ZIP Code · AZ

ZIP 85742

Part of Tucson, AZ

Pop. 31,613·Pima County·100th most expensive ZIP in Arizona

Median rent (all units)

$1,695/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

-$237

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 85742 · $1,695

More affordable than 58% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,370

1 BR

$1,530

2 BR

$1,980

3 BR

$2,750

4 BR+

$3,170

Research median

$1,980/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

November. Asking rents in ZIP 85742 usually run 1.6% below trend in November and 1.2% above it in March, about $47 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 85742 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in ZIP 85742 changed +6.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($98,844) is $2,471 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,980); a 3-bedroom is $2,750.

Rank in Tucson

19th cheapest of 25 ZIP codes in Tucson.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 85704, 6 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,493/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 85742. 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

$20,340/yr

At $1,695/mo median

Location

CityTucson

StateAZ

CountyPima County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.4% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 85742 (Tucson, AZ) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 43.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

31,613

Median income

$98,844

Median age

41.6

Renters

19.4%

Age distribution

21.4%

20.4%

24.9%

13.4%

20%

Under 1821.4%

18–3420.4%

35–5424.9%

55–6413.4%

65+20%

Gender

48.7%

51.3%

Male48.7%

Female51.3%

Race & ethnicity

72.1%

23.6%

White72.1%

Black2.6%

Hispanic23.6%

Asian3.5%

Education (25+)

17.2%

36.2%

43.7%

No HS diploma2.8%

HS diploma17.2%

Some college36.2%

Bachelor's+43.7%

Housing tenure

80.6%

19.4%

Owner80.6%

Renter19.4%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 85742 in Tucson, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,479 → $1,695

up 14.6%

Income

$83,057 → $98,844

up 19.0%

Population

28,938 → 31,613

up 9.2%

Renter share

23.3% → 19.4%

-3.9 pts

Bachelor's+

39.2% → 43.7%

+4.5 pts

Rent in ZIP 85742 in Tucson, AZ has increased 14.6% since 2022, going from about $1,479 per month to roughly $1,695 today. Household income in the area moved from $83,057 to $98,844 across the same window, up 19.0% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 4.4 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 28,938 to 31,613 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.2% change. About 19.4% of households rent today, against 23.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 39.2% to 43.7%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 85742 in Tucson, AZ look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 85742

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 85742 covers Tucson, AZ. The median rent here is $1,695/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,530/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,980/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($98,844/yr), ZIP 85742 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 85742?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (about $33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,695/mo in ZIP 85742. The local median household income is $98,844/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 85742?

Rent in ZIP 85742 has risen 6.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2021.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 85742?

Asking rents in ZIP 85742 are usually lowest in November, about 1.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in March, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $47 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 85742 compare to other ZIPs in Arizona?

ZIP 85742 is in the middle among Arizona ZIP codes for rent, ranking #100 of 183 at $1,695/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 85742 changed +6.4%, against a typical +1.6% across the 171 Arizona ZIP codes Zillow tracks.