ZIP Code · AZ

ZIP 85053

Part of Phoenix, AZ

Pop. 29,773·Maricopa County·165th most expensive ZIP in Arizona

Median rent (all units)

$1,277/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.9%

Month-over-Month

+0.9%

vs US Median

-$655

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 85053 · $1,277

More affordable than 87% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,240

1 BR

$1,350

2 BR

$1,570

3 BR

$2,090

4 BR+

$2,350

Research median

$1,570/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 85053 usually run 1.1% below trend in January and 1.1% above it in July, about $28 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 85053 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in ZIP 85053 changed +6.9% 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 85053 rose 43.9% while median household income rose 25.3% ($55,865 to $70,011). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 85053 is 41.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($70,011) is $1,750 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,570); a 3-bedroom is $2,090.

Rank in Phoenix

8th cheapest of 43 ZIP codes in Phoenix.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 85031, 10 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,107/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85053. 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

$15,324/yr

At $1,277/mo median

Location

CityPhoenix

StateAZ

CountyMaricopa County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.9% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 85053 (Phoenix, AZ) is majority owner-occupied, 27.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

29,773

Median income

$70,011

Median age

36.3

Renters

38.5%

Age distribution

23%

24.9%

27.9%

13.1%

Under 1823%

18–3424.9%

35–5427.9%

55–6411.2%

65+13.1%

Gender

52.7%

47.3%

Male52.7%

Female47.3%

Race & ethnicity

65.5%

24.1%

White65.5%

Black6.3%

Hispanic24.1%

Asian4.9%

Education (25+)

30.6%

34.4%

27.9%

No HS diploma7.2%

HS diploma30.6%

Some college34.4%

Bachelor's+27.9%

Housing tenure

61.5%

38.5%

Owner61.5%

Renter38.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 85053 in Phoenix, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,011 → $1,277

up 26.3%

Income

$56,495 → $70,011

up 23.9%

Population

28,939 → 29,773

up 2.9%

Renter share

39.8% → 38.5%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

23.8% → 27.9%

+4.1 pts

The median rent in ZIP 85053 in Phoenix, AZ stood at $1,011 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,277, reflecting a 26.3% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $56,495 to $70,011 across the same window, up 23.9% versus 2021. The population has grown by 2.9% since 2021, moving from about 28,939 residents to roughly 29,773. College-educated residents now make up 27.9% of adults here, versus 23.8% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 85053 in Phoenix, AZ look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 85053

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 85053 covers Phoenix, AZ. The median rent here is $1,277/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,350/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,570/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($70,011/yr), ZIP 85053 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85053?

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 $1,277/mo in ZIP 85053. The local median household income is $70,011/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85053?

Rent in ZIP 85053 has risen 6.9% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85053?

Asking rents in ZIP 85053 are usually lowest in January, about 1.1% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $28 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 85053?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 85053 rose 43.9% while median household income rose 25.3%, from $55,865 to $70,011. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 85053 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?

ZIP 85053 is one of the more affordable among Arizona ZIP codes for rent, ranking #165 of 183 at $1,277/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 85053 changed +6.9%, against a typical +1.6% across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks.