ZIP Code · AZ

ZIP 85021

Part of Phoenix, AZ

Pop. 39,828·Maricopa County·173rd most expensive ZIP in Arizona

Median rent (all units)

$1,197/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.5%

Month-over-Month

+1.4%

vs US Median

-$735

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 85021 · $1,197

More affordable than 91% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$876

1 BR

$953

2 BR

$1,106

3 BR

$1,474

4 BR+

$1,634

Research median

$1,106/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

March. Asking rents in ZIP 85021 usually run 1.2% below trend in March and 0.7% above it in September, about $23 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 85021 is 5.6% below its high of $1,268 in February 2022, at $1,197 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in ZIP 85021 changed +2.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 85021 rose 48.9% while median household income rose 34.3% ($44,511 to $59,768). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 85021 is 38.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($59,768) is $1,494 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,370); a 2-bedroom is $1,590.

Rank in Phoenix

4th cheapest of 43 ZIP codes in Phoenix.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85021. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$14,364/yr

At $1,197/mo median

Location

CityPhoenix

StateAZ

CountyMaricopa County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.5% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 85021 (Phoenix, AZ) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 35.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

39,828

Median income

$59,768

Median age

34.8

Renters

60.6%

Age distribution

22.9%

27.5%

23.7%

15.3%

Under 1822.9%

18–3427.5%

35–5423.7%

55–6410.7%

65+15.3%

Gender

51%

49%

Male51%

Female49%

Race & ethnicity

45.5%

34.9%

White45.5%

Black12%

Hispanic34.9%

Asian1.9%

Other5.7%

Education (25+)

13.1%

20.3%

31%

35.6%

No HS diploma13.1%

HS diploma20.3%

Some college31%

Bachelor's+35.6%

Housing tenure

39.4%

60.6%

Owner39.4%

Renter60.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 85021 in Phoenix, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,037 → $1,197

up 15.4%

Income

$51,193 → $59,768

up 16.8%

Population

39,611 → 39,828

up 0.5%

Renter share

60.8% → 60.6%

-0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

34.8% → 35.6%

+0.8 pts

Median age

35.4 → 34.8

-0.6 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 85021 in Phoenix, AZ has climbed by $160 per month, settling near $1,197 after starting the period at $1,037. Census figures show median household income at $59,768 today, compared with $51,193 five years earlier. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 85021

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 85021 covers Phoenix, AZ. The median rent here is $1,197/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $953/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,106/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($59,768/yr), ZIP 85021 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85021?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $48,000/year (about $23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,197/mo in ZIP 85021. The local median household income is $59,768/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85021?

Rent in ZIP 85021 has risen 2.5% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 5.6% below its high of $1,268 in February 2022.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85021?

Asking rents in ZIP 85021 are usually lowest in March, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 0.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $23 a month. This pattern comes from 9 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 85021?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 85021 rose 48.9% while median household income rose 34.3%, from $44,511 to $59,768. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 85021 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?

ZIP 85021 is one of the more affordable among Arizona ZIP codes for rent, ranking #173 of 183 at $1,197/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 85021 changed +2.5%, against a typical +1.6% across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks.