The Phoenix metro area: Maricopa and Pinal counties · Population 5,028,754 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Phoenix area
Household size in the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.91 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.91 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
The typical household in the Phoenix area holds 2.80 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the north.
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 the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.1 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in the Phoenix area are younger than 39.1 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the north.
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 the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in the Phoenix area (12.9%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. The Phoenix area has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of large metro areas.
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 the Phoenix area
Renters in the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.7% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in the Phoenix area rent their homes (33.4%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among owners, 33.1% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. The renter share is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.1% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in the Phoenix area is close to the national rate: 8.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 5.6 points since 2006–10, 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 the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1988 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in the Phoenix area is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1993, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1988 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
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 the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,123 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,158 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,342 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,927 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$804 | +$694 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the Phoenix area costs $1,927 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $804 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the center.
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 the Phoenix area
Bachelor's degrees in the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.5% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the Phoenix area as nationally: 35.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
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 the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.0% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.5% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Phoenix area is close to the national rate: 89.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.4 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 the Phoenix area
| Period | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in the Phoenix area is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Largest cities in the Phoenix area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix area (all) | 2.80 | 39.1 | 12.9% | 33.4% | 8.4% | 1993 | $1,927 | 35.0% | 89.5% | 4.8% |
| Mesa | 2.69 | 40.2 | 11.9% | 33.7% | 9.7% | 1990 | $1,815 | 32.3% | 90.7% | 4.2% |
| Glendale | 2.90 | 36.3 | 15.7% | 39.5% | 6.3% | 1986 | $1,744 | 24.7% | 85.1% | 5.5% |
| Scottsdale | 2.16 | 48.1 | 6.3% | 32.0% | 13.7% | 1989 | $2,351 | 61.0% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
| Chandler | 2.66 | 38.4 | 11.4% | 35.6% | 6.4% | 1998 | $2,079 | 48.5% | 93.8% | 3.6% |
| Gilbert | 2.95 | 36.2 | 10.8% | 27.6% | 5.2% | 2003 | $2,299 | 48.6% | 96.4% | 3.4% |
| Peoria | 2.80 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 24.7% | 6.7% | 1999 | $2,031 | 37.1% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Tempe | 2.31 | 33.2 | 8.2% | 57.5% | 10.3% | 1987 | $1,844 | 52.7% | 94.6% | 5.7% |
| Surprise | 2.88 | 42.5 | 12.4% | 20.6% | 7.0% | 2007 | $2,214 | 30.0% | 93.5% | 4.8% |
| Buckeye | 3.22 | 36.0 | 12.0% | 13.6% | 7.2% | 2010 | $2,148 | 24.6% | 89.8% | 5.6% |
| Goodyear | 2.82 | 42.3 | 11.4% | 22.7% | 9.3% | 2006 | $2,172 | 34.4% | 94.1% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Minneapolis area · Seattle area · Detroit area · Riverside area · San Francisco area · Boston area · Atlanta area · Miami area · Philadelphia area · Washington area
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 the Phoenix area. 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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