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Payson, AZ
Town in Gila County, Arizona.
Population
16,622
Land area
19.3sq mi
People per sq mi
859
ZIP codes
0
Payson and its ZIP codes
Payson at a glance
- Payson is about 13 times as dense as Arizona as a whole.
- It is the 47th most populous of 441 cities and towns in Arizona.
- Households here earn a median of $67,710 a year, 15% less than the Arizona figure of $79,964.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $382,400 (3% below Arizona) and median rent is $1,345 a month.
Local data for Payson, AZ
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Payson, AZ, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$67,710
Poverty rate
11.0%
Median home value
$382,400
Median rent
$1,345/mo
Homeownership
75.7%
Bachelor's or higher
24.5%
Median age
60.9
Average commute
19.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,501), Irish Americans (2,467), Mexican Americans (1,831).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Gila County. PPP loans are for Payson.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
Sep 2026, +0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$59,621
15,339 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,097
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$621M
FY 2026, $11,658 per person
How people get to work
Payson, AZ, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone66.5%
- Carpooled18.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.5%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home13.9%
Average one-way commute: 19.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Payson, AZ, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
735
Countywide, mostly flash flood
Flood insurance policies
268
0.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
93° / 26°F
19.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Payson, AZ, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
29.1%
U.S. 33.3% -4.2 pts
Diabetes
14.1%
U.S. 12.1% +2.0 pts
Smoking
12.9%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
9.1%
U.S. 11.1% -2.0 pts
Cities near Payson
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Mesa del CaballoCensus-designated place | 3.3 mi | 0.3 |
| Round ValleyCensus-designated place | 3.8 mi | 4.8 |
| Oxbow EstatesCensus-designated place | 4.4 mi | 0.5 |
| Flowing SpringsCensus-designated place | 4.9 mi | 1.7 |
| East Verde EstatesCensus-designated place | 4.9 mi | 2.5 |
| Freedom AcresCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 1.8 |
| Star ValleyTown | 6 mi | 36.1 |
| Beaver ValleyCensus-designated place | 6.9 mi | 1.5 |
| Geronimo EstatesCensus-designated place | 9 mi | 1.4 |
| Whispering PinesCensus-designated place | 9.2 mi | 0.4 |
| GiselaCensus-designated place | 9.8 mi | 2.9 |
| RyeCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 0.5 |
| Tonto VillageCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| Washington ParkCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 2.6 |
| Mead RanchCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| PineCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 32.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Payson, AZ in?
- Payson is in Gila County, Arizona.
- What is the population of Payson, AZ?
- About 16,622 people live in Payson, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Payson?
- Nearby places include Mesa del Caballo (3.3 mi), Round Valley (3.8 mi), Oxbow Estates (4.4 mi), Flowing Springs (4.9 mi), East Verde Estates (4.9 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023