ZIP Code · AZ

ZIP 85205

Part of Mesa, AZ

Pop. 45,116·Maricopa County·85th most expensive ZIP in Arizona

Median rent (all units)

$1,770/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.7%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$162

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 85205 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 85205 · $1,770

More affordable than 53% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,280

1 BR

$1,390

2 BR

$1,610

3 BR

$2,150

4 BR+

$2,400

Research median

$1,610/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 85205 usually run 1.5% below trend in December and 1% above it in June, about $44 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 85205 is 0% below its high of $1,770 in August 2026, at $1,770 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in ZIP 85205 changed +1.7% 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 85205 rose 52.8% while median household income rose 31.6% ($55,699 to $73,283). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 85205 is 46.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,283) is $1,832 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,610); a 3-bedroom is $2,150.

Rank in Mesa

8th cheapest of 13 ZIP codes in Mesa.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 85204, 5 miles away, rents for 22% less ($1,376/mo), about $4,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85205. 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

$21,240/yr

At $1,770/mo median

Location

CityMesa

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 (+1.7% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 85205 (Mesa, AZ) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 31.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

45,116

Median income

$73,283

Median age

49.3

Renters

26.6%

Age distribution

19.3%

15.5%

21.4%

14.9%

28.9%

Under 1819.3%

18–3415.5%

35–5421.4%

55–6414.9%

65+28.9%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

76.1%

15.9%

White76.1%

Black4.1%

Hispanic15.9%

Asian2.9%

Other1%

Education (25+)

24.1%

38.4%

31.1%

No HS diploma6.3%

HS diploma24.1%

Some college38.4%

Bachelor's+31.1%

Housing tenure

73.4%

26.6%

Owner73.4%

Renter26.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 85205 in Mesa, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,370 → $1,770

up 29.2%

Income

$62,047 → $73,283

up 18.1%

Population

44,195 → 45,116

up 2.1%

Renter share

29.6% → 26.6%

-3.0 pts

Bachelor's+

28.8% → 31.1%

+2.3 pts

The median rent in ZIP 85205 in Mesa, AZ stood at $1,370 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,770, reflecting a 29.2% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $73,283 today, compared with $62,047 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.1% since 2021, moving from about 44,195 residents to roughly 45,116. Renters now make up 26.6% of households, compared with 29.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 31.1% of adults here, versus 28.8% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 85205

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 85205

About renting in ZIP 85205

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 85205 covers Mesa, AZ. The median rent here is $1,770/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,390/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,610/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($73,283/yr), ZIP 85205 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85205?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $71,000/year (about $34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,770/mo in ZIP 85205. The local median household income is $73,283/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85205?

Rent in ZIP 85205 has risen 1.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0% below its high of $1,770 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85205?

Asking rents in ZIP 85205 are usually lowest in December, about 1.5% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $44 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 85205?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 85205 rose 52.8% while median household income rose 31.6%, from $55,699 to $73,283. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 85205 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?

ZIP 85205 is in the middle among Arizona ZIP codes for rent, ranking #85 of 183 at $1,770/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 85205 changed +1.7%, against a typical +1.6% across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks.