Population 20,273 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Payson
Household size in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.01 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.33 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Payson are small: just 2.01 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.34, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only ten of the 110 Arizona cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.0 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 55.2 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 55.7 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.4 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.3 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Payson skews older: half of its residents are older than 56.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 51.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.0% of households in Payson, well below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Arizona cities, Payson has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Payson
Renters in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.3% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.6% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.1% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.4% of households in Payson rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (52.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the west. The renter share is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.7% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.8% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.0% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.7 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.0% of the housing in Payson, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 7.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Payson has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $801 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $850 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $972 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,316 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$514 | +$694 | +$606 |
The median renter in Payson pays $1,316 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $514 a month from 2006–10, a 64% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 33.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Payson
Bachelor's degrees in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Payson: 22.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.3% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.3% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Payson is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.3 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Payson
| Period | Payson | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.2%, unemployment in Payson is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Payson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payson | 2.01 | 56.4 | 7.0% | 21.4% | 21.0% | 1991 | $1,316 | 22.2% | 93.3% | 5.2% |
| Star Valley | 1.96 | 59.5 | 4.5% | 19.1% | 25.6% | 2000 | $1,298 | 23.0% | 96.5% | 2.8% |
| Pine | 1.93 | 62.5 | 8.3% | 15.8% | 60.8% | 1982 | $1,375 | 26.0% | 98.8% | 0.0% |
| Strawberry | 2.26 | 53.4 | 8.3% | 12.1% | 57.5% | 1980 | $1,367 | 18.7% | 97.0% | 0.0% |
| Hunter Creek | 1.96 | 65.7 | 11.5% | 21.5% | 73.4% | 1988 | $1,110 | 32.5% | 98.2% | 0.0% |
| Forest Lakes | 1.80 | 66.5 | 5.2% | 13.1% | 75.7% | 1989 | $1,110 | 38.5% | 95.3% | 0.1% |
| Cordes Junction | 2.63 | 41.4 | 6.9% | 2.9% | 15.1% | 2004 | $1,258 | 31.3% | 95.6% | 1.8% |
| Cordes Lakes | 2.59 | 42.2 | 10.3% | 13.4% | 12.7% | 1992 | $1,313 | 13.0% | 85.3% | 5.7% |
| Spring Valley | 2.59 | 48.7 | 14.0% | 22.8% | 9.3% | 1989 | $778 | 8.8% | 70.3% | 1.5% |
| Cleator | 1.92 | 53.5 | 2.5% | 24.9% | 31.9% | 1987 | $934 | 17.8% | 88.2% | 0.3% |
| Mayer | 2.11 | 49.8 | 11.5% | 12.7% | 18.3% | 1990 | $1,001 | 11.4% | 81.5% | 0.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Santa Fe Springs, CA · Holly Springs, GA · Homewood, IL · Hood River, OR · Horseheads, NY · Hoschton, GA · Hunters Creek, FL · Indian Land, SC · Riverton, NJ · Rockingham, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Payson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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