ZIP Code · AZ

ZIP 85203

Part of Mesa, AZ

Pop. 38,035·Maricopa County·161st most expensive ZIP in Arizona

Median rent (all units)

$1,291/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.0%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$641

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 85203 · $1,291

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

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$942

1 BR

$1,028

2 BR

$1,192

3 BR

$1,591

4 BR+

$1,763

Research median

$1,192/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 85203 usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1.4% above it in August, about $35 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 85203 is 1.3% below its high of $1,308 in April 2022, at $1,291 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in ZIP 85203 changed +2.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,578) is $1,839 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,670); a 3-bedroom is $2,230.

Rank in Mesa

1st cheapest of 13 ZIP codes in Mesa.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85203. 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

$15,492/yr

At $1,291/mo median

Location

CityMesa

StateAZ

CountyMaricopa County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.0% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 85203 (Mesa, AZ) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 28.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

38,035

Median income

$73,578

Median age

33.2

Renters

43.4%

Age distribution

26.1%

26.5%

23.9%

12.3%

Under 1826.1%

18–3426.5%

35–5423.9%

55–6411.1%

65+12.3%

Gender

51.4%

48.6%

Male51.4%

Female48.6%

Race & ethnicity

60.7%

30.7%

White60.7%

Black4.2%

Hispanic30.7%

Asian2.5%

Other1.9%

Education (25+)

26%

34.8%

28.4%

No HS diploma10.8%

HS diploma26%

Some college34.8%

Bachelor's+28.4%

Housing tenure

56.6%

43.4%

Owner56.6%

Renter43.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 85203 in Mesa, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,047 → $1,291

up 23.3%

Income

$62,514 → $73,578

up 17.7%

Population

38,719 → 38,035

down 1.8%

Renter share

44.1% → 43.4%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

25.7% → 28.4%

+2.7 pts

Median age

31.8 → 33.2

+1.4 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 85203 in Mesa, AZ has shifted from $1,047 to $1,291, up 23.3% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $62,514 in 2021 to $73,578 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 85203 in Mesa, AZ losing about 684 residents over the five-year window, down 1.8% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 25.7% to 28.4% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 85203 in Mesa, AZ market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 85203

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 85203 covers Mesa, AZ. The median rent here is $1,291/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,028/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,192/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($73,578/yr), ZIP 85203 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85203?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $52,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,291/mo in ZIP 85203. The local median household income is $73,578/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85203?

Rent in ZIP 85203 has risen 2.0% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.3% below its high of $1,308 in April 2022.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85203?

Asking rents in ZIP 85203 are usually lowest in January, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $35 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 85203 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?

ZIP 85203 is one of the more affordable among Arizona ZIP codes for rent, ranking #161 of 183 at $1,291/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 85203 changed +2.0%, against a typical +1.6% across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks.