ZIP Code · AZ

ZIP 85044

Part of Phoenix, AZ

Pop. 39,347·Maricopa County·126th most expensive ZIP in Arizona

Median rent (all units)

$1,554/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.2%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$378

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 85044 · $1,554

More affordable than 69% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,135

1 BR

$1,237

2 BR

$1,435

3 BR

$1,913

4 BR+

$2,124

Research median

$1,435/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

December. Asking rents in ZIP 85044 usually run 1.5% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in June, about $37 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 85044 is 4.7% below its high of $1,630 in March 2022, at $1,554 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in ZIP 85044 changed +1.2% 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 85044 rose 34.3% while median household income rose 26.4% ($76,573 to $96,820). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 85044 is 25.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($96,820) is $2,421 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,250); a 3-bedroom is $3,000.

Rank in Phoenix

22nd cheapest of 43 ZIP codes in Phoenix.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 85007, 8 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,375/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85044. 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

$18,648/yr

At $1,554/mo median

Location

CityPhoenix

StateAZ

CountyMaricopa County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.2% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 85044 (Phoenix, AZ) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 51.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

39,347

Median income

$96,820

Median age

42.6

Renters

37.6%

Age distribution

18.2%

23.1%

26.7%

12.4%

19.6%

Under 1818.2%

18–3423.1%

35–5426.7%

55–6412.4%

65+19.6%

Gender

48.7%

51.3%

Male48.7%

Female51.3%

Race & ethnicity

65.7%

17.3%

White65.7%

Black6.1%

Hispanic17.3%

Asian5.6%

Other5.3%

Education (25+)

15.2%

29.6%

51.3%

No HS diploma3.9%

HS diploma15.2%

Some college29.6%

Bachelor's+51.3%

Housing tenure

62.4%

37.6%

Owner62.4%

Renter37.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 85044 in Phoenix, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,370 → $1,554

up 13.4%

Income

$84,571 → $96,820

up 14.5%

Population

40,815 → 39,347

down 3.6%

Renter share

36.9% → 37.6%

+0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

50.8% → 51.3%

+0.5 pts

Median age

39.4 → 42.6

+3.2 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 85044 in Phoenix, AZ stood at $1,370 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,554, reflecting a 13.4% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 85044 in Phoenix, AZ now reports about $96,820, up from $84,571 in 2021. The population has contracted by 3.6% since 2021, moving from about 40,815 residents to roughly 39,347. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 85044 in Phoenix, AZ reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 85044

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 85044 covers Phoenix, AZ. The median rent here is $1,554/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,237/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,435/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($96,820/yr), ZIP 85044 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85044?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,554/mo in ZIP 85044. The local median household income is $96,820/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85044?

Rent in ZIP 85044 has risen 1.2% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 4.7% below its high of $1,630 in March 2022.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85044?

Asking rents in ZIP 85044 are usually lowest in December, about 1.5% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $37 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 85044?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 85044 rose 34.3% while median household income rose 26.4%, from $76,573 to $96,820. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 85044 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?

ZIP 85044 is one of the more affordable among Arizona ZIP codes for rent, ranking #126 of 183 at $1,554/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 85044 changed +1.2%, against a typical +1.6% across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks.