ZIP Code · AZ

ZIP 85208

Part of Mesa, AZ
Pop. 37,225·Maricopa County·64th most expensive ZIP in Arizona
Median rent (all units)
$1,899/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.0%
Month-over-Month
-0.3%
vs US Median
-$33
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss 85208 rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 85208 · $1,899
More expensive than 55% 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
$1,400
1 BR
$1,520
2 BR
$1,770
3 BR
$2,360
4 BR+
$2,620
Research median
$1,770/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 85208 usually run 1% below trend in January and 1.1% above it in September, about $40 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 85208 is 0.5% below its high of $1,908 in July 2026, at $1,899 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in ZIP 85208 changed +1.0% 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 85208 rose 46.7% while median household income rose 30.9% ($53,016 to $69,390). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 85208 is 40.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($69,390) is $1,735 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,520); a 2-bedroom is $1,770.

Rank in Mesa

9th cheapest of 13 ZIP codes in Mesa.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 85206, 5 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,697/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85208. 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
$22,788/yr
At $1,899/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 (+1.0% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 85208 (Mesa, AZ) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 22.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
37,225
Median income
$69,390
Median age
46
Renters
18.3%
Age distribution
19.2%
17.8%
21.5%
16%
25.4%
Under 1819.2%
18–3417.8%
35–5421.5%
55–6416%
65+25.4%
Gender
47.9%
52.1%
Male47.9%
Female52.1%
Race & ethnicity
69.7%
24.2%
White69.7%
Black2.3%
Hispanic24.2%
Asian1.8%
Other1.9%
Education (25+)
28.3%
38.4%
22.4%
No HS diploma10.9%
HS diploma28.3%
Some college38.4%
Bachelor's+22.4%
Housing tenure
81.7%
18.3%
Owner81.7%
Renter18.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 85208 in Mesa, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,559 → $1,899
up 21.8%
Income
$59,684 → $69,390
up 16.3%
Population
36,837 → 37,225
up 1.1%
Renter share
21.6% → 18.3%
-3.3 pts
Bachelor's+
20.8% → 22.4%
+1.6 pts
Median age
44 → 46
+2.0 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 85208 in Mesa, AZ has climbed from $1,559 to $1,899, a 21.8% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $59,684 to $69,390 across the same window, up 16.3% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.1% since 2021, moving from about 36,837 residents to roughly 37,225. Renters now make up 18.3% of households, compared with 21.6% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 85208 in Mesa, AZ look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 85208

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 85208

About renting in ZIP 85208

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 85208 covers Mesa, AZ. The median rent here is $1,899/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,520/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,770/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($69,390/yr), ZIP 85208 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85208?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $76,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,899/mo in ZIP 85208. The local median household income is $69,390/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85208?

Rent in ZIP 85208 has risen 1.0% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.5% below its high of $1,908 in July 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85208?

Asking rents in ZIP 85208 are usually lowest in January, about 1% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $40 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 85208?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 85208 rose 46.7% while median household income rose 30.9%, from $53,016 to $69,390. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 85208 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?

ZIP 85208 is in the middle among Arizona ZIP codes for rent, ranking #64 of 183 at $1,899/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 85208 changed +1.0%, against a typical +1.6% across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks.

How does ZIP 85208 compare to the rest of Mesa?

At $1,899/mo, ZIP 85208 is $367 above the Mesa citywide median of $1,532/mo. It is the 9th cheapest of 13 ZIP codes in Mesa.
Income Affordability
33%
MODERATE

At $1,899/mo, rent takes ~33% of ZIP 85208's median household income ($69,390/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 85208 33%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.5%
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 85208 (Mesa, AZ)

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for this ZIP.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.