 0.2%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.8%
Hispanic or Latino 15.4%

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?

$53,008

Median Household Income

-27% vs state

$32,345

Per Capita Income

12.2%

Poverty Rate

6.5%

Unemployment Rate

33.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 85602 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$53,008 18th percentile higher than 18% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $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 56.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.7%

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

What does housing look like?

5,627

Total Housing Units

4,503

Occupied Units

1,124

Vacant Units

2.20

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 73.0%
Renter 27.0%

$203,200

Median Home Value

-40% vs state

$786

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

+3.3%

YoY Change (2024)

262

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+162%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 85602 have increased 3.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +162% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.5% 165
2021 +17.6% 194
2022 +19.7% 232
2023 +9.4% 254
2024 +3.3% 262

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 195 business establishments in ZIP 85602, employing approximately 2,194 people with a combined annual payroll of $95,981,000.

195

Businesses

2,194

Employees

$96.0M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 33 16.9%
Accommodation and food services 28 14.4%
Health care and social assistance 23 11.8%
Other services (except public administration) 23 11.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 16 8.2%
Construction 15 7.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 13 6.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 4.6%
Transportation and warehousing 7 3.6%
Finance and insurance 6 3.1%
Utilities 4 2.0%
Information 4 2.0%
Wholesale trade 3 1.5%
Educational services 3 1.5%

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

More ZIP Codes in Cochise County

85635 standard
Sierra Vista, AZ
Pop: 34,727
85607 standard
Douglas, AZ
Pop: 18,925
85650 standard
Sierra Vista, AZ
Pop: 15,279
85643 standard
Willcox, AZ
Pop: 9,810
85615 standard
Hereford, AZ
Pop: 9,413
85603 standard
Bisbee, AZ
Pop: 7,155

Related Areas

Cochise County Benson, AZ Arizona

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 85602 in? ▼
ZIP code 85602 (Benson) is located in Cochise County, Arizona. Cochise County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cochise-az.
What is the population of ZIP code 85602? ▼
ZIP code 85602 in Benson, AZ has a population of 9,464 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 85602? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 85602 is $53,008, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 85602? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 85602 is $203,200, which is 27% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 85602? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 85602 is White at 83.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 85602? ▼
ZIP code 85602 has 195 business establishments employing approximately 2,194 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 85602? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 85602 are: Retail trade (33), Accommodation and food services (28), Health care and social assistance (23). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 85602? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 85602 increased by 3.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 162%. 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 85602? ▼
In ZIP code 85602, 56.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.7% 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 85602? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 85602 is 33.0 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 85602? ▼
In ZIP code 85602, approximately 73.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 85602? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 85602 is 12.2% 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 Benson, 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.