ZIP Code · AZ

ZIP 85051

Part of Phoenix, AZ

Pop. 45,768·Maricopa County·166th most expensive ZIP in Arizona

Median rent (all units)

$1,265/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.8%

Month-over-Month

-0.6%

vs US Median

-$667

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 85051 · $1,265

More affordable than 88% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,190

1 BR

$1,300

2 BR

$1,530

3 BR

$2,070

4 BR+

$2,350

Research median

$1,530/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 85051 usually run 0.8% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in July, about $22 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 85051 is 0.6% below its high of $1,273 in August 2026, at $1,265 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in ZIP 85051 changed +2.8% 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 85051 rose 55.8% while median household income rose 57.5% ($43,942 to $69,189). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 85051 is 48.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($69,189) is $1,730 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,530); a 3-bedroom is $2,070.

Rank in Phoenix

7th cheapest of 43 ZIP codes in Phoenix.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 85031, 5 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,107/mo), about $1,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85051. 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

$15,180/yr

At $1,265/mo median

Location

CityPhoenix

StateAZ

CountyMaricopa County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, -0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 85051 (Phoenix, AZ) is majority owner-occupied, 19.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

45,768

Median income

$69,189

Median age

34.6

Renters

44.8%

Age distribution

23%

27.8%

25.2%

12.5%

Under 1823%

18–3427.8%

35–5425.2%

55–6411.5%

65+12.5%

Gender

51.5%

48.5%

Male51.5%

Female48.5%

Race & ethnicity

40.3%

48.7%

White40.3%

Black5.9%

Hispanic48.7%

Asian5%

Education (25+)

18.2%

31.4%

31.1%

19.3%

No HS diploma18.2%

HS diploma31.4%

Some college31.1%

Bachelor's+19.3%

Housing tenure

55.2%

44.8%

Owner55.2%

Renter44.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 85051 in Phoenix, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$984 → $1,265

up 28.6%

Income

$47,086 → $69,189

up 46.9%

Population

43,623 → 45,768

up 4.9%

Renter share

46.3% → 44.8%

-1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

17.8% → 19.3%

+1.5 pts

The median rent in ZIP 85051 in Phoenix, AZ stood at $984 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,265, reflecting a 28.6% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $69,189 today, compared with $47,086 five years earlier. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 4.9% since 2021, moving from about 43,623 residents to roughly 45,768. Renters now make up 44.8% of households, compared with 46.3% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 85051

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 85051 covers Phoenix, AZ. The median rent here is $1,265/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,300/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,530/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($69,189/yr), ZIP 85051 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85051?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,265/mo in ZIP 85051. The local median household income is $69,189/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85051?

Rent in ZIP 85051 has risen 2.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.6% below its high of $1,273 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85051?

Asking rents in ZIP 85051 are usually lowest in December, about 0.8% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $22 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 85051?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 85051 rose 55.8% while median household income rose 57.5%, from $43,942 to $69,189. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 85051 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?

ZIP 85051 is one of the more affordable among Arizona ZIP codes for rent, ranking #166 of 183 at $1,265/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 85051 changed +2.8%, against a typical +1.6% across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks.