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CITY

Payson

Arizona · 16,693 residents (2025 est.) · 19.348 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#88Oldest by median ageof 6,82660.9
The short version

Payson has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,710. Population has grown 22% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $382,400. With a median age of 60.9, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 60.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 71%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,622
+22%since 2000
from 13,620 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
859 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 704 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
60.9
+25%since 2000
from 48.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,693 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K10K12K15K17K1990201020202024Payson
202417K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,710
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,638 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,466
+118%since 2000
from $19,513 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.5%
+22.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.441
+1%since 2010
from 0.436 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade11.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services4.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$382,400
+71%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $122,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,345
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $671 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
24.3% rent
Vacancy rate
19.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.0%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 29.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.7%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.6
+55%since 2000
from 3.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in Payson on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.3%(12,438)
Black0.2%(30)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(708)
Asian0.5%(72)
Other0%
Diversity Score14.5%(1,969)
2024
White, non-Hispanic82.2%(13,658)
Black0.4%(60)
Hispanic / Latino12.3%(2,050)
Asian0.6%(93)
Other4.6%(761)
Diversity Score38.4%(6,389)
Diversity Score
38
+166%since 2000
from 14 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.5%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 17.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.0%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 83.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.4 min
+52%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.5%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 72.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
18.4%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.9%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2011
from 5.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
43.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 48.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.8%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.0%
−19.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
49.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
14.2%
−33.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 17.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.7%
−78.0 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.7%
+7.6 ptssince 2017
from 78.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 92.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 5.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Payson, Arizona?

Payson, Arizona has about 16,622 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Payson, Arizona?

The typical household in Payson, Arizona earns about $67,710 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Payson, Arizona expensive?

In Payson, Arizona, the median home is worth about $382,400, and the typical rent is about $1,345 a month.

How educated are people in Payson, Arizona?

About 24.5% of adults age 25 and over in Payson, Arizona hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Payson, Arizona?

About 11.0% of people in Payson, Arizona live below the federal poverty line.

Has Payson, Arizona grown since 1990?

Yes, Payson, Arizona has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,245 residents, a change of about 98 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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