ZIP 85042
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in ZIP 85042 usually run 1% below trend in February and 1% above it in July, about $33 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 85042 is 3.2% below its high of $1,701 in January 2025, at $1,647 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 85042 changed -0.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 85042 rose 50% while median household income rose 46.3% ($60,644 to $88,717). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 85042 is 41.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($88,717) is $2,218 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,780); a 3-bedroom is $2,370.
25th cheapest of 43 ZIP codes in Phoenix.
ZIP 85034, 5 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,440/mo), about $2,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85042. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 85042 (Phoenix, AZ) is majority owner-occupied, 34.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 85042 in Phoenix, AZ has changed in 5 years
Rent in ZIP 85042 in Phoenix, AZ has increased 26.3% since 2021, going from about $1,304 per month to roughly $1,647 today. Household income in the area moved from $71,722 to $88,717 across the same window, up 23.7% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 45,315 to 45,903 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.3% change. About 32.4% of households rent today, against 38.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 25.3% to 34.9%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 85042 in Phoenix, AZ look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about ZIP 85042
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Tips for renters in ZIP 85042
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 85042 covers Phoenix, AZ. The median rent here is $1,647/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,530/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,780/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($88,717/yr), ZIP 85042 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85042?
Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85042?
When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85042?
Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 85042?
How does ZIP 85042 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?
How does ZIP 85042 compare to the rest of Phoenix?
At $1,647/mo, rent takes ~22% of ZIP 85042's median household income ($88,717/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Be the first to submit your rent for this ZIP.
No discussions yet.